Tommy Gun

Hello everyone! I am looking for some help as to the background on my 90 gallon saltwater tank. I bought it with the back of the tank already painted black, but there are a few spots which are lighter (almost look brown when the light shines through) and has a couple of scratches in the background, basically because the thing was heavy and my wife wasnt able to help me that much when getting it up on the stand. So, I am wondering what type of paint will be the best, and thickest, for me to add. I do not know what type of paint was used on the tank and wouldnt know how to figure that out either.

Also, for future reference (because I am thinking of maybe changing the background to a deep blue), how would one go about getting the paint off the back of the tank? Like I said, it scratches off pretty easily, but I do not want to end up scratching the glass. I was at least smart enough to make sure I can get behind the tank without too much trouble, so I would like to do it with the system running and fish in the tank, if possible. Would a paint thinner or remover work and not hurt the glass?

Thanks for any help!

Jay

If it scratches off easily, and feels a little soft and rubbery to the touch, it is probably latex based paint. The harder the feel and look it would be an enamel or an epoxy. Enamel will flake off, Latex will sort of peel. Epoxy could be a problem as some of them really adhere.

Sounds like Latex to me.

I would take it off carefully with a razor blade, in a holder, at an angle to avoid scratches. Messy Job

Jay

bigsloe

hey if your going to scratch the paint of id reccomend wetting it slightly first ass it wont let it turn to dust or flake away also clean as you go with wet paper towels as this worked great for me if you want to paint it black i would reccomend rustoleum spray paint flat black if you cant spray where your tank is id get the rustoleum flat black in a can that can be rolled on not only will it cover great but it is truely the blackest black of any paint ive ever seen its not blueish greyish it is BLACK trust me on this you will not be disappointed but remember if you can tape of the sides and spray it youll get a great looking end product it goes on so even and dark just stay about a foot away and avoid changing directions in the middle of the glass go from off the edge of one side to off the edge of the other side and then back and back
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RedBaron

Really silly question, but why paint it and risk having some of the chemicals get into the system when one can obtain backgrounds and change them so much easier?

This sounds like a really terrible job, who did you manage to irratate to warrant such a fate, Bill Parcels?

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Tommy Gun

LOL, Redbarron,

The tank actually came painted to me and that is why I did not put on the background. I also would want a background that is neither black nor the usual light blue and I can also immediatly rule out one of the 'picture' type backgrounds. I would like the tank background to be like the darker blue color of this website's background. Sort of an inbetween deal of the light blue and black typical backgrounds.

These tanks that come with the overflow chambers usually come with the back already painted on them. There is a choice between the black overflow chamber or the light blue color. I am not the origonal buyer of the tank so I dont have much choice. I got my entire 90 gallon bowfront tank with stand, sump, skimmer, and canopy for 1000 dollars. All I had to buy was the lights and the live rock. Oh yea, it also came with 5 holes drilled in it and the stand with complete plumbing for 3 powerheads, including the intake and a 1200 gph pump. The sump also came with an 800 gph pump and bioballs. So basically, this was a great deal in my opinion and a little bit of painting wont be too bad. So far, I am just living with the black background and it is not so bad, just not perfect like I usually strive for. (Perfect being my idea of this tank and what I want it to look like)