Painted Background

[lillou]

Finally got my stand back down stairs after a few modifications (it seemed way too flimsy to hold my tank)

Enlisting some help tonight to put the tank onto the stand now. (sound of crickets fills the house)

Tank specs:
220 Gallons
6 feet long (183 CM)
2 feet wide (61 CM)
30" deep (76 CM)
Hope I did the conversions to CM right

My questions:

Would you suggest going with a store bought background or just painting the tank?

Would you suggest blue or black? I am leaning toward black because I have the paint already.

Would you cover/paint 3 sides [____], 2 sides [_____ or just the back?

Itching to get some gravel and water in this tank to get teh cycle going and hopefully get some fish in there.

Any comments based on personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

Lou

[FishLover888]

I have the blue background bought from the store. I have to say the dark background brings out more peppering of the discus, especially PB strain. I wish they had lighter color.

The problem is, it is really hard to find background that is 30" deep in the store. I think mine was about 24" or so deep and it took me a while to get the background.

I would be more concerned about the stand and the modifications. It will have to support about 2500 lbs when all said and done. That's the weight of a small car.

[Harriett]

lillou,
I strongly suggest NOT painting your tank background black or any dark color. I have a 180g that I painted black in prep to get my first batch of discus. Over the first couple years I noticed that my blue discus always looked dark, my pigeons always showed at least minimal peppering, and the lights in the tank never seemed bright enough [but wattage wise they are]. I loved the dramatic look of the black background and hadn't given a second thought to any other consideration when I set this tank up. About a year ago I read a thread which was really enlightening and described exactly what I was experiencing and why. Two weeks ago I corralled 2 of my kids into coming over. I broke down and drained the tank, moved all occupants, etc. We [they] moved the tank, scraped the black paint, repainted with a light blue green, I changed out the darker gravel for light silica sand, and put the tank back together. My fish look positively vibrant--same fish--the plants look dramatic, the light seems brighter because it bounces better off the back and substrate. I wish I had done this at the beginning.
I urge you not to make the same mistake.
Hope this helps
Harriett

[fobincorporated]

Is there any recommendation for what kind/brand of paint to use? Are there any paint that could be used while there's fish inside? I do not have the energy to break down a 55 gallon tank all by myself, paint it, then put everything back in again.

[Harriett]

I used regular latex paint rolled on. It takes about 3 coats for a good solid look. It did not scrape off as I imagined it would when I recently repainted the tank--I actually had to strip it. I used the citrus based stuff to strip--not stinky but still a holy mess to do. I know there are some types of paint that will just scrape off in nice ribbons....Rustoleum, for one.
The fumes are problematic for the fish--you need to break down the tank to be safe--sorry, that's my experience.

[tpl*co]

What about this stuff:

http://www.aquariumguys.com/oceanvisions13.html

Oceanvisions. Now this is important: PUT IT ON BEFORE YOU SET UP YOUR TANK AND WHEN YOU HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE BACK!!!!

It can be a PITA to get all the air bubbles out, but really bad if you only have 2 inches from the wall. When done it'll look like those acrylic tanks with the colored backgrounds, but it'll be easy to remove too.

I've got the aqua blue and the dark blue (link) and really like it.

Tina

[lillou]

fobincorporated
You can just paint the outside of the tank.

Harriett
Do you remember what the color was called? I already have the substrate which is a darker color so maybe the lighter background will help a little.
I am looking now for a color on the behr site when I find one I like I will post it here. Let me know if I am close.

Fishlover
I made the modifications to make the stand stronger. It is definitely better now than it was when I bought it.


TPL
That's probably the same stuff I put on the window in my front door. Even with having full access to the back it is a PITA. It might be the way to go if I end up not using the paint.


Does anyone have three sides of the tank covered?

[fishmama]

I am not sure how this would work while your tank has the fish in it but, I used Olympic Exterior Latex Satin (to help hold up to the water splashes). Three coats is best IME...sponge on the first coat in the darker color, then brush or roll on the last two in the lighter color for a "sponged" effect.

What you will have to be careful about is the airpump pulling fumes into the tank!

hth
Lisa

[lillou]

No fishies in the tank yet. I couldn't get one of my brothers to help me pick the thing up. It weighs around 400 lbs.

