Stripping Paint

[emo]

Hi,

I’ve recently purchased a few used tanks which I’ve been cleaning and preparing over the last couple of days. The last step is to remove the paint from the backs. They have all been used for marine in the past so have been painted with the typical light marine blue.

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for removing it? I’ve been using a stanley blade to get off all the coralline algae which has worked a treat, so I think that’s probably an option, though probably the most labour intensive. Anyone know if I can use standard paint stripper? Is it likely to mess with the silicone if any happened to get on it?


Thanks,
Steve

 

[Rooster]

Hi,

I’ve recently purchased a few used tanks which I’ve been cleaning and preparing over the last couple of days. The last step is to remove the paint from the backs. They have all been used for marine in the past so have been painted with the typical light marine blue.

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for removing it? I’ve been using a stanley blade to get off all the coralline algae which has worked a treat, so I think that’s probably an option, though probably the most labour intensive. Anyone know if I can use standard paint stripper? Is it likely to mess with the silicone if any happened to get on it?


Thanks,
Steve

If the tank is glass, a blade is the safest method - I doubt stripper will harm the silicon, but I wouldnt take that chance.

 

[drtim]

I have some experience with getting paint of a tank, i used a blade (use a new one!) and found that if youre careful you can sometimes peel it off, depends on how many coats they put on i suppose.
hope this helps
Good luck
T.

 

[emo]

Thanks for your help! I ended up using my good friend stanley to get the paint off. Once you get the angle right, it comes off relatively easily (with good quality paint) the other tanks had pretty cheap paint which proved a bit more difficult, came off in a powder almost rather than slices and strips like the other.

Took about an hour for a 180l tank! And for future reference, helps if the tank's warm of course...