Tank backgrounds-yeah vaseline-see pics
- purplecandle
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Tank backgrounds-yeah vaseline-see pics
Hey, I just finished putting a new background on one of my tanks..
In all my tanks with backgrounds, you can tell that there is a background..but you can't really see the background well. (Yes the glass and water are clear)
After I put on this new background...thinking the colors would pop better..they didn't.....BUT there were some places where the glass was wet between the background and the glass....just one or two small places from when I changed the water...
In these wet places the background appears bright through the glass...
So, I am wondering if there is some trick I do not know, or something that would make the entire background bright? I thought of spraying the whole thing with water, but surely that would be a bad idea...
Any thoughts?
In all my tanks with backgrounds, you can tell that there is a background..but you can't really see the background well. (Yes the glass and water are clear)
After I put on this new background...thinking the colors would pop better..they didn't.....BUT there were some places where the glass was wet between the background and the glass....just one or two small places from when I changed the water...
In these wet places the background appears bright through the glass...
So, I am wondering if there is some trick I do not know, or something that would make the entire background bright? I thought of spraying the whole thing with water, but surely that would be a bad idea...
Any thoughts?
Last edited by purplecandle on Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
- pufferpuggirl
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Re: Tank backgrounds
Someone suggested smearing vaseline all over the back of the tank and then putting the background on. I don't like messing with vaseline and I think it would be a "mess" too. But there's also stuff you can buy to affix the background inside the tank instead of in back of it, and that supposedly makes the colours clearer. The next new tank I get, I'm going to try that to see if it looks better.
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- Pufferpunk
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Re: Tank backgrounds
There is a product for this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Background ... 0441354805
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- pufferpuggirl
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Re: Tank backgrounds
If anyone ends up using that, I'd like to know how good it works. I've got 2 tanks I'm going to replace backgrounds on because the ones that I've got on now are ugly and dark. I want lighter and brighter. 
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Woodbutcher
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Re: Tank backgrounds
I have used that type of stuff. Yes use it.pufferpuggirl wrote:If anyone ends up using that, I'd like to know how good it works. I've got 2 tanks I'm going to replace backgrounds on because the ones that I've got on now are ugly and dark. I want lighter and brighter.
Don't put background inside the tank (really hard to change).
+1 on lighter and brighter. (painted both my newest tanks background black, it will be to hard to change colors, I don't recommend).
This is old tank with stick on background. Using as a sump tank now background still looks good.

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Woodbutcher- purplecandle
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Re: Tank backgrounds
I don't want to paint the tank. I think woodbutcher's tank loos good...but I like to change things around too much....I am the type of person that changes their furniture around every month..
Vaseline? I check into that before I go buy a product..I'll let ya know how it works...
Vaseline? I check into that before I go buy a product..I'll let ya know how it works...
- Troender
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Re: Tank backgrounds
Wow! There really is a product for everything!Pufferpunk wrote:There is a product for this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Background ... 0441354805
Myself I prefer to paint a black background directly on the glass. I love it that way. Unfortunately I have some tanks that are painted with blue paint (it was done before I bought them), and I am not so happy about that. I wouldn't recommend that on a FW tank.
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- JoseDepacos
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Re: Tank backgrounds
You can order SeaView at places like Foster & Smith Aquatics too. We used it to put a background on my cousins tank. It never actually dries and does make a big difference in the way it looks. I use paper/plastic backgrounds as well. I dont care for the permanency of paint.
- pufferpuggirl
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Re: Tank backgrounds
I have a tank that was given to me, and it's been painted blue on 3 sides and I hate it. Thing is, it's a good tank, so I can't just chuck it because of the paint. If I WERE going to paint a tank (although I doubt I would), I certainly would not paint all 3 sides. I like to have my ends open, I don't even do paper on the ends, but I know people who do. I think it makes the tank look too small when you do all sides but the front. 
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- xrayjeeper83
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Re: Tank backgrounds
cant you use something to remove the paint? Then just wash it really well
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
- pufferpuggirl
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Re: Tank backgrounds
I have no idea, I've just put up with it, as ugly as it is.
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- xrayjeeper83
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Re: Tank backgrounds
i would think if you were careful with some paint thinner, making sure not to get it on the inside of the tank, then wash it really well. you could get the ugly paint off
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
- JoseDepacos
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Re: Tank backgrounds
Its likely the paint is bonded to the glass depending what type they used. Even if you remove it, its unlikely the glass would be in any condition to be used for viewing. Then again, if they used cheap paint it may come right off.
- purplecandle
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Re: Tank backgrounds-Vaseline works-see pics
Vaseline works LOL!
You can see the bright spot were I have the Vaseline..I need to get all of the air out, but it works...

Figured I might as well have a puff in the picture, his name is Kahlua
Got a little distracted

My land child got jealous so he wants his picture posted to..

You can see the bright spot were I have the Vaseline..I need to get all of the air out, but it works...
Figured I might as well have a puff in the picture, his name is Kahlua
Got a little distracted
My land child got jealous so he wants his picture posted to..
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SammyDee
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Re: Tank backgrounds-yeah vaseline-see pics
Yea that stuff does wonders. Use a credit card to smear the bubbles out.
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