Window tint for background... which is best?

McPuff · 08/17/2016, 07:42 AM

I want to use blackout tint for the back of my 300DD... just seems easier and faster (and cleaner!) than paint. What type do you recommend? Does it matter? I've found a blackout type on Amazon so maybe that is good enough? Let me know your thoughts and experiences please.

Scottedontknow · 08/17/2016, 07:49 AM

depends on how good you are at tinting windows. if you have never done it before id maybe not try on your 300 as having tiny or large bubbles is much less appealing than paint. honestly i have used both rattle can and paint brushes to black out my tanks they look amazing and very very clean. maybe try 3m tint if you are dead set on it as 3m is more friendly when it comes to getting rid of bubbles.

L8Braker · 08/17/2016, 07:49 AM

Good luck getting it to appear perfect! Why not simply paint the background? It took me maybe an hour. I taped off the overflows so I can keep an eye on them(used frog tape). I bought a little 3-4" roller and went to town. Waited 10 minutes between coats(maybe more the first coat then it dried quickly). Also you can always just scrape the paint off if you want to change it. I'd be more tempted to try plastidip over window tint. Unless you are a window tint expert.

GimpyFin · 08/17/2016, 09:08 AM

It's actually quite easy. I use window tint on my tanks instead of paint. I usually go to home depot or lowes and get the Gila window tint that is almost completely black. I bought the kit with the spay bottle and squeege too, but you can also make your own spray solution with a bottle of water and a couple drops of dish soap.

The film is nice and fairly thick for window tint. Just measure the side you want to cover and then roll out the tint and cut it to measurement with a bix cutter or exacto knife. Spray the entire pane of glass with the solution, then peel away the backing on the tint. Spray a little on the tint as well and then apply. You can adjust it fairly easy if you don't align it right. Then just squeegee all the solution and air bubbles out and let it sit for a while. Also, if you ever wanted/needed to remove it, it comes off quite easy and clean.

Ou8me2 · 08/17/2016, 09:15 AM

I used plasti-dip on mine and got it for like 5 bucks a can on sale. It went on very easy to me and dried perfect. I even used it on my white pvc fittings. I came out excellent on the fittings and they look like they came black.

I've painted the back of tanks before and it's really not hard.

The spray on paint in a can be a challenge if you don't do nice even strokes it can turn ugly quick. Brush on acrylic paint works well also. Window tint could be a challenge if you never done it before.

FirstContact · 08/17/2016, 10:16 AM

Window tint! What a cool idea! Go for it.

McPuff · 08/17/2016, 11:36 AM

Yeah, I know paint is easy... and I may just end up doing that. But I already have tint on one side (purchased tank used) and thought it would be good to match it all. But I suppose it doesn't really matter.

08/17/2016, 07:42 AM	#1
McPuff Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,735	Window tint for background... which is best? I want to use blackout tint for the back of my 300DD... just seems easier and faster (and cleaner!) than paint. What type do you recommend? Does it matter? I've found a blackout type on Amazon so maybe that is good enough? Let me know your thoughts and experiences please.

08/17/2016, 09:08 AM	#4
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	It's actually quite easy. I use window tint on my tanks instead of paint. I usually go to home depot or lowes and get the Gila window tint that is almost completely black. I bought the kit with the spay bottle and squeege too, but you can also make your own spray solution with a bottle of water and a couple drops of dish soap. The film is nice and fairly thick for window tint. Just measure the side you want to cover and then roll out the tint and cut it to measurement with a bix cutter or exacto knife. Spray the entire pane of glass with the solution, then peel away the backing on the tint. Spray a little on the tint as well and then apply. You can adjust it fairly easy if you don't align it right. Then just squeegee all the solution and air bubbles out and let it sit for a while. Also, if you ever wanted/needed to remove it, it comes off quite easy and clean. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

08/17/2016, 10:16 AM	#6
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Window tint! What a cool idea! Go for it. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

08/17/2016, 07:49 AM	#2
Scottedontknow Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Bethelehm, PA Posts: 138	depends on how good you are at tinting windows. if you have never done it before id maybe not try on your 300 as having tiny or large bubbles is much less appealing than paint. honestly i have used both rattle can and paint brushes to black out my tanks they look amazing and very very clean. maybe try 3m tint if you are dead set on it as 3m is more friendly when it comes to getting rid of bubbles.

08/17/2016, 07:49 AM	#3
L8Braker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 143	Good luck getting it to appear perfect! Why not simply paint the background? It took me maybe an hour. I taped off the overflows so I can keep an eye on them(used frog tape). I bought a little 3-4" roller and went to town. Waited 10 minutes between coats(maybe more the first coat then it dried quickly). Also you can always just scrape the paint off if you want to change it. I'd be more tempted to try plastidip over window tint. Unless you are a window tint expert.

08/17/2016, 09:15 AM	#5
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	I used plasti-dip on mine and got it for like 5 bucks a can on sale. It went on very easy to me and dried perfect. I even used it on my white pvc fittings. I came out excellent on the fittings and they look like they came black. I've painted the back of tanks before and it's really not hard. The spray on paint in a can be a challenge if you don't do nice even strokes it can turn ugly quick. Brush on acrylic paint works well also. Window tint could be a challenge if you never done it before.

08/17/2016, 11:36 AM	#7
McPuff Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,735	Yeah, I know paint is easy... and I may just end up doing that. But I already have tint on one side (purchased tank used) and thought it would be good to match it all. But I suppose it doesn't really matter.