Painting my canopy

4n4sd4 · 08/14/2007, 08:36 PM

I am going to be painting the inside of my canopy bright white to help with light reflection. Any recommendations on brand or type of paint to use for best results? I obviously want something durable due to the conditions it will be in.

CASHCRZZY · 08/14/2007, 08:50 PM

I used mirrored acrylic . man you want to talk reflection, Just drilled and screwed in place .over 3 years it has warped slightly but still reflects great .

kaptken · 08/14/2007, 09:07 PM

I use a good oil based primer first, and then a couple coats of RUSTOLEUM glossy white. all exterior grade. keeps the wood in good shape and reflects very well.

Mache62 · 08/15/2007, 06:35 AM

yup, I primered with Kilz then 2 coats of rustoleum oil based glossy white

4n4sd4 · 08/15/2007, 08:30 AM

well it sounds like the general consensus is to get oil based paint, and primer. That what I was figuring, but felt safer to ask first. Sounds like I will be making a trip to Home Depot tonight.

kaptken · 08/15/2007, 11:18 PM

a quart of each should do.

Remicade · 08/17/2007, 12:35 PM

i love the idea of the mirrored acrylic. thanks for the idea CASHCRZZY

CASHCRZZY · 08/17/2007, 02:56 PM

It works great and it helps get rid of the center brace shadow affect . Just don't screw it down super tight it will crack .

firecrackerbob · 08/17/2007, 03:47 PM

can you get mirrored acrylic at depot? havent seen that before...
thanks

Jocephus · 08/17/2007, 03:52 PM

they have it at Lowe's, don't know about hd

CASHCRZZY · 08/17/2007, 04:42 PM

If they dont have it at a local home center check any glass shop all of them should have it

4n4sd4 · 08/17/2007, 04:46 PM

I had to router a 48"x12" hole out the top of my canopy to sit my Hamilton light on top, it sits down in a 1/4" groove so no light bleeds out between the light and the canopy, but it is above the inside plane of my canopy... do you think mirrored plexi would be beneficial in my case since the light will actually be sitting above the mirror, and the mirror plexi will only be surrounding it. or do you think i would be better off just painting the inside white to help make it brighter instead of the black canopy?

a1amap · 08/18/2007, 08:24 AM

Dont they make spray paint that can be sprayed on glass and acrylic that gives a mirror finish?

edit: Yes here it is, Its Krylon Paint so its available at Wallmart.

CASHCRZZY · 08/18/2007, 09:09 PM

4n4sd4
The choice is all yours...
You can paint it and see what you think ,Or you could install mirror i guess it all depends on what you feel like .
Mirror was my first choice only because i hate oil based paint .

mcox33 · 08/18/2007, 09:18 PM

I used a good oil based sealer/primer paint then painted with Valspar exterior paint. It was also oil based.

Has been a couple of years and still I don't see any signs of water damage to the paint or wood,

If it were me I would paint with the oil based paint at least 2 coats of Primer and 2 of paint even if I used the mirrored acrylic.

JMO The paint is extra protection just incase water should get past the acrylic.

a1amap · 08/18/2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcox33
I used a good oil based sealer/primer paint then painted with Valspar exterior paint. It was also oil based.
Has been a couple of years and still I don't see any signs of water damage to the paint or wood,
If it were me I would paint with the oil based paint at least 2 coats of Primer and 2 of paint even if I used the mirrored acrylic.
JMO The paint is extra protection just incase water should get past the acrylic.

I agree

08/14/2007, 08:36 PM	#1
4n4sd4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pike Creek, DE Posts: 260	Painting my canopy I am going to be painting the inside of my canopy bright white to help with light reflection. Any recommendations on brand or type of paint to use for best results? I obviously want something durable due to the conditions it will be in. __________________ Andy Current Tank Info: AGA RR 90 gallon, 20 gallon sump, Mag 9 return pump, coralife 220 superskimmer, Hamilton 2x 175 14k MH, 2x 110 VHO Super Actinic hood, 3x maxi-jet 900 ph's, 2x Koralia 4's.

08/14/2007, 08:50 PM	#2
CASHCRZZY Old Stinky Fish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hockessin,Delaware Posts: 160	I used mirrored acrylic . man you want to talk reflection, Just drilled and screwed in place .over 3 years it has warped slightly but still reflects great . __________________ The only stupid person is the one that don`t know and won`t ask !! Current Tank Info: 75gal - 20 gal sump,aqua-c ev180 skimmer... 100lb`s southdown, 114lb`s live rock,

08/14/2007, 09:07 PM	#3
kaptken Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: New castle, De. Posts: 1,419	I use a good oil based primer first, and then a couple coats of RUSTOLEUM glossy white. all exterior grade. keeps the wood in good shape and reflects very well. __________________ Bend To Fit...Paint To Match...Kick To Start. Current Tank Info: 75 reef and several smaller

08/15/2007, 08:30 AM	#5
4n4sd4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pike Creek, DE Posts: 260	well it sounds like the general consensus is to get oil based paint, and primer. That what I was figuring, but felt safer to ask first. Sounds like I will be making a trip to Home Depot tonight. __________________ Andy Current Tank Info: AGA RR 90 gallon, 20 gallon sump, Mag 9 return pump, coralife 220 superskimmer, Hamilton 2x 175 14k MH, 2x 110 VHO Super Actinic hood, 3x maxi-jet 900 ph's, 2x Koralia 4's.

