To paint the back of tank or not?

Diffusion · 08/29/2008, 08:33 AM

I am just getting to the final steps on my new tank build (75G) and started thinking about painting the back of the tank.
The tank has 3 holes in the back (the idea from this thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310585&perpage=25&highlight=herbie%20silent&pagenumber=1

so there is some plumbing to hide

Are there other advantages of doing this?

(PS was thinking of painting black.)

shuguley · 08/29/2008, 08:40 AM

Painting is a pretty permanent thing to do to an aquarium, which is why I never will. Why not go to the LFS and buy some black paper background? Then if you decide you don't like it, you can always take it off and put up a new background. I put some deep blue background on my tank and I love the way it looks.

Flightpipe · 08/29/2008, 08:43 AM

I didn't paint the back of my 75 but I wish I did. I used some of the thick plastic backing from my LFS to cover it. I have a bunch of junk since i do not have my tank drilled but it still hides a pretty good sized mess back there.

brdracing · 08/29/2008, 08:44 AM

I painted the back of my 55g and I love it, It is a really clean look if done right.

jpkboca · 08/29/2008, 09:40 AM

I painted the back of my 90 and it looks great. I've used the backigns from the LFS before, and didn't like them as much, painting is more permanent, though can be removed by scrapign if need be, but I like the look much better.

reefconcepts · 08/29/2008, 10:02 AM

Painting the back of the tank is the way to go. Putting paper or something like never stands up over time.
I used Rust-Oleum appliance epoxy spray in black, Lowes carries it. It works great and there are no runs, drips or errors.
If can be taken off once dried with a razor blade if necessary. One big point, cover it well while still wet, as once
it is dry or well set, you will mess up the whole job if you try to touch it up!

RobynT · 08/29/2008, 10:18 AM

I painted the back of my tank (deep blue) and I really love it! I've had those paper things before and they sagged and eventually came loose and looked bad. I know I can scrape the back glass if I ever needed to but I dont intend to take down this tank anytime soon!

limitdown · 08/29/2008, 11:39 AM

The guys that build my tank used black plastic adhesive film on the back. Sort of like tinting on car windows, but my tank's "tint" is pitch black.

waxy · 08/29/2008, 11:50 AM

You can buy a sheet of black acrylic sheeting for $7-10 per sq/ft.

Just apply that to the back, you can get a proportional size and it can be 1/8 of an inch thick. 3/16th if you prefer, either way it wont get warped from the light because the water keeps it cooled.

Aadler · 08/29/2008, 12:04 PM

painting is not regrettable. blue or black, both are nice, i have one of each :c). krylon fusion. just tape up the sides/front well.

mike

Kieth71 · 08/29/2008, 12:53 PM

what paints are best for painting glass tank...ie for my qt tank?

Diffusion · 08/29/2008, 02:29 PM

I have heard Krylon fusion is very good.

Kieth71 · 08/29/2008, 02:48 PM

ok i see a few paints listed above but thought krylon fusion was for plastics..ty for the reply

tntaggie · 08/29/2008, 03:09 PM

paint. Exterior black latex. I used a small roller for first layer, brush for the next couple of layers after that. Looking at it from the front, it looks great. really sets off the rock and livestock in the tank. My 2 cents.

Nuuze · 08/29/2008, 03:15 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_search...20USA&parsed=1

Diffusion · 09/02/2008, 09:27 AM

Thanks for everyone's advice!

I went ahead and painted this weekend with Krylon fusion. It came out great!

(I didnt realize how dirty my glass is now, gotta clean that :P )

08/29/2008, 08:33 AM	#1
Diffusion Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 68	To paint the back of tank or not? I am just getting to the final steps on my new tank build (75G) and started thinking about painting the back of the tank. The tank has 3 holes in the back (the idea from this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1310585&perpage=25&highlight=herbie%20silent&pagenumber=1 so there is some plumbing to hide Are there other advantages of doing this? (PS was thinking of painting black.)

