Cherrry123

I have a 14 gallon tank and I like everything natural, real plants, and I don't really like backrounds. Do I really need one?

0morrokh

A good natural looking background is black tagboard. That's what I use-I just cut it to size & I cover the back of it with packing tape (cheap lamination) in case it gets water on it. Backgrounds aren't absolutely necessary but they make the fish feel more secure.

lilsoccakid

i havent been able to find one i like yet, but im considering an all blue or all black background

Cherrry123

Ok thanks, I don't like the ones with fish on them because I can never find any of my fish on them.

0morrokh

Yeah I don't really like the printed ones either. I prefer the look of plain backgrounds (and they're cheaper )

Cherrry123

Yes, why pay for something that has fake fish on it, and hides your fish? I like natrual things, not fake.

angelfish220

I think "planted" backgrounds can make your tank look more planted But personally I like plain old blue posterboard. You can get it at any dollarstore and dosent crease easy and can be cut to fit your tank.

Cherrry123

Ok thanks thats what I will get, right now behind the fish tank are giraffes, they are made of paper something, but I don't think any of my fish have ever seen a giraffe before!

capekate

Hi cherry
I have an assortment of backgrounds on my tanks. The 55g tank has a black cloth background that I used velcro to attach. My 29g has a planted background, which is good when you do not have a lot of plants in the tank. My other 29g with the angels is kind of a theme tank, with a nice underwater scene of pompeii (sp?) and a dark blue substrate.
The all solid background will show up the fish much better IMO. But a planted background is very nice. Forget the fish backgrounds lol... they all look so fake, and what the heck? You have live fish in the tank to look at! lol..
good luck on your choices...

~ kate

angelfish220

I like the cloth idea, if it ever gets dirty you can just throw it in the wash!

MissMTS

Paint is a good way to give your tank a natural looking background, but you shouldn't paint it when you already have fish in it because the paint can be toxic to the fish. I think that if you want a natural look a solid blue or black background makes the fish really pop out. For a more subdued look, try brown or dark green

Cherrry123

Ok thanks! I think I'm going with the all blue poster board-foam thing, right now the fish are probly to distracted to notice nothings back there right now, I bought an airstone/filter thing yesterday, along with a Drawf Gourami. I wanted a betta but the guy at the store said that they do best in tanks of there own.