tinytawnykitten Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I have decided to install a 3D background in my 4ft Malawi tank. After looking online at the Juwel ones, the Aquaterra ones from Malta and the instructions for making my own one (which is just never going to happen) and I think I will buy the Juwel one. I will need 3 of them, but I don't know which will look best and none of the pet stores in Wellington will order them without me committing to buy them so I can't see them first. Here is a rough photo of my tank... http://www.flickr.com/photos/49407964@N00/9029352653/ I am choosing between this one http://www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/Product ... pboul2q242 and this one http://www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/Product ... 9spdlk14h4 My substrate is closer in colour to the dark one and I assume it wont show algae as much, but my rocks are closer in colour to the lighter background. My tropheus duboisi would probably disappear altogether into the background if I get the darker one. AS you can see I am confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrrick Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Tough choice. I made my own out of fibreglass. The problem is paintng it as there are few safe paints to use that will survive underwater. I'd go with the lighter one myself. The tank is there to see the fish, so what ever one will highlight them the most ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Do the Animates stores down there not have any in stock? I have seen them up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomsam1001 Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 If you choose a Juwel Background, you will need two. do NOT put them in and attach them in the middle. :sage: I attached mine in the middle and ended up with a massive line in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I think the darker one would look better however you may find some of your fish are darker and them being on a darker background will mean you don't see them as much becuase there wont be much contrast between fish and back ground (if that makes any sense). lol so really I am not helping at all because I have suggested both of them. Your tank and fish looks great BTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Do the Animates stores down there not have any in stock? I have seen them up here. No pet stores in Wellington have them in stock and non of them are willing to order them just to 'look at'. Surprisingly Animates have the cheapest price by a long way! But I have just found out that a friend is a member of Cherry Tree Shopping Club and they sell them for $60 (compared to the most expensive I found - The Pet Centre - $142!). If you choose a Juwel Background, you will need two. do NOT put them in and attach them in the middle. :sage: I attached mine in the middle and ended up with a massive line in the tank. Thanks for that info! Also, I think I will need 3 unfortunately! My tank is 126cm wide. Sigh. I think the darker one would look better however you may find some of your fish are darker and them being on a darker background will mean you don't see them as much becuase there wont be much contrast between fish and back ground (if that makes any sense). lol so really I am not helping at all because I have suggested both of them. Your tank and fish looks great BTW Thanks Ryan! I think I will go with the darker one as I think either way I am going to have to get them sight unseen and I am really unsure what the colour of the lighter one will look like, plus it will show algae growth a lot more obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 try building your own, check out camtang's one with all the ledges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 I know I won't be able to build one. Not because I'm not capable, but because I don't have a garage or a workspace I could use, I have a small house, two young children and I work full-time. Never gonna happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 i would go the lighter one as over time with algae etc it will darken anyway. I do think either way it will look good but just be sure you understand how it will look when it's in the tank. I have seen them in a tank in a store and the joins were quite obvious and i thought it really let the look down so just make sure you totally understand how it will end up before parting with the cash. Also, will it cover the entire back wall? what are you doing with the plumbing, heater etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Yes it will cover the entire back wall. I am not sure whether it is possible to conceal the heater etc behind it or not, but I am not too worried about that. I just hate the flat glass, algae covered, backing paper look, so anything is an improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 It will get covered in algae faster than glass and be harder to clean off, if you want to remove the algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 It will get covered in algae faster than glass and be harder to clean off, if you want to remove the algae. I know but I still think it will look a million times better, even covered in algae! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted June 15, 2013 Report Share Posted June 15, 2013 i had a 4 ft tank with pieces of slate (charcoal colour) simply siliconed to the back glass panel. i found even in a high-tech set up i never needed to clean it; it just got a little furry algae on it around the edges but you couldn't notice it, i think it actually added to the look. and i way preferred it to just a plain glass back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 Well I have ended up buying the granite Juwel ones because a friend of mine can get them at wholesale price so that made the decision easy. I will post pictures once they are installed and then you can all say 'yay they look great' or 'I told you so' :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomsam1001 Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 One of my friends had this one and the algae made it look better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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