Does anyone know an aquarium safe paint (not sprayable)

HyperAquatics · 11/28/2020, 02:40 PM

I'm currently changing a 40-gallon breeder, (that had an in-tank sump) to a reef tank, and after cleaning everything I realized that it would look a lot better if I could find some sort of black paint so I could paint the clear acrylic panel that houses the in-tank-sump black. I have done a little bit of research online and found people are using paints like Krylon fusion, but that doesn't really work for me as I just wanna be able to paint the panel by hand and not get spray paint everywhere, (obviously, I could just use tape but I don't really wanna do this). Does anyone know of any reef tank safe paints, that I could use to paint the panel that doesn't come in spray paint can? Thanks so much.

Michael Hoaster · 11/29/2020, 11:01 AM

This is challenging because most of the time the black paint is going on the OUTSIDE of the back glass. Since you are trying to paint inside the tank, you have to be very careful with what paint you choose. Sorry, I don't have an answer, but, as an alternative, you could get a thin piece of black acrylic and silicone it into place.

aaronpentz · 12/03/2020, 09:10 PM

Why not just order a peice of black acrylic and cut it to the same profile of the back wall. Then just silicone it in place. Or let it rest but have the sand and rocks hold it in location

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Timfish · 12/07/2020, 08:41 AM

I'll reiterate what they said - get a piece of acrylic and silicone it in place. If you want paint that will stick to well glass long term get a 2 part marine epoxy paint and be sure to rough up the glass surface with some wet/dry sand paper first.

bhbell · 12/13/2020, 03:20 PM

Dont know if you already took action on this, but if using the Marine Epoxy, make sure it does not have copper in it. A copper is added to some to reduce fouling.

HyperAquatics · 12/16/2020, 12:35 AM

thanks, guys, yea I ended up deciding anyways that I'm just gonna redo it with black acrylic like everyone here seems to think aswell.

11/29/2020, 11:01 AM	#2
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	This is challenging because most of the time the black paint is going on the OUTSIDE of the back glass. Since you are trying to paint inside the tank, you have to be very careful with what paint you choose. Sorry, I don't have an answer, but, as an alternative, you could get a thin piece of black acrylic and silicone it into place. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

12/03/2020, 09:10 PM	#3
aaronpentz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pingree Grove, IL Posts: 952	Why not just order a peice of black acrylic and cut it to the same profile of the back wall. Then just silicone it in place. Or let it rest but have the sand and rocks hold it in location Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk __________________ "Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling it brings" Current Tank Info: 67 Long

12/07/2020, 08:41 AM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I'll reiterate what they said - get a piece of acrylic and silicone it in place. If you want paint that will stick to well glass long term get a 2 part marine epoxy paint and be sure to rough up the glass surface with some wet/dry sand paper first. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

12/16/2020, 12:35 AM	#6
HyperAquatics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 17	thanks, guys, yea I ended up deciding anyways that I'm just gonna redo it with black acrylic like everyone here seems to think aswell. __________________ “All the water that will ever be is, right now.” – National Geographic - Current tank info, 40g fresh and 20g Salt

12/13/2020, 03:20 PM	#5
bhbell Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, MO Posts: 344	Dont know if you already took action on this, but if using the Marine Epoxy, make sure it does not have copper in it. A copper is added to some to reduce fouling.