Black (Vinyl) Backgrounds Suggestions --paint not an option

I'm thinking of applying a black background to both my planted and new shrimp tank. I can't paint because the tank is already set up and pretty much stuck in that room. I can probably turn it around to apply a wrap when I do a water change but definitely cannot move it to a place I can spray with paint.

I was thinking of going with a vinyl wrap on but in my research I've heard some leave a glue pattern or don't show up well. Anyone have any pictures/experiences with different brands of vinyl?


Also, I'm going to raise Bloody Mary shrimp in the small tank (no picture right now), it has a light beachy color with spider wood wrapped around a dragonstone. It's desert oasis themed. I thought black would look best but would love your opinions. I was thinking of putting buce's in there mainly...but buce's are so expensive :'(, open to plant suggestions too. Most background plants would grow too big for tank-- a grown out anubis barteri is probably the max height for this one.

It's a pretty small tank (7 gals) so I might only have a small school of chili raspbora or a couple of scarlet badis when the plants grow in.

Thanks for your suggestions! I will add a picture of the shrimp tank (Work in progress) when I get home.

 

Never tried "Vinyl", I use "Black" mat board. Cut to size. You can find it at local craft stores. You can try Java Fern, along with some Christmas and Subwassertang moss, tied to rock or wood.
Worked for me in my shrimp build!
Good Luck!

 

Never tried "Vinyl", I use "Black" mat board. Cut to size. You can find it at local craft stores. You can try Java Fern, along with some Christmas and Subwassertang moss, tied to rock or wood.
Worked for me in my shrimp build!
Good Luck!

Did you mount it with tape?

I actually got some subwasser and java moss in transit right now! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

It's hard to install anything that really sticks to the glass after your tank is occupied. I used automotive window tint from the auto parts store on my 75, but you still have to wet the glass to make it stick properly.
You can mount the pet store backgrounds with tape. I like the above idea of using a mat board from the craft store. The corrugated plastic board would work too.
I have always thought a cool idea is a white board with a little LED strip at the bottom of the tank to do kind of a "light wash" for the background shining up from the bottom.

 

I used cheap black craft paint and used a tiny roller to paint the back of mine while full and close to the wall. No smell, dark black from the inside, easy, cheap. Sometimes it scratches when I move the filter, but touch ups are easy with a foam throwaway brush

 

You can use black poster board, like you'd use to tape stuff to for a science project. I picked a couple up from walmart for a couple of dollars apiece and cut them to size and taped on with black gorilla tape. You don't get a deep black from them, it looks more like a deep gray / light black. It's sort of got a misty look to it.

 

I use black wrapping paper. Tape at the top on the frame, smooth it down and tape at the bottom on the frame. Sits well on the edges without tape, looks good from the front.