What are the backgrounds made of ?
They are made of very high density polyurethane industrial foam.
What do I use to install my background ?
It needs to be glued in place with aquarium silicone sealant. Please refer to the Installation Page.
My aquarium has center braces. Does the background have to be cut ?
Yes, larger tanks have center braces and the background needs to be cut to fit inside. They are very easy to cut and can be glued back together inside the tank with aquarium silicone.
Does the background mount on the back wall ?
Most of the backgrounds are not flat on the backside. They are curved and go in and out so there is room for whatever equipment you want to hide. It can be moved forward how ever far you want. They are glued in place on the bottom and up the sides. Please refer to the Installation Page.
How do you keep the water circulating behind the background ?
You need to make vent holes in the background so water can flow from front to back. The usual set up, is to take water from the back with your pump or filter and return it to the front. Please refer to the Installation Page.
Are the backgrounds safe for fish ?
Yes. All the materials used are non toxic and PH neutral, unlike cement backgrounds, that raise the PH. These type of backgrounds have been used in Europe for about 15 years now, with no problems.
What do I do about algae growing, can it be cleaned off ?
Yes, it can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush. This one is up to you. Some people can't wait for some algae to grow. Others want the ultimate sterile look. It is no different than any other rocks, plants, and other decorations in a conventional set up. If you don't want algae, keep the nitrates, phosphates, and other algae growing nutrients down !!
Why are the backgrounds so expensive
First of all they are not easy to make. It takes an artist a long time to sculpt the original. Then a silicone mold needs to be made, which needs to be replaced after several casts are done. Next
comes the polyurethane foam and a lot of it. Both the silicone and polyurethane are very expensive, to the tune of over $100. per gallon! After the cure is over, an artist has to paint it with special paints that are non toxic. Then there is the shipping, that has gone up substantially in the past few years.
When you look at all the expense of creating a show aquarium, a beautiful background is not that
expensive, for what it does. You will have something not many other people have, a show aquarium without a solid blue background and without all the equipment showing.
