Fish Stand Out!

[TigerBarb56]

I was just wondering, i have a 38 gal, with 5 cichlids;
1 Electric Blue, 1 Lemon Yellow Lab, and 1 Kenyi Cichlid, 1 Rusty Cichlid, 1 Red Zebra, and 1 Red-tail Shark.

Well i was just wondering what color backgrounds really make their color stand out, and if less light or more light makes a difference and which makes them look better, I would really like to make them stand out and look as beautiful as possible, Thanks so much!

 

[JNevaril]

My background is one I made. I did a DIY tank stand, and got some dark navy blue fabric with dark blue marine patterns on it...jelly fish, dolphins....etc. you have to look really close to see them on my tank background though.

I made curtains for my DIY tank stand, and the left over fabric, I cut a piece of cardboard to fit the back of my tank, and used craft glue to glue the fabric on it.

My light in my tank also 'looks' blue. I am not sure what 'brand' it is, but it isn't harsh like a regular flourescent (sp?) light....this one looks like almost natural light, and it really brings out their colors.

I switched from an Eclipse Daylight bulb to whatever this one is, and my fish look soooooooo much nicer, not washed out.

I'll get a full pic of my tank up so you can see what I mean about the background.



Anyhoo...the fabric is sold at wal-mart...

I think that darker backgrounds, and lower light makes them look great!

(aren't cichlids cool?)

 

[Rokl33t]

black back ground, black sand if u can...i have black background and regular play sand works fine for me

 

[discus4everGrl]

I agree with Rokl. I have red, blue and yellow discus and they look best against a black background. Of course thats with plants in it too. I would recommend just buying a piece of cheap poster board in black and navy blue and seeing which you like best. You won't be out a buck if you don't like them.

 

[TigerBarb56]

But how do you cut the background straight enough to fit!
Thanks so much!

 

[PerfectAngel]

i have someone hold up the background against the back of the tank... and take cutters and cut right along the line.. straight every time....

 

[Orion]

The lighter the background and bottom of the tank, the lighter the colors of the fish are going to appear. The darker the tank, the darker the colors of the fish.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I prefer white sand and a black background. I tried blue...it was nice and all but just wasn't working. You have a lot of orange/red/yellow in your tank so i would go with a black background.

 

[TigerBarb56]

ok thanks a lot!

 

[SANND]

None of my tanks have backgrounds yet because I like to look at them from both sides but I think I'm gonna go ahead and slap something on the back. Has anyone tried a very dark green? I'm thinking of adding it to the tank that has white sand.