painting a tank

[sleonard]

What kind of paints are safe for inside the aquarium? I want to paint the back and bottom of a new 80 G tank but I want to paint the inside so that there is no reflection when viewing from the sides.

I've seen some DIY 3D backgrounds that were painted but the articles only had general recomendations, i.e. - acrylic and I want to make sure that I don't pick something that will kill my fish.

I'm also considering making a 3D background that covers both the back and bottom instead of just painting the glass. If so I will use the paint on that instead.

[1977]

Wow, I wouldn't paint the inside of the tanks if I were you. I have the outside of mine painted and there is very little reflection. If the reflection really bothers you than use a darker blue or gray paint. The fish look so much nicer in a white or light blue paint background though.

[Jarrod]

I don't think I'd try and paint INSIDE of tank..not a good idea imho...for the reason that it would take a very long time to dry for one and secondly I would be extremely cautious about any paint being 100% safe for underwater use and safe for my fish...much much easier and safer to limit the painting to outside of tank.
Jarrod

[AADiscus]

I would paint the sides and back & bottom if possible (outside). You want to paint the sides so that depending on where it is setup at you don't get shadows, reflections, etc. The littlest thing sometimes will spook them and make them jump or dart about the tank. IME

ps....go with a light color of paint also.

[sleonard]

I had never considered it either until I read the articles on building your own 3D background. Those are painted and they go inside the tank. Also, the molded plastic rocks and driftwood pieces sold at the lfs are painted and they go inside. Almost everybody has one of those in their tank. So there must be a paint that is 100% safe.

[Bainbridge Mike]

Perhaps you could get some sheets of colored acrylic and lay them on the bottom and glue them with aquarium safe silicone to the back of the tank? That would be better than painting--I would be too afraid of having something leach back into the water.

[alan1]

Hi Sleonard,

I have been mulling over the same type of thing for months now. Is this the type of thing you have been looking at? http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=31078

From what I can tell, folks either use cement over foam (no paint), or they paint foam, plastic, etc, and then seal with an aquarium safe resin. Here is another alternative http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Sohal_Silicone.html


Lastly, probably the safest alternative. This place has textured plastics which can be siliconed into the bottom/back of your tank. Painting them would make them look even better, but then you would have to apply resin, etc over them to "seal" everything.
http://www.modelbuilderssupply.com/products/pattern.htm

Let us know what you decide to do. I'm still in the "debating" stage.

Alan

[greyhoundfan]

I just finished my DIY background. I used cement pigment, for coloring. From what I've read, so far it hasn't killed anyone's fish.

I'll probably add one more coat of tan/red paint to lighten it up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v422/fishnut/allgluedin.jpg

Before I add any fish to it, I'll cure the cement by doing WC's every third day. It should reach a point where the concrete will stop leaching any hardness or stop raising your PH.