??? Paint for back of tank ???

Slingshot · 01/19/2007, 11:24 AM

Hello all,
Went out to purchase a tank background and the guy suggested that I paint the back of my new tank rather than taping on a background. Sounded like good idea to me to avoid the wrinkles and such, but I didn't ask if any special paint should be used. What paint do you guys/gals recommend?

Dave

BillyJoeJimBob · 01/19/2007, 11:43 AM

I think a lot of people use paint for this application. I used Krylon spray paint for my 20L. I think I did 3 or 4 coats. It is tough and sticks really well.

The only advice to really offer is to take your time taping the tank up. The overspray can easily settle and stick in the tank's opening, frame, or on any unprotected glass.

Gundo5000 · 01/19/2007, 12:30 PM

yup, Krylon Fusion.

piscivorous · 01/19/2007, 12:58 PM

Walmart Krylon Fusion black paint it was I used....worked well actually...did it in about 3 or 4 coats.

J. Montgomery · 01/19/2007, 01:14 PM

It may be more trouble that you're looking for, but you may want to try one of those background sheets (the blue side/black side kind) to figure out what color you want to use in the end. I've known people to paint their tank black and then later on say, "The black is too dark, I wish I had done blue." I've been using the taped-on background, and I'm on my third color/picture in the past six months.

dippin61 · 01/19/2007, 03:45 PM

this topic really needs to be stickied..

krylon fusion

Joe Cool · 01/19/2007, 05:08 PM

another for krylon fusion.

Slingshot · 01/19/2007, 05:43 PM

Thanks, I was hoping for someone to say they rolled it on though. I already set-up and plumbed my tank and it is in my living room. Does the Krylon paint come in cans to roll-on? I really don't want to bring the tank back down to the garage...

Dave

jimrawr · 01/19/2007, 05:52 PM

I just bought some of the black backing that they sell in most LFS. I cut it to fit exactly and then used really small pieces of tape to hold it. Was very easy, looks great, and if I change my mind one day its much easier to remove than paint.

bassettmd · 01/19/2007, 06:11 PM

jimrawr - just wanted to let you know that i did the same thing for some time with the black backing from the local pet shop. It looks great but it can make a mess if you have any salt creep whatsoever. Eventually i ripped mine off in a fit of fury and painted the back of the tank with ... krylon fusion. From my experience those backers are more for freshwater aquariums, just my .02

jimrawr · 01/19/2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bassettmd
jimrawr - just wanted to let you know that i did the same thing for some time with the black backing from the local pet shop. It looks great but it can make a mess if you have any salt creep whatsoever. Eventually i ripped mine off in a fit of fury and painted the back of the tank with ... krylon fusion. From my experience those backers are more for freshwater aquariums, just my .02

Good call I didnt think about that. I dont think I will have that problem though because my 30g oceanic has a wood trim at the top and the bottom. I managed to put the black backing under the wood trim both at the top and the bottom, so its sealed pretty good. Only way water will get in there is somehow through the sides..

We'll see though, so far so good but its only been a week

Thanks for the headsup

onano · 01/19/2007, 06:36 PM

Black contact paper will work. It is self adhesive and can be trimmed to fit. I used Fusion on my tank but this is a viable alternative.

rich11426 · 01/19/2007, 08:27 PM

Krylon Fusion

woodstock '69 · 01/19/2007, 08:50 PM

Well geez, I have never heard of krylon fusion. Wished I had - krylon is nice. I brushed (4 coats, .........a semi pia) of black rusteolum. Works great. Did the same thing on my discus tank. Still looks great .....2 years so far. Just in case you wanted to know.

dippin61 · 01/19/2007, 11:52 PM

if you want to roll it on, just take a can, spray it into a roller pan, and use a mini roller and go to town

polcat_4u · 01/20/2007, 07:30 AM

Did anyone notice that Krylon fusion is designed for painting plastic?

If your tank is glass use any cheap flat black spray paint, it will look the same (shiny) through the glass, dries faster, takes less coats, and costs less that Krylon Fusion. The fusion paint does work well on pvc and plastic parts.

ej1698 · 01/20/2007, 07:35 AM

JUST PAINT IT... you'll thank yourself later. tried that backing scene's sheets..... just like bassettmd said, you will wind up ripping it off. I will never use that stuff again.

EJ

Nano Chris · 01/20/2007, 06:33 PM

Can you easily scrape the Krylon Fusion off? Will it scratch the glass if i use a razor blade, thinking of painting mine.

bonbon · 01/20/2007, 07:01 PM

my LFS painted mine on for me before I brought it home.

It looks great!!!!!!

I have the stick on paper stuff (black) on my 130, I wish it was painted!

SushiChef · 01/20/2007, 08:00 PM

I over sprayed Krylon Fusion a little bit onto the sides of my tank and I scraped it right off with a flathead screwdriver with no problem.

