Painting glass after setup?

[sagxman]

Can the back glass be painted after the tank is already running with livestock? Obviously I'm not talking about spray paint. But could I get a can of paint and a roller and paint it on or do I need to worry about paint fumes or anything?
This sounds like a trivial question, but I'm concerned that I could really screw things up if I'm not thinking this through properly.
If the answer is no, we'll just stick with a transparent back or add one of those black background paper thingies.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/391263/painting-glass-after-setup#post_3468890
Can the back glass be painted after the tank is already running with livestock? Obviously I'm not talking about spray paint. But could I get a can of paint and a roller and paint it on or do I need to worry about paint fumes or anything?
This sounds like a trivial question, but I'm concerned that I could really screw things up if I'm not thinking this through properly.
If the answer is no, we'll just stick with a transparent back or add one of those black background paper thingies.
It "can" be done but not easy...all the equipment makes it very hard and you can't use spray paint. I do not recommend leaving the back without a background, because it looks like crap ..... you can see all the wires and equipment behind it.
It is a thin plastic background..not a paper thingy. There are shadow box backgrounds, rock backgrounds and foam backgrounds. I have (on a freshwater tank) used tin foil crunched up and slightly painted for a cave like look. I have used the flat panel light defusers painted and taped to the back for a painted crushed glass look in the back. You are only limited by your own imagination.

 

[snakeblitz33]

At this point, I would start looking into some of the suggestions that flower posted.
Painting the tank while it is running is not just hazardous to the fish, but also could hurt you as well. Sounds like a good way to break a tank or a piece of equipment too.

 

[sagxman]

At this point, I would start looking into some of the suggestions that flower posted.
Painting the tank while it is running is not just hazardous to the fish, but also could hurt you as well. Sounds like a good way to break a tank or a piece of equipment too.
I'm not worried about damaging the tank or equipment. I've got enough clearance behind the tank that I could get a paint roller in there no problem. It's really the livestock I'd be concerned about.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/391263/painting-glass-after-setup#post_3468967
I'm not worried about damaging the tank or equipment. I've got enough clearance behind the tank that I could get a paint roller in there no problem. It's really the livestock I'd be concerned about.
The chance of getting even a drop in the tank is what Snake is trying to warn you about...it isn't worth the risk. I painted the back of my 56g black....the snails lay eggs and the back looks spotted almost like stars....the coraline developes and the blue, purple and red blotches show...To be honest, no matter what you do the back is not going to look all that great for the long term, but anything to block out the wires and hoses in the back is an improvement. Painting does no more than a plastic background does and the background might even hide more.

 

[sagxman]

Quote: Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/391263/painting-glass-after-setup#post_3468967


I'm not worried about damaging the tank or equipment. I've got enough clearance behind the tank that I could get a paint roller in there no problem. It's really the livestock I'd be concerned about.

The chance of getting even a drop in the tank is what Snake is trying to warn you about...it isn't worth the risk. I painted the back of my 56g black....the snails lay eggs and the back looks spotted almost like stars....the coraline developes and the blue, purple and red blotches show...To be honest, no matter what you do the back is not going to look all that great for the long term, but anything to block out the wires and hoses in the back is an improvement. Painting does no more than a plastic background does and the background might even hide more.


I'm not willing to take any chances. I think I will go with the background the pet store sells. Speaking of those snail eggs, do you let them develop? I have a bunch on my front glass and wanted to leave them to see what happens but I don't want to be overrun if they develop into a million baby snails.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaGxMAN http:///t/391263/painting-glass-after-setup#post_3469002
I'm not willing to take any chances. I think I will go with the background the pet store sells. Speaking of those snail eggs, do you let them develop? I have a bunch on my front glass and wanted to leave them to see what happens but I don't want to be overrun if they develop into a million baby snails.
As a rule the fish eat them and if there is not enough food they will die off. I have a ton of baby ceriths...really tiny. I guess seahorses don't gobble the eggs off the glass like fish do. In a regular tank with fish I never saw any baby snails...but lots of eggs. Some snail eggs look like a line and others look like tiny dots stuck on the glass. I don't know one snail egg from another.
I got online to look for a background and found a nice one I liked that looks like ocean waves. I think you will have a better selection by surfing the web then the LFS.