painting my tank background

thakki · 08/21/2014, 06:53 PM

I had used aquarium background blue/black from lfs and glued it on the back of my tank using Seaview gel...everything was fine and my tank looked beautiful with dark blue background until recently like last week after 3 weeks...I started seeing bibles forming...at one particular place and it spread from top to bottom...looks bad now. Not sure what caused it
..anyway the question I have is...what kind of paint I cam use to paint a glass aquarium? And should I go with glossy or flat finish...thinking of going with black now...Pls suggest.

electrotech · 08/21/2014, 06:54 PM

doesn't matter glossy or matte the glass will make it glossy, I use acrylic craft paint with a small roller

James77 · 08/21/2014, 06:58 PM

I would do flat....not sure if it would even make a difference in appearance.

billdogg · 08/21/2014, 07:50 PM

I use gloss latex and a roller. It may take a few coats. Gloss because it is easier to wipe down.

kentwo · 08/21/2014, 07:57 PM

I used matte spray paint. But I'm not sure you could see much difference from the bonding side of the paint (ie. inside the tank.) I went with blue, looked more ocean like. I have black on my planted tank.

Spray paint was super easy, just go slow with lots of light layers, but don't over spray. Once it looks pretty even, stop. I made the mistake of over doing it. Didn't hurt the display side, but did make the back of the tank look uglier than it should have been.

reepher315 · 08/21/2014, 08:14 PM

Agreed. Gloss is easier to wipe. the finish wont matter from viewing side. I love the look of a painted tank.

James77 · 08/21/2014, 08:23 PM

Most any kind of spray paint will work very well also.....I am pretty sure my last two tanks have been spray paint.

jkdavids121507 · 08/21/2014, 08:24 PM

Use acrylic paint as it is easy to remove if you ever decide to. You can also pick it up fairly cheap. I recently painted mine black and it cost me less than $10. That includes a roll of painters tape, sponge roller, and paint.

apstreck · 08/21/2014, 09:59 PM

I used rustoleum latex paint from home depot, the small sample can was plenty. Turned out great with a small foam roller.

TangingOut · 08/22/2014, 02:53 AM

Maybe try plasti-dip. That stuff peels right off if you ever want to reverse it.

Sgt Jonny Cat · 08/22/2014, 05:10 AM

I used flat black glass paint. It works great and looks awesome when filled with water.

jkdavids121507 · 08/22/2014, 09:07 AM

I never thought of plasti dip. If/when I upgrade to a larger tank, I will definitely have to try it.

Dmorty217 · 08/22/2014, 09:14 AM

I just used plain old black paint from lowes and painted the tank... That was 1.5 yrs ago no problems what so ever

thakki · 08/22/2014, 09:41 AM

Thank you all for your suggestions. I bought valspar flat black paint + primer today...I am planning to use a soft roller for painting.

Dmorty217 · 08/22/2014, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thakki

Thank you all for your suggestions. I bought valspar flat black paint + primer today...I am planning to use a soft roller for painting.

I used one of the stupid little foam brushes you can find in a multipack for 2$, a roller would of worked much better

08/21/2014, 06:53 PM	#1
thakki Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Northern VA Posts: 85	painting my tank background I had used aquarium background blue/black from lfs and glued it on the back of my tank using Seaview gel...everything was fine and my tank looked beautiful with dark blue background until recently like last week after 3 weeks...I started seeing bibles forming...at one particular place and it spread from top to bottom...looks bad now. Not sure what caused it ..anyway the question I have is...what kind of paint I cam use to paint a glass aquarium? And should I go with glossy or flat finish...thinking of going with black now...Pls suggest.

08/21/2014, 06:58 PM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I would do flat....not sure if it would even make a difference in appearance. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/21/2014, 07:50 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I use gloss latex and a roller. It may take a few coats. Gloss because it is easier to wipe down. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/21/2014, 08:23 PM	#7
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Most any kind of spray paint will work very well also.....I am pretty sure my last two tanks have been spray paint. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/22/2014, 05:10 AM	#11
Sgt Jonny Cat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North of Boston Ma. Posts: 685	I used flat black glass paint. It works great and looks awesome when filled with water. __________________ In the process of putting together a 150 gallon mixed reef. Ill keep you posted. Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon

08/21/2014, 06:54 PM	#2
electrotech Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 113	doesn't matter glossy or matte the glass will make it glossy, I use acrylic craft paint with a small roller

08/21/2014, 07:57 PM	#5
kentwo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 79	I used matte spray paint. But I'm not sure you could see much difference from the bonding side of the paint (ie. inside the tank.) I went with blue, looked more ocean like. I have black on my planted tank. Spray paint was super easy, just go slow with lots of light layers, but don't over spray. Once it looks pretty even, stop. I made the mistake of over doing it. Didn't hurt the display side, but did make the back of the tank look uglier than it should have been.

08/21/2014, 08:14 PM	#6
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	Agreed. Gloss is easier to wipe. the finish wont matter from viewing side. I love the look of a painted tank.

08/21/2014, 08:24 PM	#8
jkdavids121507 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 85	Use acrylic paint as it is easy to remove if you ever decide to. You can also pick it up fairly cheap. I recently painted mine black and it cost me less than $10. That includes a roll of painters tape, sponge roller, and paint.

08/21/2014, 09:59 PM	#9
apstreck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 173	I used rustoleum latex paint from home depot, the small sample can was plenty. Turned out great with a small foam roller.

08/22/2014, 02:53 AM	#10
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	Maybe try plasti-dip. That stuff peels right off if you ever want to reverse it.

08/22/2014, 09:07 AM	#12
jkdavids121507 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 85	I never thought of plasti dip. If/when I upgrade to a larger tank, I will definitely have to try it.

08/22/2014, 09:14 AM	#13
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	I just used plain old black paint from lowes and painted the tank... That was 1.5 yrs ago no problems what so ever __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

08/22/2014, 09:41 AM	#14
thakki Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Northern VA Posts: 85	Thank you all for your suggestions. I bought valspar flat black paint + primer today...I am planning to use a soft roller for painting.