I see that many people on MFK have their tanks "blacked out". I've read about what most of you use (flat black) spray paint, but I have a few other questions. Do you paint all sides except the front? I guess what I mean are the left and right sides and/or the bottom? What about your hoods, anything special or just normal plastic or glass? Also are there any real benefits to doing this to your tank? All info will be appreciated.
Questions on "blacking out" a tank.
- Thread starter hamato_yoshii
- Start date
I dont think there are any real benifits but it looks really nice with the right colored substrate or you could paint the bottom black if you just want to have a bare bottom tank it looks better than just clear glass. I would do it just cause I like how it looks, but I would only paint the back and bottom.
This is kind of a branch off my original question, I've noticed that many people also have no gravel as eman pointed out. Do you have to take any special precautions because of the fact that you don't have gravel? Specifically in regards to biological filtration? Also are their any fish that are better in this kind of set-up, or are there any that you dont recomend for this kind of set-up?
I have limo tint for my background and black sand for substrate. Gravel and sand offer some biological bacteria, but you can manage without it. Most people keep bare bottom because it's easier to clean.
My perferred method of painting a tank is simple Latex Paint. I have a 150 gallon that I have painted the back black. I spent $10 bucks at walmart and bought a small can of latex paint, paint tray, and a foam roller. The foam roller is what is going to make it smooth. I bought a high gloss black at it looks great with my playsand ($30 dollars for 200lbs at Home Depot), river rock, (took it from my park and put it through the dish waser=FREE), and drift wood (actually had to buy it from my LFS). I only painted the back and it looks great. I get some pics this weekend.
I have never painted my backs always taped on black construction paper just in case at some point its needed to turn the tank around.
You asked about tops i replaced mine with smoked glass twice the thickness of the original top 1. to reduce the light and 2. because i had the glass break ,not nice to clean up.
You asked about tops i replaced mine with smoked glass twice the thickness of the original top 1. to reduce the light and 2. because i had the glass break ,not nice to clean up.
hamato_yoshii;691000; said:
If you go with no gravel I would not plan on stacking rock work in the tank, if a fish bumped one and knocks if off which mine always do you might be in some serious trouble with out and substrate to bufer the fall. Keep in mind that I stack my rocks high - 3/4 of the way up the tank.
Another tip instead of blacking my tank I cut a few pieces of poster board (99cents) to fit the back of my tank and then pray painted it black then I lightly spayed blues and purples over it so that it was bearly noticible but gave I nice effect. I only did this but cause I have long term commitment issues and would be affraid to permantly alter my tank. you can give that a try at least it will let you know what the tank will look like black and if you dont share my commitment fobia...then get the ROLLER OUT BROTHER!
hamato_yoshii;691000; said:
Fry are better in a bare bottom tank because they can find uneaten food. Grow out tanks are best left bare for the same reason. Some fry will also get trapped in gravel. I took the sand out of my tanks because it was a haven for worms (planeria and blood worms).
I use a Rust-O-Leum product called "Stone Coat" (7991 - Black Granite) I will post pictures, it has a black/white/silver finish, with a true stony look. it is 90% Black, 5% Silver, 5% White, speckeled finish. As for a bare bottom, the other poster(s) here have better knowledge of that as I use either a Black Gravel, or a white Gravel/Crushed Coral Substrate.
