Albertan Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 (edited) I'm picking up a tank from Chris at Aquarium Enthusiasts in a couple of hours. With where I am planning on putting it in the family room, I thought it would be nice to paint the back and one side with black paint on the outside to act as a background. I have two questions. First, what kind of paint should one use and do you just roll it on (OK two questions there :smokey: )? Second, is it hard to get off afterwards if you want to go back to clear glass? Thanks for any info. Edited March 26, 2007 by Nandopsis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan Posted March 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Well I searched the forum and it looks like Tremclad or Krylon acrylic paints sprayed on are the way to go. This just leaves the question of getting it off later if desired. I read someting about soaking it in hot water and taking it off with a razor blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I have a tank that I purchaced that was painted black as a background and it looks great , however if I were to do it all over again i would use material that you can buy at any Home depot that is used for cabinet bottoms ... it is vinyl and comes in many different colors , so it is versitile with what you have in your tank and what look you want... and it is easy removed if you want a change... and it is also cheaper then paint.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spcy Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I had purchased a used 70 gal tank that was painted green on the back. I used a window scraper with a razor blade in it and an hour later it was clean, Arms were a little sore though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James (Western Canada) Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 (edited) For application, the main this is to have the surface CLEANCLEANCLEAN....and MASK the three sides and top, as enamel overspray will go places you never imagined if allowed!....and stick quite well too For removal: If you use any of the readily available enamel spraybombs, one quick dose of easy-off and a spritz with a garden hose should get rid of them (assuming you can move it outside:). A razorblade will also work, just a little more sweat equity involved:) James Edited March 25, 2007 by James (Western Canada) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 For application, the main this is to have the surface CLEANCLEANCLEAN....and MASK the three sides and top, as enamel overspray will go places you never imagined if allowed!....and stick quite well too For removal: If you use any of the readily available enamel spraybombs, one quick dose of easy-off and a spritz with a garden hose should get rid of them (assuming you can move it outside:). A razorblade will also work, just a little more sweat equity involved:) James Would a product like Easy-Off (very caustic) not compromise the silicone bond/seal in the glass joins? I would opt for the razor blade I think. I have used black, blue, gray, etc. counter top from the rummage bin at places like Totem, Home Depot, etc. These places also have a remnant bin of pieces that have been left over form various jobs and usually priced a couple bucks. No contamination risk at all. Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James (Western Canada) Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Vic: Left on the surface long enough....possibly, but for a few minutes, I wouldn't expect any problems. Many years ago, I spent one shift as a tank watch at the pulp mill in Gr. Prairie. My job was to watch out for the crew inside a very large wooden tank lined with RTV matting. They were repairing the odd spot where the matting(which has an frp backing which is laminated to the wood) had delaminated. ANYWAY, where I was going with this is this was a tank used the storage of HYPO (sorry, cant remember the proper chemical name), which the workers described to me as being "like JAVEX". So, if RTV can stand up to 24/7/365 exposure, 5 or 10 minutes of exposure to easyoff isn't going to be an isue:) James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seajays Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Get some Black sign vinyl. Use windex and a credit card to put it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Plain old acrylic craft paint works too. It's a bit prone to scratching off in the first little while, but is fairly hard when it cures. It comes off easily with a razor blade (wetting it first helps to loosen it from the glass.) Just be sure to let it dry between coats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinless Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 heck i've used aerosol spray black. tagged some smaller tanks in the past. when painting the back of a tank externally, just make sure to do a good job. flash it with the fluorescent to check for uneven spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalgaryFan Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 I was advised to use Acrylic paint for the 55 gallon..I put on the first coat and it didn't look great at all, alot of places were lighter, darker etc. But I left it for the rest of the night and the next day after school I did the second coat and wow what a difference. I loved the outcome of the backround so much, I went ahead and painted my 15 gallon with the rest of the paint I had left. Great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 TKO Orange clean tanks paint off of glass very nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 (edited) I use acrylic or latex paint, roll it on, do at least 2 coats. Be careful removing the masking tape, do it when the paint is wet. To remove, a snow scrapper will do it. It will not adhere hard to the glass, more like a plastic film, it'll scratch off easily. I like it because you can change your mind, just like taping on the paper. Sue Edited March 26, 2007 by Qattarra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medicdude Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Either Rustoleum or Kilz paint work very well. That's what I use at the store and also what my tank supplier uses. By he way Dean, you bought the tank at Aquarium Enthusiasts, not Illusions.... :thumbs: :smokey: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nandopsis Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Dean how could you make that mistake?!? Anyway i fixed that post for you. :smokey: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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