Reddit mentions: The best aquariumdecor backgrounds

I also started my first saltwater tank a few weeks ago and I'm 14. Now I went for a nano and it went just fine. First you need to learn about cycling. This is probably the most important thing. Ammonia and nitrite are extremely toxic to fish. There are bacteria colonies that make these into nitrates, the nitrates are only harmful in large quantities. Fish waster produces ammonia, which is transformed into nitrites by bacteria which is transformed into nitrates by bacteria. When you setup your tank, you need to throw a deli shrimp inside to produce ammonia. Then, with testkit you will test the water until you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitirites and less then 20 ppm of nitrates. Nitrates are removed through water changes. You will need ocean salt, RO/DI water, a heater, a hydrometer, a test kit, sand, live rock, a powerhead, and a filter. First you clean up the tank. Then you add sand that has been rinsed. Mix your saltwater and fill the tank about halfway. For a 20 gallon, I would purchase around 30 pounds of live rock. Place the rock in the position you like. The live rock is probably the most important thing in the tank. It houses the bacteria that keeps your fish from dying. This should be done within 2 hours. When satisfied with the placement, fill the tank up. Let it run for a day with the heater, filter and powerhead on. Check for leaks. Also, when making saltwater test it with the hydrometer do the specific gravity is between 1.021 and 1.026. Most fish prefer 1.024. The next day drop in the shrimp ad start testing. It will take around 3 weeks until your tank is ready for fish sometimes longer. The cycling process cannot be rushed. Any fish placed in earlier will DIE. Now, you wait. Also pH can be an issue. Use a marine buffer to take care of this. Algae is a bitch in saltwater and you will need a good cleanup crew. Go to reefcleaners.org and look at their recommendations and go from there. What do you plan on stocking? Use aqadvisor.com to see if you will be okay. Don't buy any products that claim to provide bacteria and shorten the cycle. They don't work and result in dead fish. When you get your fish, use the drip acclimation method for 2 hours before placing them in your tank.
Here's some supplies you will need
http://amzn.com/B000260FUW
Inside the filter, remove the carbon and add this,
http://amzn.com/B0002A5VK2
Also, put pieces of live rock inside the filter.
http://amzn.com/B000256EUS
Use saltwater when doing a water change and use reverse osmosis or distilled water to replace water that has evaporated every 2-3 days. Draw a small line at where the water should be so you know how much to add.
http://amzn.com/B00019JOSO
When measuring salinity, hold the hydrometer and tap it a few times to get rid of bubbles which can affect the results. A refractometer is more accurate but more expensive.
http://amzn.com/B0002A5W9M
This is a pretty good buffer.
You will need around 25-30 pounds of Sand which you can get at your local fish store as well as the live rock.
These are some good heaters
http://www.petmountain.com/product/aquarium-heaters/11442-526438/viaaqua-quartz-heaters.html
http://amzn.com/B001VMSK0I

Order a few of these for accurate temp measurement
http://amzn.com/B008SJ1H7A

This is a good high quality fish food and there is a lot of it for a good price
http://amzn.com/B0002E7ITK

For a background I like all black backgrounds so I got this for my tank
http://amzn.com/B002DWVIBI

I wouldn't suggest doing corals because they are pretty hard and sensitive.

As for lighting, this is pretty good http://amzn.com/B008K37X7C
But I don't know your tank dimensions. Someone else could probably offer better advice on lighting and what powerhead to get. Powerheads are also necessary.

Try to get a glass canopy for your tank. They are pretty useful.

Here's some pictures of my tank, I also did a planted 30 gallon last year when I was 13.

http://imgur.com/WTMuqma

http://imgur.com/AhfkVu2

http://imgur.com/8X69aA1

http://imgur.com/meI9XCH

http://imgur.com/UFGoJYU

http://imgur.com/AN3juZa

My freshwater tank

http://imgur.com/Uvw0iM

http://imgur.com/wbWgKPY

http://imgur.com/jIJs0x5

http://imgur.com/HnkVhau

Thanks!

