Ideas to paint Dried reef rock for Fish only Tank

[HappyReeferLOL]

I realize the majority of you guys are cringing right now from reading PAINTING REEF ROCK. I normally would Not do this, however, I am setting up a 30 gallon fish only with rock and do not want to buy the reef lights necessary to grow coraline algea. Nor do I want to mess with trying to keep my parameters (calcium, alk etc) where they need to be to grow the coraline. I also hate seeing white/light grey rocks and would prefer some color. Therefore, I am making the decision to paint/stain some old rock that I dried out when I moved to Texas. I have researched and found several ways people are painting the rock. I am just wondering if any of you have actually painted/stained rock and have any input to how long the paint/stain will last. Here are the 5 ways I have read about: 1. Spray with Krylon Fusion Paint 2. Stain with purple PVC Cleaner 3. paint with epoxy oil base paint 4. Paint with fingernail polish (which I would think would take too many bottles) 5. Use 100% clear silicon and mix with colored Krylon Fusion paint. Any thoughts or Ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Bluefish9]

I think you'll get the most mileage between purple primer and krylon fusion.

Another option is caribsea life rock. Its really good looking stuff and is only about $3.99lb. Im using it my FOWLR build currently and think it looks great.


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[HappyReeferLOL]

Thank you for the input. The rock I took the time to dry out and keep is mostly fiji and a piece or two of really old Marshal island. They are unique. I just wanted to put some color on them before starting up the fish only tank. So again, thanks for the input.

 

[reddtiger88]

You can always use the two part purple epoxy. Mix it and lay it on thin. It also comes in coralline red.

 

[Flaring Afro]

The stain method should allow for the most beneficial bacteria to grow on it. I'd also think it would be more permanent than Krylon Fusion, which is meant for plastics. I can also see an urchin eating the paint off. I'm kind of in the same boat. I don't want to have to scrape the glass clean which is another part of it. I just kept it simple and bought Real Reef Rock, but I needed to buy the rock anyways.

 

[HappyReeferLOL]

Could you clarify please? There is a two part underwater coraline red epoxy (like putty) that holds together rock. It is the aquastick. There is also a two part epoxy that is squeezed out of two tubes that mixes into on tube before exiting, but I can not find this one in a purple or red. What brand?

 

[HappyReeferLOL]

@ Flaring Afro . Good thinking. Do you know if the stain (PVC Primer) comes in reds or pinks? Or is there another brand of stain that comes in these colors that would work. I can not find it in any color other than the dark purple. Was wondering if it was posible to add Krylon Fusion to the stain/primer to tint it different shades for a more realistic look. Wasn't sure if those two would even mix or if they would be like oil and water?

 

[reddtiger88]

Yeah. The aquastick comes in multiple shades and we all know its reef safe.

 

[jayball]

Do people have issues with corralin algae not growing because it is underlit? I can only grow it in the shadows in my tank. Nothing that is directly lit grows any that I can see.

 

[Flaring Afro]

@ Flaring Afro . Good thinking. Do you know if the stain (PVC Primer) comes in reds or pinks? Or is there another brand of stain that comes in these colors that would work. I can not find it in any color other than the dark purple. Was wondering if it was posible to add Krylon Fusion to the stain/primer to tint it different shades for a more realistic look. Wasn't sure if those two would even mix or if they would be like oil and water?

I wouldn't try mixing those. One is meant to cling to plastics, another meant to seep into rock pores. The stain is going to be super thin and if anything mixing the paint in would just prevent the stain from getting into the rock.

 

[Bluefish9]

@ Flaring Afro . Good thinking. Do you know if the stain (PVC Primer) comes in reds or pinks? Or is there another brand of stain that comes in these colors that would work. I can not find it in any color other than the dark purple. Was wondering if it was posible to add Krylon Fusion to the stain/primer to tint it different shades for a more realistic look. Wasn't sure if those two would even mix or if they would be like oil and water?

Yes its possible. There was a youtube video of someone doing exactly that successfully.



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[HappyReeferLOL]

@ Jayball You must have good lights to grow pink coraline in the shadows. To my knowledge, you must have calcium levels at 400 to 450, Alk levels around 9 kh, Mag levels around 1350, with PH 8 to 8.3 and Nitrates below 20. Also, you need approx 4 watts per gallon with t5's or better/equiv. And even meeting this criteria, my coraline grew slow. If you have found a secret to grow nice coraline fairly fast, please share it with me. And I don't mean that sarcasticly, I'm serious. Also, thanks to everyone who took the time to comment.

 

[salty joe]

I made a mortar mix and cast a rock wall to mimic a volcanic cliff, then painted it with regular black latex paint that I thinned down a little. It's held up fine for over a year now. I got the paint idea from Mr.Wilson.

 

[HappyReeferLOL]

Thanks Salty Joe for the input. I think I am going to do a little experiment of my own where I am going to paint one rock with Krylon Fusion (thinned down) one rock with purple dye (pvc primer) and one with liquid epoxy (thinned down) and put them all in the same tank and keep track of them to see which ones flake, wear or chip first. On another site, I have learned of one reefer who has had his rock in his reef for 2 yrs+ and he has had no noticable wear. He painted with Krylon fusion and nothing more. I find that interesting since that paint is made for plastic. Another person who painted his intake tube with krylon fusion and it has held up for 4 years!! All he did was sand it first, spray the paint and let it dry for 7 days before putting it in the tank. Will take pics as I do my experiment and post as it seems to be a subject not many are familiar with. Thanks again.