There are many types of backgrounds that you can use. If you want to save money, dont buy the ones at the petstores but instead diy. You can use cardboard, plastic, wood, etc and paint it whatever color you want. I dont really like the cardboard route as water and cardboard dont like each other much. I used the same stuff you have on your kitchen cupboards, arborite. Go to Home Depot and they have a rainbow of colors. My background is a dark blue.