Painting the back

[schnebbles]

Do you paint the back of your tank? If so what color and what kind of paint?

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[JodiM]

Yes, I painted the outside of the back. Just paineted it black and I used latex based.

[shadowmonster]

I prefer the vinyl backgrounds they sell at the LFS. (black) Measure it, cut it, apply four strips of tape and your set. If your not going to keep the back glass clean though then it really doesn't matter whether you paint it or use the vinyl backgrounds, being that Coralline algae will most likely cover the back panel over time anyways..

[Bent]

One of the things you may want to consider is plasti-dip. It's completely removable so when you tear the tank down you aren't committed to the color.

I paint all my tanks with plasti-dip.

https://youtu.be/Ae-e-kKHKFU

[billdogg]

Black latex and a foam roller for me. Total cost about $10. Should you ever decide to change the color it scrapes off easily.

[2smokes]

Black silicone for aquariums its the best paint for glass. EDIT -best meaning most resistant,it wont scratch or get old.

[Fish Keeper82]

Black latex and a foam roller for me. Total cost about $10. Should you ever decide to change the color it scrapes off easily.

This is what I do.
Just be sure to do a few coats. After a few coats, I use a flashlight from the inside and make sure I see no light on the painted side. That's when I know it's done or where I need to touch up.

[ZenGuitarGuy]

I spray-painted my back black. Krylon.

[RogueGrown]

With my fresh water tanks i always do black latex paint with a roller. With my marine tanks i find a medium blue spray and put on a couple layers and then lay a black over that, it gives it a deep blue look and is amazing with the colors of the fish, rock, and coral.

You can never go wrong with black those and it makes the slightest color pop out.

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[MondoBongo]

i painted it black (cue Rolling Stones) using an acrylic based paint.

if i had to do it over again, i would still use black, but i would likely consider something besides the acrylic, possibly even plasti-dip. the acrylic took way more coats, and wasn't as durable as i had hoped.

i do like the look of the opaque background though. hides all the wires and junk behind the tank and kind of frames the focus.

[Ou8me2]

One of the things you may want to consider is plasti-dip. It's completely removable so when you tear the tank down you aren't committed to the color.

I paint all my tanks with plasti-dip.

https://youtu.be/Ae-e-kKHKFU

Ditto and I have done my last 2 tanks with it and I love it. I even used Plati-Dip on my PVC fittings and Pipe and they came out wonderful. Lots of Colors to choose from also.

[schnebbles]

thanks everyone!

[homerclease]

Ditto and I have done my last 2 tanks with it and I love it. I even used Plati-Dip on my PVC fittings and Pipe and they came out wonderful. Lots of Colors to choose from also.

Is plasti dip safe for water contact?

[shadowmonster]

On the back side, yes. Salt creep might creep though.

[Butch01]

it wont scratch or get old.

Damn... I'm going to bathe in it!

[Fish Keeper82]

Damn... I'm going to bathe in it!
:hammer::lolspin:

[shadowmonster]

Keep them ears clear...

[homerclease]

I'm sorry my question was not clear... is it safe for in the tank use. For instance.. painting a white egg create black or something like that...

[NewToReefHobbby]

I spoke to the company that manufactures plasti-dip support and the guy said people who painted the fish tank internally have never complained of any live stock dying.
I have just ordered plati-dip :)

[homerclease]

Please update us if you try it and let us know how it goes..

[Ou8me2]

Is plasti dip safe for water contact?

You'll find varying opinions on if it is safe to use in the water. I did plasti-dip 2 1" white pvc threaded caps which I used on the inside to cover holes I didn't want to use. I let it cure a full 7 days as someone recommended in my research. Yes, I realize I could have gotten black pvc threaded caps, but I already had the pasti-dip from back of the tank and the white pvc fittings were much cheaper at local hardware store. :lolspin:

That was 6 months ago and I still haven't had any harmful effects so far. I would think if it was harmful, I would have had losses of fish and corals. I haven't had any in 6 months.

So take that for what it's worth.

[krzyphsygy]

I clean the back glass just like the other 3 sides. I use a simple taped on blue background found at petco or Petsmart. I like it because it adds depth and looks great. Cleaning the back glass really makes the tank pop. No coralline algae or nasty film on the back. Looks great and clean. For me painting back makes it hard to clean.

[schnebbles]

I might just get a background - I don't have any on my current tank. I think I like blue

[krzyphsygy]

Yea, it looks sweet.

[NewToReefHobbby]

Please update us if you try it and let us know how it goes..

I have finally had a chance to paint the outside of the back glass with Plasti-dip. will get the image soon.

[SFish]

Why would you paint the inside? For one thing it's glass and there is no reason to paint the inside.

[SFish]

I did a light blue and a dark blue on mine to add depth. Light toward the top and dark at the bottom.

[anthonys51]

I go a blue background. I think it looks nice it's like plastic it just sticks to the back http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/91051b71e0b9907475ba5f2b13757bd9.jpg


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[newbie2014]

One of the things you may want to consider is plasti-dip. It's completely removable so when you tear the tank down you aren't committed to the color.

I paint all my tanks with plasti-dip.

https://youtu.be/Ae-e-kKHKFU

Definately try this for my next tank. Thanks for the tips. But I wonder how many square inches one spray can would cover?

[BigDave]

I used the Krylon Fusion spray paint that I had from painting the pipes. Masked it off. Cleaned it. And sprayed it in many multiple light coats. Then used a flashlight from the inside to see where it was still lighter and added more there.

[Ou8me2]

Definately try this for my next tank. Thanks for the tips. But I wonder how many square inches one spray can would cover?

I use Plasti-Dip also and a can will last forever unless you are painting the back of a huge, huge tank. I did a 75 a while back and I don't even think I used a half of can.

[Fbrondum]

I went royal blue latex with a foam brush. I wish I would have went black as the lighting is much more blue than I thought. Live and learn :)

[NewToReefHobbby]

I have finally had a chance to paint the outside of the back glass with Plasti-dip. will get the image soon.

Finally painted it using plasti dip. its still work in progress.
Here is the image of the tank in this thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25024763#post25024763

[air2mag]

I used the spray on Plasti dip. My tank is 75 gallons an it took the better part of two cans. That was heavy enough you didn't see any holes with a flashlight.