08/15/2007, 11:18 PM	#6
kaptken Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: New castle, De. Posts: 1,419	a quart of each should do. __________________ Bend To Fit...Paint To Match...Kick To Start. Current Tank Info: 75 reef and several smaller

08/15/2007, 06:35 AM	#4
Mache62 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Philly burbs Posts: 748	yup, I primered with Kilz then 2 coats of rustoleum oil based glossy white

08/17/2007, 12:35 PM	#7
Remicade Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Downingtown/Eagle, Pa Posts: 145	i love the idea of the mirrored acrylic. thanks for the idea CASHCRZZY

08/17/2007, 02:56 PM	#8
CASHCRZZY Old Stinky Fish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hockessin,Delaware Posts: 160	It works great and it helps get rid of the center brace shadow affect . Just don't screw it down super tight it will crack . __________________ The only stupid person is the one that don`t know and won`t ask !! Current Tank Info: 75gal - 20 gal sump,aqua-c ev180 skimmer... 100lb`s southdown, 114lb`s live rock,

08/17/2007, 03:47 PM	#9
firecrackerbob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 339	can you get mirrored acrylic at depot? havent seen that before... thanks __________________ You must become the change you want to see Current Tank Info: Salt: 55 w 20g sump/fuge-SPS/zoos --- Fresh: 120g koi tank

08/17/2007, 03:52 PM	#10
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	they have it at Lowe's, don't know about hd

08/17/2007, 04:42 PM	#11
CASHCRZZY Old Stinky Fish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hockessin,Delaware Posts: 160	If they dont have it at a local home center check any glass shop all of them should have it __________________ The only stupid person is the one that don`t know and won`t ask !! Current Tank Info: 75gal - 20 gal sump,aqua-c ev180 skimmer... 100lb`s southdown, 114lb`s live rock,

08/17/2007, 04:46 PM	#12
4n4sd4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pike Creek, DE Posts: 260	I had to router a 48"x12" hole out the top of my canopy to sit my Hamilton light on top, it sits down in a 1/4" groove so no light bleeds out between the light and the canopy, but it is above the inside plane of my canopy... do you think mirrored plexi would be beneficial in my case since the light will actually be sitting above the mirror, and the mirror plexi will only be surrounding it. or do you think i would be better off just painting the inside white to help make it brighter instead of the black canopy? __________________ Andy Current Tank Info: AGA RR 90 gallon, 20 gallon sump, Mag 9 return pump, coralife 220 superskimmer, Hamilton 2x 175 14k MH, 2x 110 VHO Super Actinic hood, 3x maxi-jet 900 ph's, 2x Koralia 4's.

08/18/2007, 08:24 AM	#13
a1amap Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 1,105	Dont they make spray paint that can be sprayed on glass and acrylic that gives a mirror finish? edit: Yes here it is, Its Krylon Paint so its available at Wallmart. __________________ Al Current Tank Info: 75 gallon in wall working on a 220 gallon in wall tank

08/18/2007, 09:09 PM	#14
CASHCRZZY Old Stinky Fish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hockessin,Delaware Posts: 160	4n4sd4 The choice is all yours... You can paint it and see what you think ,Or you could install mirror i guess it all depends on what you feel like . Mirror was my first choice only because i hate oil based paint . __________________ The only stupid person is the one that don`t know and won`t ask !! Current Tank Info: 75gal - 20 gal sump,aqua-c ev180 skimmer... 100lb`s southdown, 114lb`s live rock,

08/18/2007, 09:18 PM	#15
mcox33 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nitro, West Virginia Posts: 2,260	I used a good oil based sealer/primer paint then painted with Valspar exterior paint. It was also oil based. Has been a couple of years and still I don't see any signs of water damage to the paint or wood, If it were me I would paint with the oil based paint at least 2 coats of Primer and 2 of paint even if I used the mirrored acrylic. JMO The paint is extra protection just incase water should get past the acrylic. __________________ Mary Current Tank Info: 90 Saltwater Reef, 2 x 400 watt MH, 4 x 65 watt PC, 1 x 24 watt 48" T-5 + 4 blue led's, Dual chamber MRC Calcium Reactor, Huge DIY Kalkwasser reactor (made by someone else) Auto Top Off and Aquatecture Plus Skimmer