To Paint or Not to Paint?

[Enigma]

I'm not sure where to put this thread. Sorry if it is in the wrong place.

I was going to paint the back of our new display tank (40B). Hubby is opposed to the idea. We've really banged heads over this one. The disagreement is heated! He's getting very fired up about this tank (which is cool, as he hasn't once asked what the chiller, controller, and other stuff is costing).

Then I read this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/5/equipment

Now I think that painting the back would be unwise, but I still don't want to be able to see though the back wall of the tank. I don't want to see the plumbing.

Comments and/or suggestions?

[Aquattro]

I've always painted the back on my tanks. The pattern shown in that article closely resembles the typical coral placement I've seen in many/most tanks, and as such, would not be a concern. In fact, even if corals weren't placed that way, I'd still not be concerned and I would paint the back of my tank.

[Enigma]

Craig: What are you doing to the aquarium?
Shelley: I'm taping it off to paint the back black.
Craig: Don't do that! Why the heck would you do that!!!???
Shelley: Brad told me to.
Craig: Who is Brad?
Shelley: Some dude on the Internet.

Works for me.

But, in all seriousness, could moving the lighting fixture towards the rear wall of the tank offset some of the effect of painting the back?

Also, could we expect the same effect from LEDs? The T5 fixture will only be temporary: until we have the opportunity to build the LED fixture.

[fishytime]

well, unless you plan on keeping the rock away from the back glass and the back glass as clean as the front glass, then all reflection is going to go out the window so to speak.....Ive always used tape on vinyl (except with my new tank which has vinyl that was applied directly to the glass by the tank manufacturer) simply because I dont think that the time and effort of painting the glass is worth it for me...Im too lazy to keep the back glass clean

[FishyFishy!]

Paint all the way. If you use Krylon Fusion it only takes like 30 mins total prep/spray time. Just tape the edges, cover the rest of the tank, and spray in 3-4 coats. It dries to the touch in like 15 minutes. They have gloss black, and also a very nice blue as well.

The blue looks like this

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by fishytime

well, unless you plan on keeping the rock away from the back glass and the back glass as clean as the front glass, then all reflection is going to go out the window so to speak.....Ive always used tape on vinyl (except with my new tank which has vinyl that was applied directly to the glass by the tank manufacturer) simply because I dont think that the time and effort of painting the glass is worth it for me...Im too lazy to keep the back glass clean

Clearance between the tank and the wall will be pretty much zero. The only way to clean the back glass will be to use a scraper on the inside of the tank.

Tape on vinyl was something I was considering. But I wasn't sure if the standard aquarium backgrounds would work all right, or if there was a better product to use.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Works for me.

But, in all seriousness, could moving the lighting fixture towards the rear wall of the tank offset some of the effect of painting the back?

Also, could we expect the same effect from LEDs? The T5 fixture will only be temporary: until we have the opportunity to build the LED fixture.

I have to ask, what's his issue with painting the tank??

Perhaps, on paper, there is some merit to this theory of loss of light. But I've never seen a tank with failing corals near the back. Typically the corals towards the back are higher up to facilitate viewing, and therefore get more light, or at least enough to thrive and grow.

If he doesn't like paint, at least a vinyl sheet as Doug mentions above, or you'll be less than happy staring at the wall behind the tank.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Enigma

. But I wasn't sure if the standard aquarium backgrounds would work all right, or if there was a better product to use.

Paint is a good option

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

Paint all the way.

Nice!

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I have to ask, what's his issue with painting the tank??

Perhaps, on paper, there is some merit to this theory of loss of light. But I've never seen a tank with failing corals near the back. Typically the corals towards the back are higher up to facilitate viewing, and therefore get more light, or at least enough to thrive and grow.

If he doesn't like paint, at least a vinyl sheet as Doug mentions above, or you'll be less than happy staring at the wall behind the tank.

I'm not 100% sure what the issue is. He's generally really laid back, but every now and then he digs in and won't budge on something. It seldom makes much sense to me. Normally when he digs in he automatically gets his way: as he so seldom kicks up a fuss of any sort . . . but I'm dead set against staring at the wall behind the tank or looking at the plumbing. This is supposed to be "our" build however, and I do really want to encourage his enthusiasm.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Enigma

This is supposed to be "our" build however, and I do really want to encourage his enthusiasm.

Let him decide the color