Painting the Inside of an Acyrlic Tank?.

gibz4 · 07/27/2006, 12:55 PM

I know people have painted the backside of their glass tanks. Has anyone every painted the inside of a colored acrylic tank? My current tank has a blue back but i want to change it out to black.. Any suggestions on what kind of paint to use if it is possible? I know some people use Krylon to paint PVC pipes. Would that work as well with the background? I don't want it to peel later on while water is in it.

BlueCorn · 07/27/2006, 12:58 PM

What about just buying a very thin piece of black acrylic and putting it inside? I'd feel better about that than putting paint somewhere that's going to contact water.

gibz4 · 07/27/2006, 01:15 PM

a large piece for my 90 would cost around 30 to 40 bucks, i'd like to keep the price down...

scaryperson27 · 07/27/2006, 01:27 PM

I don't think there is a non water soluable paint that you can stick on your tank. Acrylic would be the way to go in my opinion.

BlueCorn · 07/27/2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibz4
a large piece for my 90 would cost around 30 to 40 bucks, i'd like to keep the price down...

Setting up a new system routinely costs $25-$50 per gallon. Considering what livestock costs, an extra $30 up front would certainly be worth it to me. It's a decision that you have to make for yourself but I wouldn't do it.

You'd most likely have to go to some sort of epoxy paint which is going to cost you close to what a piece of acrylic will cost.

Just my $0.02

loup · 07/27/2006, 01:42 PM

I would constantly worry about my tank if I had painted the inside of my tank. Who knows what chemical can leech out and the havoc it can play in your tank. I rather fork out the cost of an arcylic.

travismcgee · 07/27/2006, 02:33 PM

i used black pond foam on my tank and i like it better than paint as it adds texture and looks like the live rock as the coralline covers it. i would take some rough sandpaper and score the acrylic before smearing it on as some of mine peeld off where the return has hit it

gibz4 · 07/27/2006, 03:59 PM

thanks for all your responses

msuzuki126 · 07/27/2006, 04:01 PM

Krylon Fusion spray is reef safe i believe.

scaryperson27 · 07/28/2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by travismcgee
i used black pond foam on my tank and i like it better than paint as it adds texture and looks like the live rock as the coralline covers it. i would take some rough sandpaper and score the acrylic before smearing it on as some of mine peeld off where the return has hit it

That is a great idea. It doesn't have to be acrylic or paint. you could probaly even get away with using one of those aquarium backgrounds inside your tank.

Psychographic · 07/28/2006, 06:32 AM

Why not just paint the outside of the tank?

raskal311 · 07/28/2006, 07:45 AM

Because the back of his tank is not clear.

whiirly · 07/28/2006, 08:19 AM

that black pond foam is cool stuff and you can push corals into it if you want really helps make the tank look deeper

Dubbin1 · 07/28/2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beerguy
What about just buying a very thin piece of black acrylic and putting it inside? I'd feel better about that than putting paint somewhere that's going to contact water.

Thats what I did for one of my old tanks.

Psychographic · 07/28/2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by raskal311
Because the back of his tank is not clear.

I guess I should pay more attention!

scaryperson27 · 07/28/2006, 03:26 PM

^ Lol.

nathan_unsane · 07/28/2006, 03:42 PM

is that black pond foam, where can you get that stuff?

it's a product i assume?

07/27/2006, 12:55 PM	#1
gibz4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Atwater Village/Glendale Posts: 198	Painting the Inside of an Acyrlic Tank?. I know people have painted the backside of their glass tanks. Has anyone every painted the inside of a colored acrylic tank? My current tank has a blue back but i want to change it out to black.. Any suggestions on what kind of paint to use if it is possible? I know some people use Krylon to paint PVC pipes. Would that work as well with the background? I don't want it to peel later on while water is in it.

07/27/2006, 12:58 PM	#2
BlueCorn Retired Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,908	What about just buying a very thin piece of black acrylic and putting it inside? I'd feel better about that than putting paint somewhere that's going to contact water. __________________ Doug [I]Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made when establishing tonal relationships. ~ Ansel Adams[/I]

07/27/2006, 01:42 PM	#6
loup Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: elk grove, ca Posts: 981	I would constantly worry about my tank if I had painted the inside of my tank. Who knows what chemical can leech out and the havoc it can play in your tank. I rather fork out the cost of an arcylic. __________________ Lou Fat Fish = Happy Owner Current Tank Info: a nano with fishies ...

07/27/2006, 04:01 PM	#9
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	Krylon Fusion spray is reef safe i believe. __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild

07/28/2006, 08:19 AM	#13
whiirly Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Orland Park ILL Posts: 3,177	that black pond foam is cool stuff and you can push corals into it if you want really helps make the tank look deeper __________________ Whiirly A.K.A The One and ONLY:)> Current Tank Info: 180 might as well be a FOWLR

07/27/2006, 01:15 PM	#3
gibz4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Atwater Village/Glendale Posts: 198	a large piece for my 90 would cost around 30 to 40 bucks, i'd like to keep the price down...

07/27/2006, 01:27 PM	#4
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	I don't think there is a non water soluable paint that you can stick on your tank. Acrylic would be the way to go in my opinion.

07/27/2006, 02:33 PM	#7
travismcgee Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: hampstead nc Posts: 117	i used black pond foam on my tank and i like it better than paint as it adds texture and looks like the live rock as the coralline covers it. i would take some rough sandpaper and score the acrylic before smearing it on as some of mine peeld off where the return has hit it

07/27/2006, 03:59 PM	#8
gibz4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Atwater Village/Glendale Posts: 198	thanks for all your responses

07/28/2006, 06:32 AM	#11
Psychographic Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 439	Why not just paint the outside of the tank?

07/28/2006, 07:45 AM	#12
raskal311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Orange County Posts: 5,274	Because the back of his tank is not clear.

07/28/2006, 03:26 PM	#16
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	^ Lol.

07/28/2006, 03:42 PM	#17
nathan_unsane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: central florida Posts: 461	is that black pond foam, where can you get that stuff? it's a product i assume?