Black / Blue background for new tank

JimKelly12203 · 04/29/2015, 06:43 AM

Hello,

Was just wondering if there are any DIY methods for making the back glass of a tank either black or blue (haven't settled on which I prefer yet).

I'd rather not pay the company that puts in the overflow to do it. Is this as simple as just spray painting the back of the tank? And does such a method (assuming that's how it's done) hold-up when you're constantly keeping the back glass clean with a magnet cleaner?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Waters40 · 04/29/2015, 06:56 AM

I just used a latex paint and rolled it on. I would think it would get pretty scratched up though using a magnet cleaner. I just use a pad and clean the back that way.

scooter31707 · 04/29/2015, 07:43 AM

If you have a Michael's in your area, they have thin cardboard that is blue on 1 side and black on the other side. It only cost $3.99, just cut it to size and get some double-sided tape, that way you can interchange them if you want. You can actually take it off with ease if you wanted to use a magnet cleaner maybe once a month on the back glass. Best thing I used. Didn't have to use any paint.

hotelbravo · 04/29/2015, 07:52 AM

I used some tinted window shades and cut them to size to make a black background. Easy and free. Cant tell that it isnt the same kind of background that is sold at the store

JimKelly12203 · 04/29/2015, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter31707

If you have a Michael's in your area, they have thin cardboard that is blue on 1 side and black on the other side. It only cost $3.99, just cut it to size and get some double-sided tape, that way you can interchange them if you want. You can actually take it off with ease if you wanted to use a magnet cleaner maybe once a month on the back glass. Best thing I used. Didn't have to use any paint.

I do have a Michaels. Perfect solution. And price!

RocketEngineer · 04/29/2015, 09:12 AM

To me cardboard+water=mess.

I use Krylon Fusion spray paint. Masked off the edges, covered all sides with newspaper, and use several coats. Make sure the surface is clean before you start. If you don't like it, the paint comes off glass with a scraper. Getting it off acrylic is more problematic.

HTH,

CStrickland · 04/29/2015, 09:35 AM

I used the black sticky paper, like window tints. it looks ok but there's a few wrinkles that bug me. I wish I had just painted it but once the water is in you are stuck with it.

JimKelly12203 · 04/29/2015, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

To me cardboard+water=mess.

I use Krylon Fusion spray paint. Masked off the edges, covered all sides with newspaper, and use several coats. Make sure the surface is clean before you start. If you don't like it, the paint comes off glass with a scraper. Getting it off acrylic is more problematic.

HTH,

Cool. That's sort of what I was at first expecting to do. Do you use a magnet glass cleaner on the back?

cloak · 04/29/2015, 11:06 AM

I just use those vinyl backgrounds they sell at the LFS. (black) Measure it, cut it & apply four pieces of tape. Piece of cake. Also, if you ever get tired of the black and want to change to blue you can just reverse it.

Trybltrtle · 04/29/2015, 05:06 PM

I used black paint too. I kinda wish I had gotten fancy and done a blue (top) to black (bottom) gradient.

billdogg · 04/29/2015, 05:16 PM

I've used both blue and black paint (latex enamel) rolled on with disposable foam rollers. I prefer the black, but that's me.

And I haven't cleaned the back of a tank in like 25 years. I think of whatever grows there as free fresh fish food. The tang and snails pick at whatever little bit of algae grows there, the Urchin (I think) eats some of the coraline, everybody picks at the pods.

RocketEngineer · 04/29/2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKelly12203

Cool. That's sort of what I was at first expecting to do. Do you use a magnet glass cleaner on the back?

I don't honestly. I've never seen the need for cleaning the back glass since I'm not looking through it.

JimKelly12203 · 04/29/2015, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

I don't honestly. I've never seen the need for cleaning the back glass since I'm not looking through it.

Yeah i had always intended to just let the coraline go nuts back there. but then i got to reading about folks that keep the back clean and paint it black or blue. I like black, but the clean blue back really appeals to me.

It does speak volumes, however, when really experienced reefers just let the back grow wild. I guess i haven't really decided yet.

RocketEngineer · 04/30/2015, 05:07 AM

I think its a matter of prioritizing. For me, keeping the inhabitants healthy is my main goal. I clear the front glass routinely so I can view what is happening inside the tank but beyond that I try not to disrupt things any more than necessary. I would much rather spend time outside playing fetch with the dogs than worrying about how the back glass of the tank looks. To each their own.

scooter31707 · 04/30/2015, 06:00 AM

Well that's when it comes down to paying attention to what you are doing. If someone gets alot of water behind their tank you have some issues. I do have a reef ready tank so there is no plumbing on the back of the tank. Look at it this way if water spills back there the cardboard will soak it up, less you have to clean, spend $3.99 and have a fresh new one!

mmn · 04/30/2015, 06:28 AM

Here's what blue looks like on a new cycling 125g.

