blackraven Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 hi i was wondering if anyone has painted the back of there fish tanks if so is it easy and how do you go about it as i am wanting to paint my 6x2x700 tank any help and advice would be greatly appreciated cheers Neville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieSalita Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Its not too difficult. Just paint it with a roller. Can use a brush, but roller is neater. Normal acrylic paint doesnt like sticking really well to glass, and may bubble or peel over time. But there is a product called ESP which makes it stick very well. Just wipe it on and let it dry, then paint it. If you are using enamel paint, penetrol mixed in to the paint will make the enamel stick well. Both these products can be found in the paint section at bunnings. Another option is contact. Like the stuff mum used to cover your books in at school. Can be had at the warehouse or bigW usually. Consider the colour you will use carefully. I prefer the darker colours. Gives a feeling of depth kinda. Dark blue and black. But I have seen lighter blues that look ok. Just personal preference I guess. Oh, and be sure to clean the glass very well. I usually use 70/30 mix of water/metho. Any smudges etc... will show up, and any grease/dirt will affect adhesion cheers, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad-n-angry Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 blackboard paint also will do the trick and stick to the glass really well i know it comes in black as well as a dark green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsshotgun Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Consider the colour you will use carefully. Second. I decided to use a miss tint my dad had and it turned out to be a dark green. kinda want to scrape it off and make it black but it would be a mission now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cory1 Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 I agree with everything EddieSalita wrote...spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmxican Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 i did all mine using spray paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Good advice from Eddie. I've used this method on 4 of my tanks. Until the big display tank gets a makeover later in the year, (it too will be painted), I use a black wheelie bin liner cut to size & stuck on with pvc electrical tape. Cheers Shorty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacherman Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 just to be different, try painting the inside with EMASTIC or ORMANOID bitumen paint, and when tacky sprinkle with sand. Makes a flat version of those flat fake rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackraven Posted June 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 thanks to everbody for there advice now i have to decide if i am going to do it cheers Neville and Paula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackraven Posted June 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 teacherman have you done that before and would it be safe for the fish cheers Neville and Paula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacherman Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 Yeah, I had no problems. I actually stuck inch think styrofoam onto the inside back of the tank with silicone, which I had carved up with a fork, sealed with a cigarette lighter. Then painted with bitumen paint (ormanoid is easier to find, but the other one is supposedly better), then chuck on the sand. Leave to dry completely. Thats how the one at Pet hypermarket on Sandgate road was done. I've got one at school if you wanna have a look. I had a photo of it somewher but I cant find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieSalita Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 You could try it and see if you like the effect by sticky taping cardboard the colour you want in place, or using fabric and velcro dots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishyweare Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 much easier way than painting the back of your tank is to go to a sign writer and ask for some vinyl what ever colour you want . spray the back of your tank with water and a detergent and lay it on you are able to move it around a fair bit squeeze out the bubbles and thats it. much better idea than painting cause if you get sick of the colour you just change it . this is what the shops use on their tanks have a look next time cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damo83 Posted June 11, 2009 Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 I just used the $2 cans of spray paint from super cheap/bunnings/crazy clarks/etc... get a couple of cans for each tank and give it a few coats starting with a very light first coat to get it all sticky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackraven Posted June 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2009 great information im a bit nervous but i will give it a go thanks everyone for your input cheers Neville and Paula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
