why to paint the back of the tank??

pepino · 12/11/2007, 10:32 AM

just wanted to ask whats the reason people paints the back of the tank and had anybody done something out of the ordinary?/

an411 · 12/11/2007, 10:53 AM

Its just a personal preference. I see people debating over black or blue for the color. I just want mine to be covered in coralline

pepino · 12/11/2007, 10:56 AM

ok but will look better painted and then cover on coraline or will look better with out painted and just cover in coraline???

papagimp · 12/11/2007, 10:56 AM

It makes the tank look pretty. Nothing more. I like having the back of my tanks painted black or with a black background (color preferences only) but do this to hide the hoses and pvc behind the tank (return lines, overflows, ect. ect. )

papagimp · 12/11/2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pepino
ok but will look better painted and then cover on coraline or will look better with out painted and just cover in coraline???

That would be a personal preference their, you'll get different answers from different people. I personally like the look of a black background with coralline on it, but I've seen others do this with a blue background and thought it looks awesome too.

an411 · 12/11/2007, 10:58 AM

Yeah that is true papagimp if you have a hob system that is a benefit didn't think of that one.

pepino · 12/11/2007, 11:02 AM

never thought about that im going to paint like you said that way i can hide all the plumbing thanks alot guys for all the help

papagimp · 12/11/2007, 11:09 AM

Krylon Fusion spraypaint, available at walmart for dirtcheap. This is the only "safe" paint I've used. I know there are a couple others out there that people will recommend as well but don't recall off hand. I wouldn't use just anything though, some stuff won't be as safe.

papagimp · 12/11/2007, 11:13 AM

One last thing I'd like to mention. I have a 220g tank (not setup yet) it's undrilled so me and the misses have decided NOT to paint the back on this one, we'll use a background of sort. Reason for this.....if I were to scratch the heck out of my tank, I could always spin it around 180 and use the nice unscratched back for the front of the tank.

Now if the tank is already drilled, then by all means paint it, or if it's a cheaper tank like a 10g-29g or so, then I wouldn't worry much, but replacing a 220g for a bad scratch would be too costly. Just another thought for ya.

luvnpc69 · 12/11/2007, 11:50 AM

i did not like the idea of using paint or window tint(which you must put on the inside to get dark enough) on my tank, but wanted the black background....i just bought two pieces of black cardboard from wal mart and fixed them together....great looking background, no permanent change to the tank, covers up all the equipment and keeps all the light out....only cost me 8 bucks

Savas · 12/11/2007, 12:55 PM

My favorite new background is a mirrored one. It allows you to see the backside of all those nice corals.

papagimp · 12/11/2007, 12:58 PM

mirrored is good if you don't have any aggressive specimens that would attack their own reflection. Such as a freshwater betta fish does. And don't expect to get more "reflection" from the lights due to the mirror either. I've seen many posts asking if that would help, I'm sure it does a little, but not like people would think.

K' Family Reef · 12/11/2007, 08:34 PM

i dont like the back of my tank painted!
use painted plexi glass that can be removed... can paint it any color then or change it if desire...

purposely kept our 125 out from wall 12-13"
when set up so could see behind it... couldnt imagine painting it and never being able to see behind it all... like to know what is going on back there especially if something comes up missing etc...

regards

demonsp · 12/11/2007, 08:39 PM

I used spray paint from lowes. It is pacific blue and looked great untill coraline algea and coral covered the back glass and is useless now as its covered. Any treatment used will only be temporary.

12/11/2007, 10:32 AM	#1
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	why to paint the back of the tank?? just wanted to ask whats the reason people paints the back of the tank and had anybody done something out of the ordinary?/

12/11/2007, 10:56 AM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	It makes the tank look pretty. Nothing more. I like having the back of my tanks painted black or with a black background (color preferences only) but do this to hide the hoses and pvc behind the tank (return lines, overflows, ect. ect. ) __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/11/2007, 11:09 AM	#8
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Krylon Fusion spraypaint, available at walmart for dirtcheap. This is the only "safe" paint I've used. I know there are a couple others out there that people will recommend as well but don't recall off hand. I wouldn't use just anything though, some stuff won't be as safe. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/11/2007, 11:13 AM	#9
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	One last thing I'd like to mention. I have a 220g tank (not setup yet) it's undrilled so me and the misses have decided NOT to paint the back on this one, we'll use a background of sort. Reason for this.....if I were to scratch the heck out of my tank, I could always spin it around 180 and use the nice unscratched back for the front of the tank. Now if the tank is already drilled, then by all means paint it, or if it's a cheaper tank like a 10g-29g or so, then I wouldn't worry much, but replacing a 220g for a bad scratch would be too costly. Just another thought for ya. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/11/2007, 11:50 AM	#10
luvnpc69 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: illinois, usa Posts: 67	i did not like the idea of using paint or window tint(which you must put on the inside to get dark enough) on my tank, but wanted the black background....i just bought two pieces of black cardboard from wal mart and fixed them together....great looking background, no permanent change to the tank, covers up all the equipment and keeps all the light out....only cost me 8 bucks __________________ je est un autre Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 100 lbs lr, 55 lbs ls, small fuge, power compact with actinic, sump filter with skimmer; 10 gallon mantis tank, 15 lb lr, 20 lb ls, power compact with actinic

12/11/2007, 10:53 AM	#2
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	Its just a personal preference. I see people debating over black or blue for the color. I just want mine to be covered in coralline

12/11/2007, 10:58 AM	#6
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	Yeah that is true papagimp if you have a hob system that is a benefit didn't think of that one.

12/11/2007, 11:02 AM	#7
pepino Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st charles, missouri Posts: 1,105	never thought about that im going to paint like you said that way i can hide all the plumbing thanks alot guys for all the help

12/11/2007, 12:55 PM	#11
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	My favorite new background is a mirrored one. It allows you to see the backside of all those nice corals. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

12/11/2007, 12:58 PM	#12
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	mirrored is good if you don't have any aggressive specimens that would attack their own reflection. Such as a freshwater betta fish does. And don't expect to get more "reflection" from the lights due to the mirror either. I've seen many posts asking if that would help, I'm sure it does a little, but not like people would think. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/11/2007, 08:34 PM	#13
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	i dont like the back of my tank painted! use painted plexi glass that can be removed... can paint it any color then or change it if desire... purposely kept our 125 out from wall 12-13" when set up so could see behind it... couldnt imagine painting it and never being able to see behind it all... like to know what is going on back there especially if something comes up missing etc... regards

12/11/2007, 08:39 PM	#14
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	I used spray paint from lowes. It is pacific blue and looked great untill coraline algea and coral covered the back glass and is useless now as its covered. Any treatment used will only be temporary.