Print Page - painting the back of a tank

Title: painting the back of a tank
Post by: Damo83 on August 04, 2006, 10:14:34 AM

Hi all,

I'm thinking of painting the back of my tank as i'm sick of the taped on backings falling off!!
Just wondering if anyone has any advice as to what type of paint and what colours people have used? I'm trying to decide between black, dark blue or dark green to bring out the colours of my fronts??
I've read that engine block paint works well as its a bit thicker than normal paint?

Thanks
Damo

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Post by: Muttley on August 04, 2006, 11:16:57 AM

Ive just finished painting all the backs of my tanks recently. I just used the $2 cans of black from bunnings or supacheap. The thicker paint might be better though as it will take less coats to get a solid coverage. Looks great too. I just used newspaper and masking tape to cover the top of the tank while spraying. Do it outside though as the overspray was pretty bad. Had to wash the floor of the garage and wipe stuff off every surface after doing two of them in there. :D

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Post by: Damo83 on August 04, 2006, 01:20:03 PM

thanks for the advice... i'll definitely do it outside

i just bought some black engine enamel so i'll see how that goes...

Title: painting
Post by: smiley on August 04, 2006, 03:52:54 PM

yeah cheap paint is cool especially in the darker colors i paint all my tanks black and they come up great have experimented with the blue need more paint to get good coverage red was hard to get good coverage with but a nice purple was good too have some fun its cheap and looks good peter

Title: Smiley
Post by: Savage_roo on August 04, 2006, 05:25:22 PM

i painted the a tank woth that purple swad look
Its pritty cool looking till it peals off lol

andrew

Title: painted backs
Post by: Radshell on August 04, 2006, 05:31:05 PM

Can anyone post pics of their painted tank backs??
Thanks in advance
Radshell

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Post by: Cory Fan on August 04, 2006, 06:05:23 PM

u can use silicone for the backing, just silicone along the 2 sides (left and right) and never fall off.

Cheers :wink:

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Post by: caryb on August 04, 2006, 06:40:21 PM

I painted some of my tanks with black acrylic laquer paint looked great till it came off in strips about 9 months later :(

Title: backing
Post by: Savage_roo on August 04, 2006, 08:06:13 PM

If you want your pic to stick to the back of ya tank spray it with cooking oil and just smooth out the air bubles
This will almost give u a 3D efect

andrew

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Post by: davo0903 on August 04, 2006, 08:37:19 PM

Thats a great idea Roo. I've been trying to figure out how to get the background to look better for ages. Water worked...till it dried of course. Never even thought of oil. Thanks! :D

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Post by: jimbozed on August 04, 2006, 08:42:50 PM

i paint all my tanks with flat black enamel, just the cheap cans from big W or wherever,
some of my tanks have been painted for over two years and it hasnt peeled off.
Just wipe the glass clean with metho befor you spray.

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Post by: Muttley on August 04, 2006, 08:54:52 PM

Heres some pics of the tanks, sorry bout the quality but it gives you the idea

[img:2082b619e9]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/Muttley4x4/Fish/DSC04566Small.jpg[/img:2082b619e9]

[img:2082b619e9]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/Muttley4x4/Fish/DSC04798Small.jpg[/img:2082b619e9]

[img:2082b619e9]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/Muttley4x4/Fish/DSC04797Small.jpg[/img:2082b619e9] :D

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Post by: davo0903 on August 04, 2006, 09:31:25 PM

Just finished putting the oil on my two backgrounds. Worked a deadset treat!

Nice tanks Muttley. :wink:

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Post by: Muttley on August 04, 2006, 09:43:40 PM

[quote:97460568e6="davo0903"]Just finished putting the oil on my two backgrounds. Worked a deadset treat!

Nice tanks Muttley. :wink:[/quote:97460568e6]

Thanks mate :D

I used to spray the vege oil and it does work a treat, but I reckon the solid colour makes the fish stand out more.

Title: Tank backgrounds
Post by: Ulysses048 on August 05, 2006, 06:41:21 AM

Haven't tried it - but have been told that Vaseline is good to make the backgrounds stick !!!!!
Those crimson tides look like they have settled in well to your VERY nice tank.
Regards
Carole

Title: tank backs
Post by: Spongebob on August 05, 2006, 10:07:55 AM

Does the cooking oil dry out in time ?
Regards
S.B.

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Post by: Thanes on August 05, 2006, 10:26:27 AM

I just hang a black bed sheet behind the tank & sit the hood on top of it. No messy paints & can easily change the colour whenever I want to whatever I want.
Cheers Brian.

Title: Re: Tank backgrounds
Post by: Muttley on August 05, 2006, 07:45:10 PM

[quote:6c98639293="Ulysses048"]Haven't tried it - but have been told that Vaseline is good to make the backgrounds stick !!!!!
Those crimson tides look like they have settled in well to your VERY nice tank.
Regards
Carole[/quote:6c98639293]

Settled in very nicely with two of them holding now :D :D :D :D

Thanks for the compliment on the tank, but I am still blown away by your setup 8O

QLD Cichlid Group Forum

Fish talk => General Aquarium Discussion => Topic started by: Damo83 on August 04, 2006, 10:14:34 AM