A background can greatly improve the overall appearance of an aquarium. At the very least, it hides the various cords and airlines that are usually dangling behind the tank, and it can also provide an attractive color or scene to view your fishes against. Now is the perfect time to install an aquarium background, before the tank is full of water and up against a wall. Place the tank with the back side (if there's a difference) forward, and thoroughly clean the outside of the glass. If the background is multi-sided, choose your favorite scene, and make it face the inside of the tank. Trim the top edge of the background paper so that it can be slipped under the tank's top trim.

Special note for OceanVisions self-adhesive vinyl backgrounds: you should have received a card with their own special instructions, which should be followed for best effect. All other types of paper/scenic backgrounds, please continue. Use a clear, water-resistant tap to along the entire top edge of the background. This will not only hold it in place, but also keeps any water that is eventually dripped down the back of the tank from finding its way between the tank and background.

Use a razor blade or other sharp knife to trim the right and left edges of the background paper to size. Again, tape them in place with clear water-resistant tape, preferably along the entire edge to repel water. These edges are sometimes visible from the front, so do a neat job.

The bottom edge can be trimmed, but is best left to hang over the top edge of the tank's bottom trim, again, so that any water dripped down the back will not find its way between the glass and background. If it all looks clean and neat, turn the tank around, making sure it is again level.