Back wall issue.

[mbmikebray]

About this time last year when ready to cover the back of the tank I bought the blue backing from the LFS and they suggested a soapy type of adhesive to apply the backing permanently to the glass which I also bought. Well it has rippled badly over time and now I don't like the look of it at all! I think I could remove it (tank less than 1in from wall) but not sure what to do to replace it-was thinking about sliding a piece of plywood or something similar, painted or coated in some fashion behind the glass but not sure because of the wires from the lighting behind the tank. Has anyone tried this when the tank is so close to the wall? Would it look ok if I could replace it or should I leave it as it is. Any ideas from your experience please..

[worm5406]

Have you removed it yet? It might cause an ugly mess and rip to shreds if you are not careful.

Choose your destination as the untraveled road might be bumpy.

[mbmikebray]

Originally Posted by worm5406

Have you removed it yet? It might cause an ugly mess and rip to shreds if you are not careful.

Choose your destination as the untraveled road might be bumpy.

Not yet, pleased you pointed out that it might rip!!! Didn't think of that-maybe it will eventually be covered by growth on the inside of the glass.

[Silvergryphon]

Duct tape a flat edge razer (carefully!) to a dowel rod and use it to ease up the background while pulling gently at it. Work up and down starting at one side and peel it carefully off the back of the tank. It may leave some glue residue behind, but if you're careful it shouldn't shred.

[worm5406]

And you can use that same dowel aspect to clean it. You just wont be able to put pressure. But the razor blade will be able to take care of any residue.

[thegrun]

The best long term covering after you remove the old backing and glue is to paint it. You can use a small 1" roller to apply the paint.

[Adamw327]

I cut and stretched a black trash bag, doesnt look half bad but i am going to get a black sheet instead, cut it to size, attach to one side and stretch to other.

Clear tape, double sided tape, or even magnets could hold it on, easy to remove/replace

Plan on actually getting a black, white, and blue sheet cut to size and im going to rotate until i decide which i like more

[Lsufiregal]

If you use a sheet salt will stain it quickly, especially black or blue. Think about a black hat that someone sweats in, the salt marks it leaves. If you want to go with a fabric option, hit the fabric store, they sell vinyl waterproof fabric that you would be able to just wipe clean.

[Savant]

what kind of black paint do you need?

[hoooop54]

flat black will work. I used flat black spray paint and it looks great. You must get the glass very clean though, otherwise it will look bad. You can definitely use a small roller.

[Guygettnby]

i always use vinyl on the back of my tanks. i try to get street sign grade when it is possible. it holds up against any light and salt. if applied correctly it will last a long time. so far it has last for over 10 years on one of my tanks that i ended up giving to a family member.

Paint will also work well. i just prefer the way i have been doing things.

[Adamw327]

Originally Posted by Lsufiregal

If you use a sheet salt will stain it quickly, especially black or blue. Think about a black hat that someone sweats in, the salt marks it leaves. If you want to go with a fabric option, hit the fabric store, they sell vinyl waterproof fabric that you would be able to just wipe clean.

My thought with a sheet is just pull it off and throw it in the washer when it gets some salt buildup, but i did not think about staining.

Was considering a white sheet for mine as well so that would be less of a problem, never heard of that fabric, how expensive is it?

[mikem101]

I just painted the back of my glass with a small roller painted it black and couldnt be happier! So IMO i would just get a small roller pick a color and go nuts on the back glass of the tank!

[mbmikebray]

Lots of great ideas, decided to measure the gap and its .5 ins so very narrow! Havn't decided which way to go with it yet, don't want to mess it up worse than it is now. Thanks for all the input.

[Lsufiregal]

The fabric isn't expensive at all. Just so you know the salt will permanently discolor the sheet, the salt build up will even turn a while sheet yellowish. I know this bc I work near the ship channel and the salt in the air collects on anything moist and discolors everything eventually. If you do go the way of the sheet, make sure you don't wash it with soap, just in case it accidentally dips in when you are changing it.

Depending on your tank size you could have a stiff paper background laminated with that really stiff plastic so that it is really sturdy and just slide it back there. When it gets dirty slide it out and wipe it off. I used some black fake marble laminate countertop on my old tank it looked awesome bc it looked like it shimmered. I just cut it to size and used Velcro to attach it to the back.

[worm5406]

OR... paint the wall behind it.

[AFord]

I painted the back of my tank with black plastidip. It's great because if you don't like it, it just peels right off.

I liked it so much I used it to paint the rims on my car too.

[Savant]

Gloss? Flat? Enamel? or just plain latex..lol

[AFord]

I used flat black plastidip. Got it at HD, not sure what other colors it comes in.

It's a rubber based product, which is what makes it so eay to remove, just peel it off.

Here it is on my car, no pictures on my phone of it on my tank.