• For lighting, I use a Beamswork DA 6500K. I'd like to have 2 on this tank, but tank placement requires my HOB be on the side, so I only have room for 1.
  
  
• I'm using a plain blue background. It's black on the other side. I got it from my LFS where they sell it by the foot for like a buck a foot, but you can get them online too. https://www.amazon.com/Marina-Precut-Background-Blue-Black/dp/B01C63VOBM/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_199_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=J396PRNKSWX8AGQ6SEKD
  
  
• Yeah, the tall ones are Amazon Swords. I really struggle with plants in my tanks because I run my water through a salt-based softener, but I get decent results with some work.
  
  
• The reddish/tannish thing is a dwarf red water lily bulb. I got 3 on Ebay for $10 shipped https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nymphaea-Stellata-Bulb-Dwarf-Red-Water-Lily-Live-Aquarium-Plants-BUY2GET1FREE/322102014484?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
  
  I have one of the bulbs in each of my 3 main tanks. This one and the one in the 20 gallon both grow alright, but the one in my 10 gallon went absolutely nuts in like a month. I seriously cut off like 5-6 lilypads every week because it basically shoots one to the surface every day. My shrimp love hiding in them though.
  
  https://i.imgur.com/TJKe9kS.jpg
  
  

I found it on Amazon -- sized for a 10 gallon or 30 gallon, but it's easy to trim to fit whatever size. It's foam with rock dust/particulates embedded in the molded surface, so you just need an X-Acto or utility knife (and a steady hand).

It was really easy to work with. I have a build album here if you want to see more details about it.

sorry i wasn't clear, i meant one of these

https://www.amazon.ca/Zoo-Med-Floating-Exercise-Mirror/dp/B0027IXGU4

my bettas really like this thing. as long as you don't leave it in too long, they love kicking that other fish out of their tank. i friend of mine feeds her guppy fry to her bettas since they are constantly having fry. they like chasing things down but it's not necessary to feed live food. it's so funny to see the difference in interaction you get with a betta you've had a while and one that's totally new. my new betta goes into hiding the minute he sees me, all my others do the exact opposite and come out from wherever they were to say hello just like yours :)

Are you in the US? I bought a 50 foot roll of this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ribbon-ABLVSB1419-Decorative-Background/dp/B00BUFSBMI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1449471251&sr=8-7&keywords=reptile+cage+background and I have leftovers. Kaiju can't participate in r/beardeddragon Secret Santa this year because my account isn't old enough, but he still wants to get in the spirit of Christmas. If you're interested, PM me your cage's length measurements and your address and I'll mail it to you :)

here

Its held on with the rocks pressing up against the corners, and up top by the filter intakes/output. Definitely the best background for the money.

Get a 50-lb bag of multipurpose sand at Home Depot for $3. If you want, you can get a 3D background made by Universal Rocks on Amazon for pretty cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Rocks-Flexible-Aquarium-Background/dp/B005GZ1XH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495639468&sr=8-1&keywords=Universal+rocks+3D

I would stock it with a lot of peacocks and haps. I find cichlids to be more hardy than the smaller 1" fish like danios, barbs, tetras, and etc. Not to mention it's cheaper to decorate for African cichlids than to run a fully planted tank (lighting, fertilization, etc).

Also, I use Prime and Stability to cycle with fish in. Takes 2 weeks no deaths.

Awesome, I'll definitely try that out.

• Would this be a suitable product to buy?
  
  I am trying to put it up in the back of the tank, kinda as my backdrop instead of a paper one.

I found it on Amazon (USA)!

It fit PERFECT in my 29 gallon, I didn't have to make a single cut! It is maybe a quarter inch thick, so no wasted space. I bought it for $43.02.

Hey! I work at a local LFS/reptile store, so I bought the background there. It's the Zoo-Med 18x24 Cork Tile Background. Then I made the rest of the background with various pieces of cork bark siliconed onto the base. Top left, the bromeliad is a Neoregelia spp. 'Zoe', and Philodendron cordatum. The foreground plant on the left is Syngonium podophyllum 'Neon Robusta', and on the right in the cork round is Dieffenbachia spp. 'Sterling'. The back right vine plant is Epipremnum aureum 'N Joy' Pothos. I also have a Korean Rock Fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) growing under the large ledge. I got all of these plants from Josh's Frogs.

