Painting back of tank while setup?

I am so tired of water getting between my crappy black plastic background and the back of the tank. If i wanted to paint the back of my 40g acrylic flat black, how should i go about this. The tank is currently setup with plenty of soft corals/bloodfire shrimp/ condylactis anenome, and a chromis. Any suggestions or advice if this is a bad idea?

 

How To Paint an Aquarium Background

 

im talking the actual cons to painting it while its setup? paint vapors affecting tank inhabitants?

 

Oh, sorry ‘bout that. Google “Non-Toxic Acrylic Paint” – take every precaution to cover the tank and you should be ok.

I have never done it so I can’t offer anything else – but I am sure others have and will. I wish you luck !

 

I am looking into auto tint.

 

Auto tint? interesting concept, but wouldn't that need to be put on the inside of the glass? Since the dark effect works when you look into the window - thus if you put it on your tank you would be looking through it as if you were in the car negating the darkening effects ? Just speculation on my part - I like the out-side-of-the-box thinking on your part !!

I think Anthos will be very sucessful painting the glasss with a non-toxic acrylic paint - going to need pictures tho, certainly will be a challenge with the tank in operation.

 

Just cover the tank, sump and fuge with plastic and tape it with painters tape to the glass to seal it and paint away. If you have any external pumps or air pumps turn them off also. Its the same concept if your going to have your house fumigated for bugs, seal it good.

Acrylic paint will not last, and if it gets wet at all it will change color and most likely peal. I have found that Krylon or Rustoleum Plastic spray paint adheres the best, once its dry it is harder to scratch off than the regular stuff. But if spraying isn't an option then any enamel paint will work. I used a fan to blow on it to help dry it a little faster and also helps remove the fumes from the paint.

If you can get to the back of the tank enough to put plastic on it Ocean Visions make a self adhesive aquarium backing that is great. I have used it on several tanks in the past. It doesn't come off easily, you have to use a Razor scraper to get it of. It comes in Blue, black and a Mirror background. Here is the link to the 19" Black at AquariumGuys.com in case your interested.

 

The auto tint is dark side to your glass and you would be looking into the tank and thru the tint like when it is on a car. I just had my new truck done they put 5% on the back windows and you can't see into the truck.

 

Just looked up that oceanvisions and that sounds like a good way to go also.

 

No, tint is the same on either side. It only appears darker because you're looking inside into a dim lighted area versus outside, into a sunlit area. I've tinted quite a few of my personal vehicles. It does not matter which side of the tint that you use, it is the same.