Painting the back wall...

[gabegmonkey]

Is there any type of paint that's better/worse? Or can I pretty much use any spray paint?

 

[BeanAnimal]

You must ensure that the glass is VERY clean. Any of the better brands of spray paint will work. Others simply roll on latex paint.

I prefer to use the good ol plastic laminated background that the LFS sells. Perfecto has one that has no pattern. It is blue on one side and black on the other.

Thereis also black contact paper (shelf paper) that is plastic and sticky.

If you want to get crazy... go to a local sign shop and have them cut you a piece of vinyl sighn material.

Paint tends to get scratched fairly easily.

Bean

 

[Galloyien]

I've always wanted to put a piece of black vinyl on my tank but was scared that it might leach something. Anyone ever used vinyl on a tank?

I'm a sign maker, so I have the vinyl.

 

[sjm817]

It goes on the outside, not inside the tank.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yup sorry.... I guess I shoulda been clear.

In any case the paint, plastic o whatever needs to go on the outside.

 

[Galloyien]

I know it goes on the outside... but can't things leech through the glass? Thats why you dont use glass cleaner?

 

[carlos_fb]

I used acrylic sheets matching the color of my overflow box. Looks really good and it wasn't expensive at all.

 

[chris.hampton]

I think glass cleaner will get in the tank through the air when you spray it rather than go through the glass

 

[Mark6509]

I used limo tint (97% darkness). Looks black from the front, but you can still see in from the back.

HTH,

Mark

 

[jay24k]

Glass cleaner will not leech through glass. I used an appliance black spray paint. Took 3 coats and works very nice.

 

[BeanAnimal]

NOTHING will leech through the glass.....

As chris said, the problem with glass cleaner is that when you spray it, the amonia dispersses through the air and lands in the tank and is sucked in by the skimmer etc.

Bean

 

[mjames74]

acetone is what i used to clean and kkrylon fusion black paint

 

[rcbones]

Just use a background and tape it to the back of the glass. If something happens and you need to take a look from the rear of the aquarium, well with paint then you are just out of luck.

 

[2fishy]

I used the static black window tint bought at the home improvement store. But I guess they also sell a blue static that you can buy at some fish stores. The problem with the static though, is it can get some air bubbles that you have to work with if you don't use water when applying it. My aquarium was already in place so I didn't want to risk using the water application with the outlet right behind the aquarium.

 

[revenge53142]

my favorite is regular old rust-oleum
black spray paint
if you dont like it later
scrape it off with a razor blade

 

[Newreeflady]

I used rust-oleum roll-on latex paint. Took 3 coats, looks.... well, black) No trouble at all. I don't like spray paint, gets everywhere and is bad for the environment. Roll-on is very easy to work with. Just Tape off your trim and no worry about overspray

-A

 

[carlos_fb]

If it's going to be black I would just get plastic background and tape it to the back of the glass.

 

[reefnetworth]

i went to (Sun-Cool) a window tint shop. picked out the colors that faded together on one sheet and applied it. if i change my mind, i can remove it for a diffirent color. i chose the reflective silver-into-blue one for my 5 gallon. might wanna try that before painting. just a thought, have a great day

 

[sjm817]

I used black Rustoleum and rolled it on.

 

[dippin61]

krylon fusion black