Aquarium Backgrounds

[strohl71]

Just hoping I can get the opinion of all you more experienced aquarists...

How important is having a "tank background" for my apisto tank? You know, the sheet type that you seal or tape the the back of the aquarium? They are available at all LFS and can have scenery or just be colored. My 38 gal is right up against a white wall and there is never any movement back there unless I am adjusting equipment, etc. (which is not too often) Does this type of back ground make the tank more "cave-like" and thus make the fish more secure?

 

[farm41]

I paint most of mine(on the outside of course) a medium to dark blue. A dark colored background makes the fish feel a little easier, and less skittish.

IME
YMMV

 

[mccidlee]

For tank-raised Apisto, background shouldn't be an issue, mine doing pretty well in tanks without background..

ming

 

[Wey]

I've got black backgrounds but things like this are very nice too

I might try to make something like this in the distant future...

Nice uh?

 

[strohl71]

Very sweet looking tank!!

 

[Wey]

The caves would be great to hold some fresh apisto fry

 

[dhm325]

Hello Wey. Did you make the backgroud yourself or did you buy it? It looks really great.

 

[Wey]

Disclaimer: this is not my background (too bad)
I just said I might try to make something like this... in the future.

http://members.lycos.nl/brieneoord/aqua/bodem2.html

This is the owner, and this is the url to the rest of his site:
http://members.lycos.nl/brieneoord/aqua/
Too bad it's all Dutch, but he doesn't explain how he makes the neat little caves.

 

[Leipo]

he used Styropor (don't know if it is named the same in English) plates which he carved into the desired shape and sealed the Styropor with Epoxy.

so with a little imagination and some tools everyone should be able to recreate such nice caves

 

[Wey]

That's true, but I am curious how the inside of the caves look like... Looks pretty hard to paint it from the inside, or put epoxy on it whatever

My idea was to make the caves seperately and glue them on the background later or whatsoever (so you can make the inside nice too )