chimera Posted August 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 back's onto a room (tank is in wall) so would do it right first time with the right paint. worth spending a little now rather than having a pain in the arse later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 and wotis the rite paint?? Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 I use backing paper to great effect, Painting is to permanent for me. The trick to using backing paper is to keep it off the glass, have a space of about half an inch between the glass and the paper. I use a backing paper that goes from a deep dark navy blue at the bottom to a more brighter ocean blue at the top. Blue brings out more colour pigments of whats inside the tank, (hence the reason for blue screens in photography and film work.) Give this a go as a temporary measure to get a feel for what you like, rather than painting your tank and not liking the outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 nah, not keen on backing paper, used many times on my freshwater tanks and it sucks. i will be "getting to the tank" from the back anyway so it will just be in the way. cheers anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 I've painted about 10 tanks, never once had a problem of having water getting behind it and blistering it. Clean the glass, spray paint it. Works a treat. Chimera - I would paint it. It only takes a few minutes to paint it, and it looks heaps better. Corline growth will eventually cover it, but maybee (depending on the effect you want) you may want to clean it. Not practical for a 'wall of rock' but looks better if your doing a bommie effect. You don't want to not paint it, and everytime you look at the front of the tank all you see are cables and junk. Remember the room behind it may be dark, but once you throw a few hundred watts of light on the tank it will be lit up like a christmas tree. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 too true, cheers mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Well, didnt make too much progress this weekend with the new tank but i did at least get the back painted (also got the plywood for the tank to sit on cut out) I went with Pies colour and got marine blue. Happy with the way it came out. I need to buy a 3rd can of spray paint to finish it off (still slightly see through some areas from the front) I was thinking I might paint a black sealer over the blue once I've done the last blue coat to protect it, thoughts? Oh, and Alan there is no "right paint" for the job. Most of the "right paints" for glass is the crap that people use to stain glass with. They stick really well (but are transparent which isnt what I want). The guy in the paint shop said the only best way is to prime it first but that obviously defeats the purpose if viewed from the front. He said that a really good clean with mineral turps or meths will give best results. Hence my above question for sealing the blue with something, just incase... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Looks like things are starting to come together nicely chimera. When do you expect to fill the tank? Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 cool you can paint my car now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 im hoping for this weekend to get the new tank in. still have reef rack to make and some bits of plumbing to finish this week (if I find the time!) steve - i got a few cans of pink and orange dazzle to do your car, when do i start? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 :lol: That's quick! Marks dragging the chain a bit Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 to many holidays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 My tanks 3 times larger, therefore it takes 3 times as long to prepare... + too many holidays Vanuatu here I come! 12 more sleeps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Pies that must have been yr lucky post 888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Does anyone know what the best paint to seal the blue paint with would be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 A can of clearcoat should do the trick!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Again why seal it? You go from one extreme to another. First not going to paint it at all, not applying sealing coats. Its paint, its already sealed. Its also in you closet in you bedroom. If it gets so wet that sealing it is the only way to protect it, you have much bigger problems than the paint on the back of the tank... I've never done anymore than just paint it, as i've stated before, and it works just fine. Some of those tanks are over 4 years old without an issue. pi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Spray paint tends to rub off on hands, clothing etc.. so it can't hurt to seal it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted August 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 my thoughts too doc. pies, its more likely to get water dripping down the side you access the tank from for obvious reasons. i assume you access all your tanks from the front, i will be accessing mine from the back. a sealer is no big deal and not much extra cost, especially considering i could scratch off the paint with my fingernails if I wanted too. not willing to take that risk and Im certainly not going to be doing touch ups once the tank is in. i'll ask the guy at the paint shop when I go there today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2004 i ended up spraying the back of the tank with a clear satin coat of polyurethane. I highly recommend that anyone does this if they have painted the back of their tank. Water runs off the back nicely and it has made the paint "semi" scratch resistant - meaning its still able to be scratched off, just a slightly harder to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I have the same effect, without the sealer, spooky. I highly recommend that anyone does'nt do this. Save the money and time. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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