TygGer
Aquarium Advice Freak
For those of you who has a background, did you paint it or tape one of those background sheets to the back?
Background?
- Thread starter TygGer
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
neide
Aquarium Advice Regular
Paint! Paint! My opinion is that its the easiest, cheapest, and best looking solution. Krylon Fusion is what I used.
sparkchaser
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I got the background from the LFS, then I smeared vaseline all over the front on it. I stuck it on the back, and used rubber blade (used for tinting windows) to work out all of the bubbles. It looks great. before I did this, I just had the background taped on, and it wasn't bright enough. But after the vaseline the background looks good.
malkore
Aquarium Advice Addict
paint.
I tried teh vaseline thing, and it only held for a week. maybe I used too little vaseline...but damn if paint isn't just easier.
I tried teh vaseline thing, and it only held for a week. maybe I used too little vaseline...but damn if paint isn't just easier.
sparkchaser
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I thought about paint, but my tank was already setup, so I don't think it would have been any easier for me. My next tank will be painted before I fill it.
RocketSeason
Aquarium Advice Addict
I would probibly paint it. If I had to do it over thats what I would have done. I have my background taped on with electrical tape right now. It Looks fine but is wrinkled a bit in places. It took several attempts and several sheets for me to get it looking good.
My background is called "deep sea" its a gradient from light blue to dark blue. Looks very nice and I doubt I would have easily gotten the subtle gradient with paint.
My background is called "deep sea" its a gradient from light blue to dark blue. Looks very nice and I doubt I would have easily gotten the subtle gradient with paint.
XXFirefighter
Aquarium Advice Addict
PAINT !
TygGer
Aquarium Advice Freak
Is it difficult to get a smooth finish when painting? Im a bit cautious about painting the tank. 
As for the not as bright comment, I prefer a dark blue background...
As for the not as bright comment, I prefer a dark blue background...
electrikat
Aquarium Advice Addict
I used the dark blue background and held it on with clear packing tape. I do not have it smoothed to the glass so it just looks dark and doesn't detract from the rest of the view one way or the other.
neide
Aquarium Advice Regular
Here's some pictures of some of my tanks, they are all painted.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v422/nateeide/Fish/
You definetly need to do it before they are filled, but its nearly impossible for it not to look good.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v422/nateeide/Fish/
You definetly need to do it before they are filled, but its nearly impossible for it not to look good.
ambulocetus
Aquarium Advice Activist
Those are some neat stands, with the double tanks ontop of each other - really nice looking neide!
seaham358
Aquarium Advice Addict
I used a foam brush and made 3 coats of paint...... looks great... Next time I will use colbalt blue paint instead of black.... May try to mix in some baby blue shades with a spounge to get a different look. Best thing..... if you dont like it you can just scrape it off and do it again........
neide
Aquarium Advice Regular
Thanks, that was my summer project this year. One of these days I'll get around to posting my pics from the whole build process. I still need to make a hood too.
sparkchaser
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
This is my tank with the dark to light background via vaseline
JG
Aquarium Advice FINatic
My tank is already set up - so painting the tank would be difficult. I have a taped on background right now - hate it - looks terrible. Tomorrow I am going to get a sheet of plexi and some Krylon fusion. I am going to paint the plexi and then try using silicone glue to stick it to the back of the tank.
SaltwaterTeen
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I have a coral background and It was a tape, it looks cool because it has bubble coral and stuff
phases99
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I used the black Oceanvisions background. You wet it and apply it with a squegee. I like the look of it and it can be applied to your tank if it is already setup, just not as easily. It comes in a few different colors.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/background/Class//T1/F06+0413+0007/Itemdy00.aspx
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/background/Class//T1/F06+0413+0007/Itemdy00.aspx
TygGer
Aquarium Advice Freak
So if I mess up, all it takes is a razor to scrape the paint off?
Also, is Krylon Fusion the paint to use?
Also, is Krylon Fusion the paint to use?
neide
Aquarium Advice Regular
I love the Fusion, because it bonds well to glass. But from what I'm hearing here, sounds like a lot of things work well. Plus the fusion happens to have a very natural looking blue color.
Now, I didn't try to remove any of it though. I did mess up a couple of places, kind of, but as long as you fill in all of the space it looks fine from the front.
A couple of years ago I had painted the back of another smaller tank with a roller, that didn't look nearly as good. I also think the paint I used was a problem, but I believe spraying is definetly the way to go.
Now, I didn't try to remove any of it though. I did mess up a couple of places, kind of, but as long as you fill in all of the space it looks fine from the front.
A couple of years ago I had painted the back of another smaller tank with a roller, that didn't look nearly as good. I also think the paint I used was a problem, but I believe spraying is definetly the way to go.