You can use the background paper, it doesn't look the best unless you adhere it with something like SeaView. My advice is to apply as lightly as possible and make sure you squeegee out all of the bubbles. Once finished, place something stiff along the entire backside (I'm trying foam board now), it'll stop it from warping and pealing up as bad over time.

Still, it will warp, bubble, and peal after a while, at which time you'll have to reapply, flatten, and eventually outright replace (which comes with it's own cleanup.

Maybe someone else here can give better advice for dealing with those backgrounds. They can be nice, but for flat black, it would be much better to paint, which I realize you are a bit past now.

I don't have a chameleon but wouldn't want him looking at a bright white wall 24x7

rainforest-aquarium-backgrounds

Background-JUNGLE

Reptile-Habitat-Terrarium-Background-Creepy

Went out of town for a few days and came back to find this webbing on this natural bark background in my tank. They are very small, no larger than the head of a pin, this picture is taken through a magnifying glass.

My location is probably irrelevant as I purchased the various orchids and mosses in the tank from around the country. Thanks for any info!

Universal Rocks Rocky Background - http://amzn.com/B005GZ1XH8

thanks!

Here you go :) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001MZUYHG/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_LFYLAb3ZP6J79

Yep! Those are mine. I ordered the desert looking background on Amazon. The ones on either side is a 3d national geographic one that I picked up at petsmart and cut in two to fit both smaller sides.

Thanks for the compliment.

I got myself two of these and then had to cut them to size and affixed them using standard silicone glue:

https://www.amazon.de/Juwel-Aquarium-86930-Background-Strukturr%C3%BCckwand/dp/B001MZYG3Y/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=juwel+hintergrund&qid=1566404033&s=gateway&sr=8-1

For a one-piece background price pretty much depends on your tank size. but in any case you'd end up paying more than $60 for a standard-sized tank. Had to go for a two-piece one since my tank has a structural hardpoint running right through its center (the thing casting the shadow in the upper center). I put the large plant in a way so it would cover the crack.

Another massive advantage of the one I got IMO is the smooth backside. Easy to install and no way for fish to get trapped behind it.

looks nice. i would suggest getting a nice backing for your tank though. they're cheap and block the filters and cords and such


https://www.amazon.com/9089-Fish-Tank-Background-Night/dp/B002DWVIBI/ref=zg_bs_2975449011_7/166-3813407-4613930

Perhaps something like;

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E8GLZ7E/

Edit: Fixed link

Yup! I use this in my tank to cover at least one side. I think it helps insulate too. but anyways, it seems to be a hit, i catch them on it all the time and often they will hang out and pick and eat it. https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Natural-Background-24-Inch/dp/B0019IW0IM/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1540395082&sr=8-15&keywords=cork+bark

Here is an amazon link to the product i've used, 0 affiliation.

Amazon

Reptile Habitat, Terrarium Background, DEEP IN THE JUNGLE - Various Sizes (18"x36") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XR1TG9V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_m6qhzbWRFXPFX

This is the exact size that is in my tank, but the same company makes tons of other sizes and styles. http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Rocks-Flexible-Aquarium-Background/dp/B005GZ1XH8/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1420682351&sr=8-11&keywords=3d+tank+background

I tried frosting my background, came off after water dried. Might try this next
https://www.amazon.com/d/Aquarium-Decor-Backgrounds/AVWSV9733-Mounting-Illumination-Solution-Background/B004PBGRNE

If he doesn’t let up and insists on fighting his reflection, it might cause him too much stress.

Sooo pro tip! You can add privacy film (used on windows) to any sides of the tank that give off his reflection to put a stop to it.

However, I still think having him flare up and want to fight occasionally is still healthy! So if you do end up blocking his reflection on the glass, you can get him one of these!

It’s basically a floating mirror that he can peck at/interact with whenever you feel like he needs a bit of excitement in his life!