Ok I decided to try a midnite blue painted background

or black if I can't get the blue I want

so gloss black or flat black and what types of paint are suitable ??

the blue will have to be automotive paint is that ok ???

Cheers Gaz

You could use flat black spray paint like Krylon or latex paint and a roller-- Put it on the roller fairly thick as the first coat or two will not cover it completely...This would also give you the option of being able to remove it with a razor at some other point should you decide to change the color.

I would definitely go flat, not gloss. Gloss would be something I might consider for black wood stand or canopy painting depending on personal taste, but gloss can be tricky on glass and you don't want a reflective sheen on something thats going to be used primarily as a background. You want it to diffuse light that hits it...not necessarily reflect it--as that can kind of accentuate any small imperfections, and doesn't give the perception of 'depth' that backgrounds are commonly used for, especially the deep blue or black ones.

Johnny has you covered Gazza!!! I used flat black Krylon spray paint on all of mine. And the flat black actually shows as a glossy finish from the front view...

Good Luck finding your Blue and for god sake take pics!

just make sure what ever you use stays on the glass and don't flake off. be a pain in the butt to have to remove it and redo.

Acrylic enamel paint is what you want as opposed to a lacquer (it dried hard and is not as easily chipped). Spray or roller it doesn't matter.Just remember to do it in multiple light coats with drying time in between each coat for a good job. I used a low gloss black applied with a small foam roller and it came out very nice and I didn't make a huge mess.

To make the sure the paint stuck to the glass I prepped it with a product called ESP- Easy Surface prep. I purchased it from Bunnings.
www.floodaustralia.net/products/esp.htm

It provides an invisible bonding surface for the paint to adhere to so it won't chip or flake if applied correctly. The way I did mine though means its on there for good, so if I change my mind about the background (which I won't) it means buying a new tank.

A couple of pics of mine just to give you an idea..



Also I find the gloss doesn't really get too reflective. I have never scrubbed the back panel of glass for algae since I started the tank, the black paint hides it very well and my Pleco must be cleaning it at night.

i also use the krylon flat black latex paint like nikki does,
imo it does a fine job of covering and can be easily removed if later on you decide you would like something different.....

just remember several lights coats with adequate drying time in between for a better finish....

johnnyphoenix wrote:


x2

Nickie-Sue, did you use acrylic Krylon, or just any Krylon spray paint?

Just Krylon Hun. But my tank is glass not acrylic... I don't know if that makes a difference or not...

But I can tell you, I put it on as Necro said in several light coats to insure a good cover, I have sense moved TWICE and not a spot has been chipped... It still looks GREAT!