Tired of backgrounds falling off 😡 Going to try painting it and need help

[Danielle77]

I've tried different ways of putting a background on a tank and it always seems to curl up somewhere or it falls off and ends up on the floor. Plus it's not easy to get back on once a tank is full. So what kind of paint is best for this? 

[Flumpweesel]

I'd use a spray and many thin coats.

I have also heard that window film is a good alternative.

[Struggle]

I use satin black spray paint and it works well.

[HenryC]

I Use krylon fusion all in on







Paint in quick, light sweeps, don't oversaturate it, do 3-4 layers, waiting for it to dry after each layer. Doesn't matter if you are left with blotchy spaces, you keep covering em with subsequent layers. SUPER IMPORTANT to clean the glass VERY WELL, dust specks and/or oil from your fingerprints will ruin the paint around them. I used windex and a new microfiber cloth

end result!

 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by HenryC

[Brandy]

I have used spray, latex, and craft acrylic. They all look the same from inside the tank. The acrylic/latex can easily be razored off a glass tank, the spraypaint is more durable and takes more elbow grease. The advantage of latex or acrylic is that I can do it in less than an hour without masking anything.

[Danielle77]

I will have to do it inside the house and 2 of the tanks are full so I definitely need something I can control so it doesn't go everywhere. Is there a paint I'd use a roller or brush with? 

[gardenman]

I just use the little $0.96 bottles of black craft paint from Walmart. I slap on a coat using a paint brush, then pull out my hairdryer (also known as acrylic paint drying speeder-upper) and blow dry it for a few minutes, then another coat, another blow dry, and another coat, and more blow drying. In about fifteen to twenty minutes, I can build up a nice thick coat of paint that looks great. It's easy-peasy, cheap, fast, and works great. The first coat tends to go on badly, but each subsequent coat covers more. By the time you've got two or three coats on, it's looking pretty good. It's not an especially durable finish, but it works. The lack of durability can be good if you don't want it in the future. A quick pass with a razor blade and it's gone.

[Danielle77]

Thank you everyone 🙂 

[PineSong]

@HenryC, I really like the color you used--it looks great.

[HenryC]

On 1/15/2022 at 5:33 AM, PineSong said:

@HenryC, I really like the color you used--it looks great.

Thanks! I already have black and sky blue aquariums, so I wanted to try something different. The color is Krylon Peacock Blue if anyone's interested.

[Mmiller2001]

Maybe try a moss wall?

[Torrey]

I like window film because I can't handle the paint fumes, and living in an apartment, I can't paint outside. 

Once the film is properly applied, it will stay until you want to take it off.

I used a pebbled window film for the 4' in my spouse's room. 

Above the water line ^

And below the water line