Painting a tank?

dawgs · 02/04/2009, 08:14 AM

i will be picking up my new tank on saturday. 120 gal. what is the proper way to black out the back of the tank? should i paint it? what kind of paint? what other back grounds do you guys use? im all ears

Ranchhand02 · 02/04/2009, 08:23 AM

I bough a cling background online. It sticks on the back and it is removable if you want to change colors. I really like mine.

dawgs · 02/04/2009, 08:26 AM

its actually called a "cling background?"

nu2reefva · 02/04/2009, 08:28 AM

just basic latex paint (black) or krylon fusion. always black youll get tired or blue quick it does not make colors pop so anyway i would use black.

dawgs · 02/04/2009, 08:32 AM

can paint be removed in the future ?

dawgs · 02/04/2009, 08:54 AM

can paint be removed if desired?

Sugar Magnolia · 02/04/2009, 09:00 AM

I would imagine, with a razor blade it would come off. The back will eventually be covered in coraline algae though, unless you like to keep that "clean" look.

BuddhaKiss · 02/04/2009, 09:06 AM

Well I have tanks with posterboard, paint, and removable tint. IMO a painted black looks the best, and can be removed with a razor blade and some elbow grease. I like the tint b/c it looks just as good aside from a few airbubbles, and I can remove it.

sdfish · 02/04/2009, 09:50 AM

i have mirrors on mine. seems to brighten the tank. and gives the tank a deep look. but need to keep the back clean for it to look really good.

02/04/2009, 08:14 AM	#1
dawgs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 112	Painting a tank? i will be picking up my new tank on saturday. 120 gal. what is the proper way to black out the back of the tank? should i paint it? what kind of paint? what other back grounds do you guys use? im all ears

02/04/2009, 08:28 AM	#4
nu2reefva Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 427	just basic latex paint (black) or krylon fusion. always black youll get tired or blue quick it does not make colors pop so anyway i would use black. __________________ "Dont you just love the smell of Acro in the Morning!" Current Tank Info: 120, ATB 840, LMIII 2-Part baby, 250 watt 20k radiums on new Ice Cap, Lumenbright III, VHO actinics, Nano Wavebox, Dart Closed Loop with OM 4 Way, Eheim Return, 100Lbs of Marshal Rock, 150Lbs of Sand

02/04/2009, 09:00 AM	#7
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I would imagine, with a razor blade it would come off. The back will eventually be covered in coraline algae though, unless you like to keep that "clean" look. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/04/2009, 09:50 AM	#9
sdfish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 367	i have mirrors on mine. seems to brighten the tank. and gives the tank a deep look. but need to keep the back clean for it to look really good. __________________ The fish made me do it.... Current Tank Info: in wall 170g starphire 48x24x36, 75 gallon sump w/dsb, MRC MR6 skimmer custom (in the works), 3-250watt MH 14k, 2-110 vho actinics, Aquacontroller jr, 1200gph closed loop, 2000gph return

02/04/2009, 08:23 AM	#2
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	I bough a cling background online. It sticks on the back and it is removable if you want to change colors. I really like mine.

02/04/2009, 08:26 AM	#3
dawgs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 112	its actually called a "cling background?"

02/04/2009, 08:32 AM	#5
dawgs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 112	can paint be removed in the future ?

02/04/2009, 08:54 AM	#6
dawgs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 112	can paint be removed if desired?

02/04/2009, 09:06 AM	#8
BuddhaKiss Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 1,068	Well I have tanks with posterboard, paint, and removable tint. IMO a painted black looks the best, and can be removed with a razor blade and some elbow grease. I like the tint b/c it looks just as good aside from a few airbubbles, and I can remove it.