08/29/2008, 08:40 AM	#2
shuguley Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Smiths Station, AL Posts: 536	Painting is a pretty permanent thing to do to an aquarium, which is why I never will. Why not go to the LFS and buy some black paper background? Then if you decide you don't like it, you can always take it off and put up a new background. I put some deep blue background on my tank and I love the way it looks. __________________ 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Midas Blenny, Spotted Mandarin, Pistol Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Large CUC Corals: Xenia, Candy Cane, Zoas, Frogspawn, Brain, Bubble, Shrooms, Sun Current Tank Info: 55G Reef w/ 15G sump/fuge w/chaeto, Phosban Reactor w/GFO, AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer, 2 Koralia 3s, Nova Extreme T5HO 216W, 85lbs LR, 60lbs LS

08/29/2008, 08:43 AM	#3
Flightpipe Sea Turtles Love Me...... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL. Posts: 745	I didn't paint the back of my 75 but I wish I did. I used some of the thick plastic backing from my LFS to cover it. I have a bunch of junk since i do not have my tank drilled but it still hides a pretty good sized mess back there. __________________ "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." Current Tank Info: 29 BC Reef

08/29/2008, 10:02 AM	#6
reefconcepts Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Reidsville, NC Posts: 91	To paint the back of tank or not? Paint!! Painting the back of the tank is the way to go. Putting paper or something like never stands up over time. I used Rust-Oleum appliance epoxy spray in black, Lowes carries it. It works great and there are no runs, drips or errors. If can be taken off once dried with a razor blade if necessary. One big point, cover it well while still wet, as once it is dry or well set, you will mess up the whole job if you try to touch it up!

08/29/2008, 11:39 AM	#8
limitdown Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 640	The guys that build my tank used black plastic adhesive film on the back. Sort of like tinting on car windows, but my tank's "tint" is pitch black. __________________ All I want for Christmas is to stay employed... Current Tank Info: 200g display + 50g sump FO

08/29/2008, 08:44 AM	#4
brdracing Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Statesville, NC Posts: 299	I painted the back of my 55g and I love it, It is a really clean look if done right.

08/29/2008, 09:40 AM	#5
jpkboca Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boca Raton Posts: 1,279	I painted the back of my 90 and it looks great. I've used the backigns from the LFS before, and didn't like them as much, painting is more permanent, though can be removed by scrapign if need be, but I like the look much better.

08/29/2008, 10:18 AM	#7
RobynT Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galva IL (aka Mayberry) Posts: 590	I painted the back of my tank (deep blue) and I really love it! I've had those paper things before and they sagged and eventually came loose and looked bad. I know I can scrape the back glass if I ever needed to but I dont intend to take down this tank anytime soon!

08/29/2008, 11:50 AM	#9
waxy Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jan Sose, CA Posts: 972	You can buy a sheet of black acrylic sheeting for $7-10 per sq/ft. Just apply that to the back, you can get a proportional size and it can be 1/8 of an inch thick. 3/16th if you prefer, either way it wont get warped from the light because the water keeps it cooled.

08/29/2008, 12:04 PM	#10
Aadler Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,336	painting is not regrettable. blue or black, both are nice, i have one of each :c). krylon fusion. just tape up the sides/front well. mike __________________ MiniBow 7 - WooHoo

08/29/2008, 12:53 PM	#11
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	what paints are best for painting glass tank...ie for my qt tank?

08/29/2008, 02:29 PM	#12
Diffusion Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 68	I have heard Krylon fusion is very good.

08/29/2008, 02:48 PM	#13
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	ok i see a few paints listed above but thought krylon fusion was for plastics..ty for the reply

08/29/2008, 03:09 PM	#14
tntaggie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 17	paint. Exterior black latex. I used a small roller for first layer, brush for the next couple of layers after that. Looking at it from the front, it looks great. really sets off the rock and livestock in the tank. My 2 cents.

08/29/2008, 03:15 PM	#15
Nuuze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NorCal, California Posts: 3,550	http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_search...20USA&parsed=1

09/02/2008, 09:27 AM	#16
Diffusion Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 68	Thanks for everyone's advice! I went ahead and painted this weekend with Krylon fusion. It came out great! (I didnt realize how dirty my glass is now, gotta clean that :P )