Paint

[craigthor]

I use Rustoleum Oil based Gloss Black for my tank took 3 coats to cover and looks good.

Craig

 

[brianp]

I've read many posts from people who paint their tanks and could never understand why someone would want to apply this gunk to their tank. OK, I know it's inexpensive. In the past, I have gone to TAP Plastic and purchased a thin sheet of colored acrylic and taped it along the top border to the back of the tank. The effect is much nicer than paint and it's a snap to remove. Yes, it's certainly going to be more a more expensive option.

 

[]v[onster Loaches]

Just IMO, I think taped on ones look like crap. Unless your good at doing it (like squeegeeing vinyl decals or window tint), you'll get air pockets or perhaps some water will splash back there and youll get little water spots, etc. Painted on gives you a perfect look without any irregularities or texture, etc. But it depends on the tank. Most of my tanks are heavily planted, and I dont want to see any bit of the background... no texture or spots, etc. Just jet black, it makes everything in the tank 'pop'. And it makes the back look not as visible, like it gives the appearance that it just fades away into the depths.

I'll probably never do another tank that isnt painted unless its a room divider where you want to be able to see through it, and it would probably be starphire glass or perhaps acrylic.

My QT I have taped up a black trashbag, thats just so the fish dont get spooked as easily, not for looks. I have background taped on my 75g that looks like crap, and background that I squeegeed on that has bubbled up on my 45g that looks like crap now. For a couple bucks and a little effort all of these would have looked a lot better with paint. And if you use the right stuff it comes off pretty easy if for some reason you needed to remove it.

 

[craigthor]

Just IMO, I think taped on ones look like crap. Unless your good at doing it (like squeegeeing vinyl decals or window tint), you'll get air pockets or perhaps some water will splash back there and youll get little water spots, etc. Painted on gives you a perfect look without any irregularities or texture, etc. But it depends on the tank. Most of my tanks are heavily planted, and I dont want to see any bit of the background... no texture or spots, etc. Just jet black, it makes everything in the tank 'pop'. And it makes the back look not as visible, like it gives the appearance that it just fades away into the depths.

I'll probably never do another tank that isnt painted unless its a room divider where you want to be able to see through it, and it would probably be starphire glass or perhaps acrylic.

My QT I have taped up a black trashbag, thats just so the fish dont get spooked as easily, not for looks. I have background taped on my 75g that looks like crap, and background that I squeegeed on that has bubbled up on my 45g that looks like crap now. For a couple bucks and a little effort all of these would have looked a lot better with paint. And if you use the right stuff it comes off pretty easy if for some reason you needed to remove it.

I agree!

 

[jcardona1]

Just IMO, I think taped on ones look like crap. Unless your good at doing it (like squeegeeing vinyl decals or window tint), you'll get air pockets or perhaps some water will splash back there and youll get little water spots, etc. Painted on gives you a perfect look without any irregularities or texture, etc. But it depends on the tank. Most of my tanks are heavily planted, and I dont want to see any bit of the background... no texture or spots, etc. Just jet black, it makes everything in the tank 'pop'. And it makes the back look not as visible, like it gives the appearance that it just fades away into the depths.

I'll probably never do another tank that isnt painted unless its a room divider where you want to be able to see through it, and it would probably be starphire glass or perhaps acrylic.

My QT I have taped up a black trashbag, thats just so the fish dont get spooked as easily, not for looks. I have background taped on my 75g that looks like crap, and background that I squeegeed on that has bubbled up on my 45g that looks like crap now. For a couple bucks and a little effort all of these would have looked a lot better with paint. And if you use the right stuff it comes off pretty easy if for some reason you needed to remove it.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!! I will NEVER do another tank w/o first painting the background. Stick on, tape on, or any other type of background look like absolute garbage! I had a black tape-on background on my 135 and I hated it. I would get water spills behind the tank and it was very hard to clean.

Painted backgrounds give a very glossy, uniform look to the tank