How do you make a background for your tank?

I have a 20 gallon tank and would like to have a solid black background. Do people just use black posterboard? laminated paper? Do you buy the background from your LFS? Also, how do you attach it? Do you use glue, tape, something else? Since my tank is already established, has fish in it, and is close to the wall, I don't think I would be able to go the 'paint the glass black' route. Thanks!!

 

I have black poster board on my 5g but it gets wet. I have the film from lfs taped on my 55. I think a lot of people just paint them black. Just remember that it is permanent. lol

 

would paper be enough to stop algae from growing by a window do you think?

 

I like to use black car window film / tint

“stay fishy “

 

would paper be enough to stop algae from growing by a window do you think?

What kind of paper? I would use something thick for by a window. Like poster board.

 

I use Juwel posters and Juwel poster fix
They make a matte black background.
A cheaper option would be to take the tank outside and spray paint it, on the outside of course. But this wouldn't give you the option of changing it in the future.

 

I use a matt black acrylic paint, if you no longer want the paint it can be scraped off in the future

 

My LFS does sell backgrounds by the foot, so you might call yours to see if they do too.

I was lazy and bought a black cling off Amazon like this one. They seem to be more expensive in Canada though.

 

I know it sounds cheap but I use a black trash bag and just tape it down tightly and if you do it neatly enough people don’t even notice! Everyone was surprised when I told them that it was just a trash bag lol

 

I have black poster board on my 5g but it gets wet. I have the film from lfs taped on my 55. I think a lot of people just paint them black. Just remember that it is permanent. lol

How much does the film from the lfs cost, roughly?

 

How much does the film from the lfs cost, roughly?

Depends on how big your tank is. Less than 20$ I believe for a 4ft tank.

 

I know it sounds cheap but I use a black trash bag and just tape it down tightly and if you do it neatly enough people don’t even notice! Everyone was surprised when I told them that it was just a trash bag lol

Yep that’s what I did on my 29 10 and 40 perfectly cut the bag to shape of take and tape will do

 

Black poster board taped on. Has worked great for me.

 

Fabric from the fabric store works good also. And tape.

 

Paint it with acrylic. Nice and easy

 

Paint it with acrylic. Nice and easy

beautiful aquarium btw

 

Paint it with acrylic. Nice and easy

Beautiful tank!
It’s tanks like these that make me go back and forth on just painting the back already. I just finished taping black construction paper to the back of my tank, lol this is a sign!

 

coropast, corrugated plastic. Cheap, durable, waterproof. Easy to put on and take of

 

I have a 20 gallon tank and would like to have a solid black background. Do people just use black posterboard? laminated paper? Do you buy the background from your LFS? Also, how do you attach it? Do you use glue, tape, something else? Since my tank is already established, has fish in it, and is close to the wall, I don't think I would be able to go the 'paint the glass black' route. Thanks!!

You need a water resistant paper of some sort. Wipe or spray the outside of the glass down with a mixture of 1-2 drops dish soap per tablespoon of water. Don't dry it. The little bit of wetness lets the backing sit flush on the glass without air gaps (and if there is an air gap you can squish it out).

My tanks all have black plastic rim/molding, I always slide the rougher cut edge into the bottom molding, the gravel is covering up the bottom so you cant see jagged cut lines. I cut it so the back drop is 1/4-1/2" narrower than the tank and scotch tape the sides, the silicone caulking blocks the tape.

Petco/Petsmart put old rolls of background in clearance"regularly", if time is of no essence and you can check every other week (right before the weekend), you should be able to find something you like for 10-15cents a foot.

If you dont want to go through all that, most dollar stores have solid blue and black shelf paper. All the times Ive tried, leaving the backing on makes it wrinkle. The thin stuff is the same color on both sides so you can just stick it on like shelf. Weather its thick or thin you can hang it so the non sticky side is against the glass, leaving the sticky side facing the wall. No ideal but no one except would know its sticky back there .