RocketEngineer · 04/30/2015, 06:51 AM

First painted back tank:
Initial setup with Navy blue background:

Several years later:

Black background on 125g:
Initial Setup:

About 3 years later:

[/QUOTE]

I like the black better myself. My office 40B also has a black background and the powerheads and internal skimmer blend into the background better than they ever did with the blue background on the 75g.

Martini5788 · 04/30/2015, 07:23 AM

I started with blue but I am changing to black for the sole reason that all the equipment sticks out like a sore thumb and the algae is so obvious on the back glass that I don't
Clean that often.

Daltonbilecki · 04/30/2015, 09:50 AM

Just use plasti dip. If you dont like it just peel it off. I think its like $6 a can

04/29/2015, 06:43 AM	#1
JimKelly12203 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 205	Black / Blue background for new tank Hello, Was just wondering if there are any DIY methods for making the back glass of a tank either black or blue (haven't settled on which I prefer yet). I'd rather not pay the company that puts in the overflow to do it. Is this as simple as just spray painting the back of the tank? And does such a method (assuming that's how it's done) hold-up when you're constantly keeping the back glass clean with a magnet cleaner? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

04/29/2015, 07:52 AM	#4
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	I used some tinted window shades and cut them to size to make a black background. Easy and free. Cant tell that it isnt the same kind of background that is sold at the store __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

04/29/2015, 09:12 AM	#6
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	To me cardboard+water=mess. I use Krylon Fusion spray paint. Masked off the edges, covered all sides with newspaper, and use several coats. Make sure the surface is clean before you start. If you don't like it, the paint comes off glass with a scraper. Getting it off acrylic is more problematic. HTH, __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

04/29/2015, 05:16 PM	#11
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I've used both blue and black paint (latex enamel) rolled on with disposable foam rollers. I prefer the black, but that's me. And I haven't cleaned the back of a tank in like 25 years. I think of whatever grows there as free fresh fish food. The tang and snails pick at whatever little bit of algae grows there, the Urchin (I think) eats some of the coraline, everybody picks at the pods. __________________ 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

04/30/2015, 05:07 AM	#14
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	I think its a matter of prioritizing. For me, keeping the inhabitants healthy is my main goal. I clear the front glass routinely so I can view what is happening inside the tank but beyond that I try not to disrupt things any more than necessary. I would much rather spend time outside playing fetch with the dogs than worrying about how the back glass of the tank looks. To each their own. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

04/29/2015, 06:56 AM	#2
Waters40 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 299	I just used a latex paint and rolled it on. I would think it would get pretty scratched up though using a magnet cleaner. I just use a pad and clean the back that way.

04/29/2015, 07:43 AM	#3
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	If you have a Michael's in your area, they have thin cardboard that is blue on 1 side and black on the other side. It only cost $3.99, just cut it to size and get some double-sided tape, that way you can interchange them if you want. You can actually take it off with ease if you wanted to use a magnet cleaner maybe once a month on the back glass. Best thing I used. Didn't have to use any paint.

04/29/2015, 09:35 AM	#7
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	I used the black sticky paper, like window tints. it looks ok but there's a few wrinkles that bug me. I wish I had just painted it but once the water is in you are stuck with it.

04/29/2015, 11:06 AM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I just use those vinyl backgrounds they sell at the LFS. (black) Measure it, cut it & apply four pieces of tape. Piece of cake. Also, if you ever get tired of the black and want to change to blue you can just reverse it.

04/29/2015, 05:06 PM	#10
Trybltrtle Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 29	I used black paint too. I kinda wish I had gotten fancy and done a blue (top) to black (bottom) gradient.

04/30/2015, 06:00 AM	#15
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Well that's when it comes down to paying attention to what you are doing. If someone gets alot of water behind their tank you have some issues. I do have a reef ready tank so there is no plumbing on the back of the tank. Look at it this way if water spills back there the cardboard will soak it up, less you have to clean, spend $3.99 and have a fresh new one!

04/30/2015, 06:51 AM	#17
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	First painted back tank: Initial setup with Navy blue background: Several years later: Black background on 125g: Initial Setup: About 3 years later: [/QUOTE] I like the black better myself. My office 40B also has a black background and the powerheads and internal skimmer blend into the background better than they ever did with the blue background on the 75g. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

04/30/2015, 07:23 AM	#18
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	I started with blue but I am changing to black for the sole reason that all the equipment sticks out like a sore thumb and the algae is so obvious on the back glass that I don't Clean that often.

04/30/2015, 09:50 AM	#19
Daltonbilecki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 282	Just use plasti dip. If you dont like it just peel it off. I think its like $6 a can