Collection: Backgrounds

The Cheapest Upgrade a Tank Can Get

A background does two things at once. It hides the cords, hoses and wall behind the tank, and it gives fish something to show against — colours that vanish against a bright wall read properly against a dark panel. Plenty of aquarists spend heavily on lighting and livestock while leaving the back of the tank looking like the back of a tank.

What's in This Collection

• Electrostatic backgrounds in three heights — 12, 18 and 24 inch — applied to the outside of the glass.

Fitting One Neatly

• Measure the glass height first. Height is the fixed dimension; width you can trim.
• Clean and dry the outside of the back panel thoroughly. Dust under a panel shows as a permanent blemish.
• Work from one edge across, pressing out air as you go rather than laying the whole sheet down at once.
• Trim with a straight edge and a fresh blade for a clean line at the corners.
• Black or blue is a decision worth taking slowly — dark backgrounds flatter most fish, blue suits open-water marine displays.

Fitting is a dry-hands, no-rush job. Ten unhurried minutes is the difference between a background that disappears and one you notice every time you walk past.