WaterbugJenn · 01/20/2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bassettmd
jimrawr - just wanted to let you know that i did the same thing for some time with the black backing from the local pet shop. It looks great but it can make a mess if you have any salt creep whatsoever. Eventually i ripped mine off in a fit of fury and painted the back of the tank with ... krylon fusion. From my experience those backers are more for freshwater aquariums, just my .02

It did the same thing and yes i spilled waterdown the back in the first week, made a mess. I cant get behind my tank to spray it now so i will have to live with it till i have to tear down the for some reson(I really dont want to take it down way to much work at this point). I tried black brush on latex on my sump after 4 coats it was quite clear that it was not working. Latex shrinks during curing left little fish eye tears everywhere. Krylon Fusion

01/19/2007, 11:24 AM	#1
Slingshot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orange County NY Posts: 73	??? Paint for back of tank ??? Hello all, Went out to purchase a tank background and the guy suggested that I paint the back of my new tank rather than taping on a background. Sounded like good idea to me to avoid the wrinkles and such, but I didn't ask if any special paint should be used. What paint do you guys/gals recommend? Dave

01/19/2007, 12:30 PM	#3
Gundo5000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,534	yup, Krylon Fusion. __________________ GUNDO

01/19/2007, 01:14 PM	#5
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	It may be more trouble that you're looking for, but you may want to try one of those background sheets (the blue side/black side kind) to figure out what color you want to use in the end. I've known people to paint their tank black and then later on say, "The black is too dark, I wish I had done blue." I've been using the taped-on background, and I'm on my third color/picture in the past six months. __________________ Josh

01/19/2007, 03:45 PM	#6
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	this topic really needs to be stickied.. krylon fusion __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

01/19/2007, 05:52 PM	#9
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	I just bought some of the black backing that they sell in most LFS. I cut it to fit exactly and then used really small pieces of tape to hold it. Was very easy, looks great, and if I change my mind one day its much easier to remove than paint. __________________ Tank Info: 75g, 40g Sump, AquaMaxx Skimmer, Two Tunze 6095, ATI 8x52", Bubble Magus Dosing Pump, Apex Controller, Tunze ATO.

01/19/2007, 11:43 AM	#2
BillyJoeJimBob Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 174	I think a lot of people use paint for this application. I used Krylon spray paint for my 20L. I think I did 3 or 4 coats. It is tough and sticks really well. The only advice to really offer is to take your time taping the tank up. The overspray can easily settle and stick in the tank's opening, frame, or on any unprotected glass.

01/19/2007, 12:58 PM	#4
piscivorous Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Groton, N.Y. Posts: 801	Walmart Krylon Fusion black paint it was I used....worked well actually...did it in about 3 or 4 coats.

01/19/2007, 05:08 PM	#7
Joe Cool Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deerfield Beach, FL Posts: 294	another for krylon fusion.

01/19/2007, 05:43 PM	#8
Slingshot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orange County NY Posts: 73	Thanks, I was hoping for someone to say they rolled it on though. I already set-up and plumbed my tank and it is in my living room. Does the Krylon paint come in cans to roll-on? I really don't want to bring the tank back down to the garage... Dave

01/19/2007, 06:11 PM	#10
bassettmd Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NorthEast Posts: 710	jimrawr - just wanted to let you know that i did the same thing for some time with the black backing from the local pet shop. It looks great but it can make a mess if you have any salt creep whatsoever. Eventually i ripped mine off in a fit of fury and painted the back of the tank with ... krylon fusion. From my experience those backers are more for freshwater aquariums, just my .02

01/19/2007, 06:36 PM	#12
onano Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 425	Black contact paper will work. It is self adhesive and can be trimmed to fit. I used Fusion on my tank but this is a viable alternative.

01/19/2007, 08:27 PM	#13
rich11426 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Port Richey,Fl Posts: 20	Krylon Fusion

01/19/2007, 08:50 PM	#14
woodstock '69 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: central virginia Posts: 368	Well geez, I have never heard of krylon fusion. Wished I had - krylon is nice. I brushed (4 coats, .........a semi pia) of black rusteolum. Works great. Did the same thing on my discus tank. Still looks great .....2 years so far. Just in case you wanted to know.

01/19/2007, 11:52 PM	#15
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	if you want to roll it on, just take a can, spray it into a roller pan, and use a mini roller and go to town __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

01/20/2007, 07:30 AM	#16
polcat_4u Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 530	Did anyone notice that Krylon fusion is designed for painting plastic? If your tank is glass use any cheap flat black spray paint, it will look the same (shiny) through the glass, dries faster, takes less coats, and costs less that Krylon Fusion. The fusion paint does work well on pvc and plastic parts. __________________ I think DIY is the easiest way to do partial water changes. Current Tank Info: 90g DSB. Mak4 CL, mak4 on becket skimmer, Mag12 return. 2 -150 MH and 4 VHO.

01/20/2007, 07:35 AM	#17
ej1698 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston TX Posts: 318	JUST PAINT IT... you'll thank yourself later. tried that backing scene's sheets..... just like bassettmd said, you will wind up ripping it off. I will never use that stuff again. EJ __________________ ya tank is only as nice as your stand... Current Tank Info: working on a new one

01/20/2007, 06:33 PM	#18
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Can you easily scrape the Krylon Fusion off? Will it scratch the glass if i use a razor blade, thinking of painting mine. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

01/20/2007, 07:01 PM	#19
bonbon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Frankfort Il Posts: 26	my LFS painted mine on for me before I brought it home. It looks great!!!!!! I have the stick on paper stuff (black) on my 130, I wish it was painted!

01/20/2007, 08:00 PM	#20
SushiChef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 71	I over sprayed Krylon Fusion a little bit onto the sides of my tank and I scraped it right off with a flathead screwdriver with no problem.