lol funny read :lmao: To the op, as stated, you will not have problems with paint. I do not own a vortech but have friends with them that have them mounted to sides and backs of tanks with paint, no issues and theirs were quiet. Seem like great pumps, I just cannot justify the price tag unless they had 5-6 year warranty as I have kept stunning corals and had great flow in my tanks from... much lesser pumps, all of which have lasted many years and some have even lasted through multiple tanks. But to each his own and I am sure if I had the extra cash, I would be running them :rollface: