Safe paint for inside the tank?

[David14259]

Hi guys,

I have a XP2 canister filter with its annoying blue intake pipe. I would very much like the paint this tube black. Is there a paint that is safe to do this with? I don't want to take any chances, so I need something that we're 100% sure is ok to use.

Thanks!
David

 

[theotheragentm]

Search these forums. Someone just replace the pipes, I think with Eheim pipes. It's probably better than painting the pipes.

 

[maxwell1295]

Krylon Fusion Paint (or the equivalent) is fine for use inside the tank. All of the Eheim green in my tanks is painted black to blend with the background.

 

[tropicalfish]

An easier alternative to make them black is using electrical tape. Wash the finished product off well in case there are additives on top of the tape.

 

[gadgetguy]

An easier alternative to make them black is using electrical tape. Wash the finished product off well in case there are additives on top of the tape.

For some reason I doubt that'd work. The chemical in the sticky part will likely hurt the fish.

 

[tropicalfish]

Hmm, I used it in my 10 gallon hexagon tank.......
Fish are still alive, water is fine... Maybe the type of tape you use.

 

[SparKy697]

I don't know if this applys to the "plastic" paints or not, but at work when they paint the inside of a water tower they use an epoxy paint. Before they can fill it with (drinking) water, they have to wait many days for the paint to cure. I have been told that gasses escape during this process that would otherwise make their way into the water. Time and temperature seem to be a factor in this process too. The longer you wait and the warmer it is, the more complete the curing process and the less chemicals in the water.

 

[Ziggy953]

Sparky is right...the epoxy paint it the best option for inside a tank. You have to allow it to cure because gasses do escape as it is curing. I don't think I would be putting tape inside my tank especially because of the glue that is on it! The epoxy paint is expensive!

FWIW, put a plant infront of the pipe to hide it.

 

[kennef]

FWIW, put a plant infront of the pipe to hide it.

but OMG Ziggy... its both blue AND annoying!!

really the only other option here is to look into a similar sized intake tube from another vendor and cob together a fitting. didnt someone say that Eheim parts are close in size to these?

 

[Ziggy953]

I feel your pain Kennef!