You could tape a piece of plastic garbage bag over the tank to prevent fumes from entering and just turn your air pump off for a day and you should be fine.

Could be a pain in the butt if you can't move tubes and such to the side to paint the back.

[fishmama]

Just keep in mind that both the fish and beneficial aerobic bacteria need oxygen!

[lauris]

I don't think the fumes are a problem. I have painted all sorts of tanks right in the fishroom. I think the fumes are a volatile gas that does not dissolve or dissipate in water. Even if it gets in (how I am not sure, maybe if you held a brush up to the intake on a pump?) it will just bubble on out. If the room is ventilated enough that you don't pass out from the fumes yourself, I can't see it affecting the fish.

[Harriett]

I'm not so positive as the rest of you. I think paint fumes [a gas] can be absorbed into water and cover tanks when painting near them.
I am writing because though my fish seemed to not really have problems from latex paint in the room, I also recently painted an old rocking chair one room away from my tanks, with oil based enamel and the fish quit eating, hunkered down in the back of the tank, and looked unhappy for about 15 hours. Then they popped back to normal. Made me pretty nervous--painting was the only variable that changed.
Just my experience.
Harriett

[lillou]

Harriett

They weren't hiding. They were enjoying the high!!!!

Enamel/ oil Paint has much higher VOC's than regular latex paint.

[lillou]

Just in case anyone was wondering, I painted the back of the tank caribbean blue water. Benjamin Moore color 2055-30. There is another color on the swatch Pacific Ocean blue (2055-20). Both are nice with the second being a touch darker.

Thanks for all the responses
Lou

[fishmama]

Awesome! Now you need to show us some pics of that monster!

[lillou]

I will take some pics if I can find my digital camera. Right now it is filled with water up to about 3" from the top. As this was purchased on ebay and I am the third owner of the tank. So everyone cross your fingers And pray this thing don't leak. Actually the paint looks real nice. I will post back here when I find the camera and ask how to post the photos here.

Lou

[lillou]

Okay the tank passed muster and there were no wet spots on the floor after 2 days of being filled. So here are some pics on the monster.

This is the monster
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01267.jpg
Add some dirt. the lighter color stuff up front is coarse silica sand. Sort of like a beach front for the fish. The darker stuff towards the back is for the plants
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01268.jpg
About 45 minutes into the fill, there has to be a better way
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01269.jpg
Just to give you an idea, that is a 24" python tube in the tank.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01270.jpg
I hate new driftwood, at least the piece is big enough to jam under the braces
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01272.jpg
This is my filter if anyone was wondering, it might be changing a little to stop the outgassing of CO2. Say goodbye to the bioballs, hello sponge filters
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01271.jpg

[fishmama]

I like the color you picked! This will be a fun tank project...can't wait to see it "mature"...it is a MONSTER!

Thanks for sharing the fun pics.

[danz]

Ive been painting all my tanks with American Accents spray paint and the color is 209684 Ocean Blue Semi-Gloss. Combined with the silica sand I love the combo. Here is my flowerhorn/blood parrot tank.

[fishmama]

danz-

That is quite a nice look. How many coats of spray did it take?

[korbi_doc]

:D WOW!! That is a huge tank & you've done a great job! I love that background, looks great with the sand....keep'm coming, should be beautiful with the fish in it.. Dottie ;)

[lillou]

A couple more pics with the plants in it. They are only in there for 4 days so they are a little small for the tank. I am working on my fertilizer dosing plan and getting the CO2 hooked up this weekend.

LIGHTS OFF
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01281.jpg

THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS WITH THE LIGHT ON
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01286.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01287.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s218/lab3/MONSTER/DSC01288.jpg

Did anyone notice my beautiful 4 ft level lighting legs?? How's that do DIY

Until everything starts to grow and I get some fish.....

[dragonlover]

Beautiful!! Love the way it's coming along. 220g would be so fun to play with. That blue looks very serene, and I like the way it contrasts the green plants. Very nice.

Lisa, I have done faux painting on my walls--NEVER thought about using it for the fish tank. Great effect! This is going to be a definite next time.