Painting back glass

[Tango]

Whatbdoes everyone ise to paint the back glass on tanks. The 90 i picked up was plasti sprayed and it pealed off

 

[Haddonisreef]

I used a exterior blk semi egg shell

 

[Shaunv]

I used Rustoleum Universal Black spray paint with primer all in one. Worked great.

 

[Walter White]

Personally I don't like using paint. I just get some black vinyl from a local sign shop. It costs a bit more than a can of paint but its non toxic and peels right off if you want to change it.

 

[Tango]

Personally I don't like using paint. I just get some black vinyl from a local sign shop. It costs a bit more than a can of paint but its non toxic and peels right off if you want to change it.

Thats a good idea i never thought of that

 

[coastalJ]

Black spray paint, finish does not matter as it will be gloss through the glass

 

[Walter White]

Thats a good idea i never thought of that

The trick is just to be sure you get both the glass and the vinyl pretty wet with just plain water in a fine mist squirt bottle before trying to put it on. This give you some time to slide it around and straighten it out. Then you just need a credit card or similar small squeegee to slide from the center to the outer edges to push the excess water out.

If its a larger area you are covering sometimes its easier to do it in two smaller sections than 1 big one allowing for about 1/8" overlap where the pieces meet.

Its a little more work upfront but if you think you might ever want to change it or are worried that if someday you go to sell the tank the next buyer may not like it then you will be happy you took the time because undoing it is a breeze. I removed some blue paint from the back of a tank I had a long time ago and it comes off easy enough it just makes a huge mess! Not too mention I cant help but worry that somehow that paint is contaminating the tank (although I know lots of people do it without issue)

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Go to Amazon and look for aqarium vinyl that sticks to the back of the aquarium with a spray. It's made by blue life I believe. Very easy to do and no painting mess. I did that to my bow front tank and it came out awesome. They make the size to your setup usually. You can get blue and black.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018...background&dpPl=1&dpID=41cEo8cBWZL&ref=plSrch

 

[deboy69]

Or just get the window tint at Home Depot or lowes

 

[SynDen]

Personally I don't like using paint. I just get some black vinyl from a local sign shop. It costs a bit more than a can of paint but its non toxic and peels right off if you want to change it.

Doing it this way will also increase par values on the back of the tank too. The light is able to bounce more easily through the glass this way, where as paint in any color will absorb some light waves, at least that the theory as I understand it.

 

[FinsUp]

Or just get the window tint at Home Depot or lowes

I think some of the designs would look fantastic on a tank. But then I'm a weirdo.

 

[Tango]

Well i ordered a roll of black vinyl. If that dont work i will paint it.

 

[Tango]

2 rolls later i got it covered in vinyl covered both sides of overflow left overflow uncovered

 

[MuralReef]

Looks good.

 

[coastalJ]

Looks good. My tanks are always black so I just hit em with the rattle can

 

[Tango]

I was going to use paint but decided to try vinyl. Think i have 12 buck total in cost for vinyl and have a little left over