Tank painting

[stevo]

Newbie on here.

I have recently de-commisioned my tropical set up to get building work done. Going to re-install the tank within a wall, accessed from cupboard behind.

I had a sheet background that was stuck to the back of the tank before, but always had problems with water coming of the hood down the back, leaving marks and causing the base cabinet MDF to blister.

I am thinking about painting the back of the tank blue instead of a background paper.

Has anybody else done this and if so any advice on what kind of paint to use. i ahd been advised to use standard emulsion and water down the first two coats with turps. Will this peel off the back of the glass

Thanks for any help.

 

[impur]

I used blue krylon latex paint for the back of mine. Works great, took a couple coats. Doesn't scratch or peel at all.

 

[Munch]

I used a small pot (test pot) of ocean blue water based paint and gave it about 3 coats

 

[Paul_MTS]

How about bog standard poster paint mixed with PVA glue?

I haven't tried this but seems a good idea?

 

[clutterydrawer]

PVA is water soluble

any water that drips onto it, will probably dissolve it into a sludge, or at least make it all soft and sticky.


how about glass paint? If I get another tank I'm planning to paint the back with dark green solvent based glass paint. seems logical.

 

[Danno]

Water based paint is bad for a fish tank because its WATER soluable. You want to use a oil paint. A oil based clear coat gives it a nice glossy and sleek finish.

 

[ste2k3]

I used normal gloss paint from B&Q.

ste

 

[garbodude]

i use black water based paint - about 5 coats with a roller never had any probs with it peeling off and its easer to get off with a razor and some water if u ever need to.

see ya

 

[lilmolly]

I recently aquired a used 20gal long that had the back painted green and brown. It doesn't look that great but it doesn't look terriable either. When the sun shines through the back it looks good but the sun hardly ever does because it's in the basement. I don't know what type of paint they used on it. Too bad I don't have a digital camera anymore.

 

[finnster]

I've experimented with all sorts of backgrounds for my tanks over the years and I must admit that I now prefer the Juwel type backgrounds that can be siliconed inside the back of the tank.
They add a bit of dimension to the tank back and really look good.

I've never liked the panoramic picture types that can be taped to the back of the tank and that's why I've mainly used painted backs for years now. I've always used any bog standard silk vinyl emulsion but it does take a few coats to get a solid colour. The best way to tell when you've got the back fully painted is to shine a light at the back and view the front - any missed or streaked bits will show.
Don't forget - it is the outside of the back that gets painted
What type of paint? - I've always gone for low odour types and those that are quick drying - mainly emulsions - and I've had no problem with water based stuff. I've recently painted the back of two breeding tanks with B&Q's Low Odour Satinwood from their Colours range. It comes in a 500ml pot and I used Black. At the time of purchase (just a couple of weeks back) the Black was half price and therefore just under three quid!
I've experimented with many colours over the years and the worst I ever used was a turquoise! Stick to deep and dark blues or even black, it looks quite stunning.
I even painted the tank bottoms black too before sitting the tanks on polystyrene. I'm sure that my fish prefer a dark bottom rather than one which is too light.

The main thing to remember before painting your tank backs is to prepare it first. What I do is to use a scraper blade on it first to remove any little bits of mastic because paint won't take to aquarium grade mastic very well. I also give the tank back a good rub over with a cloth moistened with white spirit and then dry thoroughly with kitchen roll before painting.

Happy painting!

 

[Lateral Line]

I always use a couple of coats of ordinary blackboard paint.

 

[hopeless]

MDF and water do not mix. Of cource you know that by now. Get a good piece of oak plywood or white pine and paint it. It will do just fine.

 

[cutechic]

I use acrylic paint.

 

[Chasing Puck]

Acrylic paint, with a backer coat of white. This really brings out the color, and you don't have to worry about the thickness of the inside coat as much.