fish-safe paint - Aquarium Advice

snowangeltae · 03-26-2005, 05:11 PM

I have some rocks that I would like to paint and put them in my 80 [acronym:7023165314="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:7023165314] freshwater aquarium. Anybody know of what paints are "fish-safe"? How about painting them and then coating them w/ epoxy?

StyleUK · 03-26-2005, 05:42 PM

I would'nt paint any rocks and put them in my tank, I would'nt trust it to be honest unless I knew it was going to be 100% safe, i'm sure theres a type of paint tho, try google for fish safe paints maybe you'll find a quicker awnser there. And i'm not sure about the epoxy having never used it myself, you'll have to wait until one of our experts replys, sorry I could'nt help that much. Hope it helps a little.

www.google.com

SpaceButler · 03-26-2005, 05:50 PM

Only stuff I can think of is pool paint. But you might be stuck with only white and blue, and who knows how long it lasts.

greenfish · 03-26-2005, 06:11 PM

I know that some people who make plywood tanks paint the inside. I think they use some kind of marine paint but I don't know the details.

Toirtis · 03-27-2005, 05:04 AM

Marine epoxy...and it ain't cheap (about $60/gallon, if memory serves).

BASSNMAN · 03-27-2005, 11:46 PM

You can get coloring pigment for epoxy so you kill 2 birds with one stone. After coating, let them set out till you can't smell the epoxy. You can also add sand to the mix if you want a different texture.

buggsmarinetank · 03-30-2005, 07:15 PM

how about just buying colored rock in the color that you like, then you dont risk killing your investment?

malkore · 03-31-2005, 10:45 AM

Or not painting the rocks weird colors, and going for a more natural look?

snowangeltae · 04-01-2005, 04:18 AM

Well, the substrate I currently have is black and white. My background is black, also. The rocks I want to paint are a whitish color, but have some brownish red and I just want them solid white or black. I was hoping to save some money by painting them instead of buying. But, I can't even find anybody that sells decent looking rocks. I live in San Antonio, TX and there's a lot of cool looking limestone, but that's a no no in aquariums. I've looked around in areas where the area is being cleared for building homes or offices, but I'm not finding what I want. Had I thought ahead, I probably would have done a more natural looking tank, but I'm not about to change out the substrate in an 80 [acronym:c29bcaacf7="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c29bcaacf7] aquarium.

03-26-2005, 05:11 PM	#1
snowangeltae Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 46 Images: 2	fish-safe paint I have some rocks that I would like to paint and put them in my 80 [acronym:7023165314="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:7023165314] freshwater aquarium. Anybody know of what paints are "fish-safe"? How about painting them and then coating them w/ epoxy?

03-26-2005, 05:42 PM	#2
StyleUK Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 178 Images: 3	I would'nt paint any rocks and put them in my tank, I would'nt trust it to be honest unless I knew it was going to be 100% safe, i'm sure theres a type of paint tho, try google for fish safe paints maybe you'll find a quicker awnser there. And i'm not sure about the epoxy having never used it myself, you'll have to wait until one of our experts replys, sorry I could'nt help that much. Hope it helps a little. www.google.com __________________ StyleUK Teach what you know, learn what you don't

03-26-2005, 05:50 PM	#3
SpaceButler Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Dakota Posts: 199 Images: 11	Only stuff I can think of is pool paint. But you might be stuck with only white and blue, and who knows how long it lasts. __________________ ---55 [acronym:4c4a367a91="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:4c4a367a91] <------ 1 8" Albino/Lutino Oscar (Grumbo)

03-26-2005, 06:11 PM	#4
greenfish Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Livermore, California USA Posts: 533	I know that some people who make plywood tanks paint the inside. I think they use some kind of marine paint but I don't know the details. __________________

03-27-2005, 05:04 AM	#5
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	Marine epoxy...and it ain't cheap (about $60/gallon, if memory serves). __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

03-27-2005, 11:46 PM	#6
BASSNMAN Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 515	You can get coloring pigment for epoxy so you kill 2 birds with one stone. After coating, let them set out till you can't smell the epoxy. You can also add sand to the mix if you want a different texture. __________________ Doran Hayes

03-30-2005, 07:15 PM	#7
buggsmarinetank Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 55	how about just buying colored rock in the color that you like, then you dont risk killing your investment?

03-31-2005, 10:45 AM	#8
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	Or not painting the rocks weird colors, and going for a more natural look? __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

04-01-2005, 04:18 AM	#9
snowangeltae Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 46 Images: 2	Well, the substrate I currently have is black and white. My background is black, also. The rocks I want to paint are a whitish color, but have some brownish red and I just want them solid white or black. I was hoping to save some money by painting them instead of buying. But, I can't even find anybody that sells decent looking rocks. I live in San Antonio, TX and there's a lot of cool looking limestone, but that's a no no in aquariums. I've looked around in areas where the area is being cleared for building homes or offices, but I'm not finding what I want. Had I thought ahead, I probably would have done a more natural looking tank, but I'm not about to change out the substrate in an 80 [acronym:c29bcaacf7="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c29bcaacf7] aquarium.

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