Never tried cloth to cover the back of tanks as background, but hey give it a shot! I'm sure it is a great alternative rather than a scroll poster background or paint.
I haven't tried this but did go glance at my fabric the other night for a back ground for my 10 gallon and was thinking about it again today for my new hex. I'd love to see some pictures if anyone has done this and info on how they hung it. I think grommets and hooks would work well and make it easy to take it down and wash it if needed. Think would need some type of clamp to make it so the hooks couldn't slide.
My current backgrounds are contact paper, and construction paper. I bought a double sided background before but didn't like that you could see the design on the other side through the side facing the tank.
What size tank and do you know what kind of fabric it was?
Other option that could work well would be sewing a pocket for a thin rod at the top so it stays straight across the top but if you are using a HOB filter that could maybe offset how the filter can sit on the back of the tank.
In setting up a tank, I failed to paint so I did the easy way and used black cloth. Other than finding a way to hang it on the back it was no real problem. Looking from the front, I could see no diff. When I snagged it and left large folds, they showed through but only needed to be laid flat again. I normally paint and find that no problem either.
Sew some Velcro onto to the cloth, stick-on Velcro to the tank. You can use stick-on for both, but do not depend on the sticky stuff staying on the cloth. Sew it, too.
Then you can change out the background, if you want.
I founds a couple of prints several years ago. They are all quite dark. One was black with scattered leaves, mostly ferns. The other 2 were marbled, one in 2 shades of blue with black running through it, the other was 2 shades of green with the black.
When any of these are behind the plants it is difficult to see any patterns, they just fill those few blank spots and hide whatever cords and tubes are outside the tank.
The tank is 36"x12" front and back. I know nothing about cloth, but it was like what a bedsheet is made from. I'm looking for an aquamarine color, the only close colors I've found in town are the cloth and a pretty expensive tube of artist's acrylic which I bet I'd need at least two of to cover the back.
The cloth sounds like the best option, with a little velcro.
For paint, just get a cheap can of spraypaint, clean your tank well, and do a couple light coats.
As to finding cloth, hit up your local cloth stores (or even places like Walmart or something) and poke through the remnants and discount bins. Or maybe hit up a thrift store and cannibalize some sufficiently big clothing/sheets/curtains.
Just be sure you can get the cloth off to wash it. Eventually you will get "fish water" on the cloth background and it will start to stink.
OP for that color. I got close to that when I painted the back of my Goldfish tank/ Aquaponic sump tank. HomeDepot has little 2oz. free samples of latex paint. I got a sample of SeaFoam green. It was too green for what I wanted (light reflection). The soild white ceiling paint I had was too much on my eyes. So, I added the SeaFoam paint to the white until I got the color I wanted. Keep in mind Latex paint will dry lighter in color.
One thing I didn't think of previously, as to the color of the cloth - It may fade overtime, depending on your lighting. might not be a serious concern, as it won't fade anywhere near as fast as in sunlight, but might fade some.
I'd second DogFish's bit about tinted latex paint. find one of the color chips that matches what you want, and ask them to tint one of the samples jars - you can get ones for a couple bucks, maybe 8 oz or so. I just got dark grey/black and had more then enough for repeated coats on a 24"x 20" tank.
I found latex paint to be a bit more effort/time consuming then spray paint, but I also used a brush, whereas most people seem to have good luck with rollers.
lochaber - I seem to have better results with Latex paint when I think it out with water and use multiple thin coats. Also a better quality new brush seems to reduce brush storks.
I'll have to see if anyone in town has small samples of paint, though I like the idea of being able to switch the background if I don't like it. I've only seen gallons for the color I need, beside the small tube of artist's acrylic. I only buy small amounts of paint of the spray variety for hobby projects, so I guess I'll just have to ask because I just don't know.
I have a few days to figure everything out yet before I'm ready to fill the tank.
DogFish> thanks, that actually makes sense, might try that next time I set up a tank, either that or maybe the plasti-dip.
Wannaberooted>Spend a moment or two just poking around the paint aisles at Home Depot (I think Lowes had samples, only they were pre-tinted), and there should be a shelf with little jars in the various finishes (eggshell, flat, gloss, etc.)
Only Menards here and I've never seen any samples. I'll ask next time I'm there though. Eau Claire is the HQ of Menards, I don't think there will ever be any other retailer here.
Really I'm leaning toward the cloth, I can get enough for three 30 breeders for six bucks. In case I tire of the color I can switch it easily.
I really appreciate everyone's input, and I'm sure it will help others in the future. Thanks!
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