Painting Background While Tank Is Running

robmcd

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Acrylic hobby paint from Michaels has no fumes and will work on an acrylic surface.
 
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duanes

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What I've always done, is spray paint a styrofoam panel the size of the back wall with matte black, and tape it to the back.
In that way, if at some point the front panel gets scratched up, I can just turn the tank around and use the unscratched side for viewing.
The styrofoam gives a extra little protection for the back side, and in the case of of a power outage, with glass adds some extra insulation when power goes out, I'd often tape styrofoam to the end panels for extra insulation, and cut a piece for the front, just in case.
 
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RD.

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Acrylic hobby paint from Michaels has no fumes and will work on an acrylic surface.
Agreed, that's what I used - on my glass tanks. Scrapes off with a razor easy peasy, not sure how difficult that may or may not be on an acrylic tank?
 

midasman714

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What I've always done, is spray paint a styrofoam panel the size of the back wall with matte black, and tape it to the back.
In that way, if at some point the front panel gets scratched up, I can just turn the tank around and use the unscratched side for viewing.
The styrofoam gives a extra little protection for the back side, and in the case of of a power outage, with glass adds some extra insulation when power goes out, I'd often tape styrofoam to the end panels for extra insulation, and cut a piece for the front, just in case.
This is definitely a good option that I have not considered. It makes it easier if I want to change things in the future.
 

eon aquatics

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i would probably never paint the back of my aquariums, in case you want to make it like a center piece or something someday
 

RD.

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This is definitely a good option that I have not considered. It makes it easier if I want to change things in the future.
It works, but IMO is not as aesthetically pleasing as a painted on background.


i would probably never paint the back of my aquariums, in case you want to make it like a center piece or something someday

Acrylic hobby paint comes off rather easily with a razor scraper, at least when applied to glass.
 
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midasman714

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I found this online. Do you think this 64oz bottle will be enough for the 8'x2' surface area of the 240?

 
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