Cloth or contact paper or anything else as background?

I previously had imagined my 10-gallon looking like a forest with blowing autumn leaves... Foerset scene background with coordinated gravel, rocks, green and orange and red danio glofish (white led lighting)... That crashed. I found a pic of woods scene that I liked, had it made into a large photo, cut to fit. It keeps getting wet and damaged, even after using that gel adhesive stuff.
I'm starting over with golden fish and was thinking of trying a purple-ish background. Photos obviously don't work, I want something different than what's already out there.
Has anyone had experience with cloth or contact paper or anything else as background?
Here's my tank before... I just today put in a honey gourami and 6 longfin golden danios.

 

I used black poster board for mine, it was a perfect fit and put tape on the side to hold it.

 

I finally just started painting the backs of my tanks rather than constantly dealing with backing getting wet.

 

I finally just started painting the backs of my tanks rather than constantly dealing with backing getting wet.

What type of paint if I wanted to try this?

 

What type of paint if I wanted to try this?

I've used different kinds. I found that spray paint was the easiest for me. Just make sure it's okay for glass and be prepared to put on several thin layers.

 

The only downside to painting the back of your tank is you're stuck with that color, unless you scrape, clean and repaint the other color you want. I got poster board and black construction paper and double sided tape. I have 3 different backgrounds I made like this. Also using stone finish spray paint I have 3 different stone backgrounds I can swap.

 

The only downside to painting the back of your tank is you're stuck with that color, unless you scrape, clean and repaint the other color you want. I got poster board and black construction paper and double sided tape. I have 3 different backgrounds I made like this. Also using stone finish spray paint I have 3 different stone backgrounds I can swap.

How well does paper or poster work if it gets wet? I am a klutz. That's the problem I had with the blown -up glossy photo as a background. This is today.. That dark section up the middle is where it got yuck and doesn't adhere like the majority of the background

 

Ahh, well if you're a klutz, then it will eventually get wet. I'm OCD so i'm very careful especially doing water changes. The posterboard is like 1/4" thick and hard foam. Then I used double sided tape to attach the black paper, then I painted over it. I can wedge the backgrounds inbetween the 2 black molding edges of my tank without any tape. If by mistake I get water splash, then it will flow over the back of the board and not inbetween the board and glass of the tank.

If you get it soaked, then it will warp and turn into mush. So both painting the back of your tank and making backgrounds has it's pros and cons.

 

Window privacy film is great, just mist with water and it self adheres (can be removed easily as no adhesives, mine have been in place for a few years, no bubbling etc.

One tank I tried... drawer liner???.... I forget the exact term, might be contact paper.. was for my daughters frozen themed tank, I choose a pinkish purple rock look... overall it has help up fairly well, but be aware I had to tape it to the tank (sticky side is away from aquarium, not “see through” so you can’t use both sides.

 

I have used bamboo curtain with a black poster board behind it.

 

The posters you buy from aquarium stores are water proof (plastic), I've used them before but there's not a huge variety of designs. They also come in plain colors, but I guess that's not what you're after. I use the 3D foam backgrounds (they usually have rocks or tree root designs etc) -they're made to be cut to size and siliconed inside the tank, but I just rest them behind and they look great (that way they don't take up space in the tank or get covered in algae etc).

 

Window privacy film is great, just mist with water and it self adheres (can be removed easily as no adhesives, mine have been in place for a few years, no bubbling etc.

One tank I tried... drawer liner???.... I forget the exact term, might be contact paper.. was for my daughters frozen themed tank, I choose a pinkish purple rock look... overall it has help up fairly well, but be aware I had to tape it to the tank (sticky side is away from aquarium, not “see through” so you can’t use both sides.

Oh, can you stick the liner/ contact paper if you wanted??

 

The posters you buy from aquarium stores are water proof (plastic), I've used them before but there's not a huge variety of designs. They also come in plain colors, but I guess that's not what you're after. I use the 3D foam backgrounds (they usually have rocks or tree root designs etc) -they're made to be cut to size and siliconed inside the tank, but I just rest them behind and they look great (that way they don't take up space in the tank or get covered in algae etc).

Yes, I'm apparently one of those people that always wants something different! I'm pretty crafty, but when it comes to tanks I just don't have the experience to draw from. That's why I reached out to you guys!
I really appreciate all the ideas and input, I'm learning a lot!

 

I have used bamboo curtain with a black poster board behind it.
View attachment 485152

That rocks! What a great idea! Do the fish inside get a lot of reflection though?

 

Yes, I'm apparently one of those people that always wants something different! I'm pretty crafty, but when it comes to tanks I just don't have the experience to draw from. That's why I reached out to you guys!
I really appreciate all the ideas and input, I'm learning a lot!

No problem, I've seen some people create rock walls out of real rocks too, or I'm guessing you could make something out of plaster on a board and then paint it however you like.

 

Try the banner man can shop on etsy. His are great! He will make a custom one out of any picture you send him.

 

Try the banner man can shop on etsy. His are great! He will make a custom one out of any picture you send him.

This is mine

 

Try the banner man can shop on etsy. His are great! He will make a custom one out of any picture you send him.

Haahaha! I love it! What's it made of?

 

Thank you! It's vinyl I believe. Very rich colors. I applied it using a thin layer of Vaseline.

 

So I got a store-bought background, so I could replace the dameged photo. I also bought a purple plastic party table cloth and stuck it on one side to experiement and plastic purple plants to accent. Still looking to experiment, but I like where it's going...

 

Sounds trippy! I like it! Post some pictures of the final product.

 

Sounds trippy! I like it! Post some pictures of the final product.

Thanks! I'm dealing with a snail emergency, so everything is disarranged... I got gold colored fish when I restocked my tank, thinking MardI Gras theme.

 

Love the purple! So pretty!

 

That rocks! What a great idea! Do the fish inside get a lot of reflection though?

Thank you
I would guess some.

 

I previously had imagined my 10-gallon looking like a forest with blowing autumn leaves... Foerset scene background with coordinated gravel, rocks, green and orange and red danio glofish (white led lighting)... That crashed. I found a pic of woods scene that I liked, had it made into a large photo, cut to fit. It keeps getting wet and damaged, even after using that gel adhesive stuff.
I'm starting over with golden fish and was thinking of trying a purple-ish background. Photos obviously don't work, I want something different than what's already out there.
Has anyone had experience with cloth or contact paper or anything else as background?
Here's my tank before... I just today put in a honey gourami and 6 longfin golden danios.View attachment 484820

I had some leftover paint from when we painted an accent wall in our living room, so I used that to paint the back of my tank. And... it is purple. I love it, but I wish it was a bit darker.