How To Affix A Vinyl Background?

[Deleted member 55926]

I would like a vinyl background to my tank, as it is against a light cream coloured wall at the moment, and I'd like to show off the colours of the plants and fish. I was thinking black, as this seems the least 'tacky', and blue seems too marine-like. What is everyone's general opinion on these backgrounds? Would you recommend or discourage the use of a particular colour or type for any reason?

How do I fix it to the back of my tank? Is there a particular type of adhesive I need, and how do I prevent air bubbles? I assume I attach the vinyl to the back of the tank... it's not really feasible for me to attach it inside anymore.

 

[ian]

i decided on Black, IMO its the best looking background for a natural biotope. I just used normal sellotape, ensuring the tape doesn't go over the top into the tank, cos thats when water will get down the back. So its stuck about half an inch from the top of the tank just under the hood.

 

[AdAndrews]

Use vegetable/sunflower oil and "dab" some onto the vinyl(the side that you have chosen) and cover it lightly with the oil, push onto the tank, and smooth out with a credit card, this gets rid of the bubbles.. the heat of the water can also get rid of the bubbles too.

Adam

 

[Rooster]

Google for how to fit window tints to a car.... all you need is some wetting agent, TINY amount of oil, or water/washing up liquid, and a squeegee.

Smooth the film on from the CENTRE outwards with the squeegee (or credit card etc - but be careful as these may scratch/tear/stretch the film)

Leave NO bubbles - they wont vanish ! Not a problem, with patterned film, but will nag you to death on a plain black for instance.

Its a LOT easier than it sounds, and if you muck it up, just peel off and start again !

I personally dont like the oil option, as the edges are the "weak points" and can lift away from the glass... so a run of sticky tape is a good "belt and braces" idea (around the edges, onto the glass... oil would stop the tape sticking)
Unless the tank is against a wall, where its less likely to be disturbed... but on the other hand a darn sight harder to fix if you DO catch the edge with a cable or airline etc

 

[Deleted member 55926]

The oil method sounds quite messy... like everything will have a slight film of oil on it after a while - e.g. cables hanging down the back of the tank.

At the same time, doesn't sticky tape eventually get wet and begin to lose its stick at corners and get all grubby (or make the tank grubby)?

 

[Davo86]

You can also purchase a dry-clear glue specifically for this purpose, You should find it in most LFS nearby to the backgrounds

 

[drobbyb]

I've never tried it, but I hear petroleum jelly works very well. I would think that it would be messy though.

I just used tape on mine, but when you take pictures with a flash you can see the flash's reflection. I'm a fan of painting the back of the tank, and when I move here shortly (hopefully) I plan to paint the back of my 72 gallon before setting the tank up again.

 

[jarthel]

I plan to paint the back of my 72 gallon before setting the tank up again.

how would the paint stick properly on a slick surface like glass?

thanks

 

[drobbyb]

It sticks very well if you use the right kind of paint. I use Krylon brand spray paint on mine. I'm not sure what spray paint brands are available, but most of them would work I imagine. It's not expensive and adheres well.

Paints like acrylic won't stick very well and will bubble up if they get too wet.

 

[Rooster]

I plan to paint the back of my 72 gallon before setting the tank up again.

how would the paint stick properly on a slick surface like glass?

thanks

Ive painted tanks with all sorts ! Water based, such as emulsion balls up due to surface tension... but any old gloss should do the job
Make sure the glass is clean and DRY (I use a hair dryer to make sure) then just slop it on - do a few coats in different directions and it WILL look awful from the painted side, but ...........errr, as smooth as glass from the other side ! (pun intended ! )

 

[Deleted member 55926]

Well the background thing has been somewhat of an after-thought, so now that my tank is fully filled and against a wall, I have a slight dilemma. There should be enough gap between the wall for me to sort out a vinyl background with sticky tape, but painting doesn't seem like a viable option.

 

[aly_starh]

how big is the tank, you could slightly move it forward then add the background.

I have succesfully moved the 60l betta tank, it didnt crack!

 

[jarthel]

Ive painted tanks with all sorts ! Water based, such as emulsion balls up due to surface tension... but any old gloss should do the job
Make sure the glass is clean and DRY (I use a hair dryer to make sure) then just slop it on - do a few coats in different directions and it WILL look awful from the painted side, but ...........errr, as smooth as glass from the other side ! (pun intended ! )

can I use spray paints (in a small canister)?

thanks again

 

[drobbyb]

I use spray paints on mine. Gloss works best, like rooster said.

 

[Deleted member 55926]

how big is the tank, you could slightly move it forward then add the background.

I have succesfully moved the 60l betta tank, it didnt crack!

110L... I don't think I can physically move it, and even if I could, I have to move the cabinet it's sitting on, which I would worry about breaking under the strain of trying to drag it or something.