55 Gallon Tank Cheap and easy tank background

This is a simple and cheap tank background:
Everyone has seen the prices for those roll-out sheets of background. For just about $5-$6, you can add a simple background to your tank yourself.

This is the second tank I've done this one and have never had an issue with it running or contaminating the tank.

Simply take acrylic paint (available at craft stores) and paint the outside of the back side of the tank. You can use any color you'd like, I prefer black because it's simple, classical, and doesn't detract from the fish's colors, and in fact sets them off even better!

Paint a coat over the back of the tank, using the plastic or wood edging on the top and bottom as a guide. You can use pretty much any paintbrush for this. I prefer a sponge brush. Let dry for 24 hours and add a second coat to cover the streaks and thin areas a single coat leaves. Let cure for 1 week. And then you're done!

This is how it looks in an empty tank:


And in a fully set up one:

 

Very nice. Though for me I would use a lighter colour when I do one of mine.

I have one tank I will do this with later. Bought it used from the previous owner whom bought it off of craigslist. It has scratches that I cannot hide. I tried to set a blue background sheet onto the tank and it looked great for about 2 days, now looks horrible from where all the scratches have dried out and opend up the voids.

 

Great idea but if you splash water, which I have been known to do, will it run?

 

It will not if you use indoor/outdoor paint.

 

I just use the 1 dollar can from Walmart never had any issues

 

People use krylon spray paint for this too. That's what I'll be using when I do my 10 gallon Unless I decide to be artistic and paint a scene on it... which might happen.

 

^ I use Krylon Spray paint to make backgrounds on my tank. It's worked great! I do about 2 - 3 coats, let it dry and it's ready to go.

 

I actually just use acrylic paint like they sell at craft stores. I haven't had any issue with the paint on my 20 gallon running, and I've had the tank going for a month. I don't personally use the spray paint because I don't have a place I can do it outside and leave the tank overnight to dry, and indoors it's too many fumes in the air. In addition to the fish, I don't really want to accidentally poison my cats or rabbits, either.
77Impala- that's the nice thing about this method. You're not restricted to the 4 or 5 designs and colors of stick-on backgrounds most LPS carry- you can use whatever color suits your setup and personal taste.

 

If and when I do this, I'll be brushing or rolling paint on rather than spraying. I've read too many frustrated accounts of how hard it is to scrape off spray paint when you change your mind later.

 

I use black latex paint on my tanks.

 

If and when I do this, I'll be brushing or rolling paint on rather than spraying. I've read too many frustrated accounts of how hard it is to scrape off spray paint when you change your mind later.

I'm frankly more worried about fumes and any random little droplets that could spray into the tank and cause problems later. Using a brush isn't that hard, it just takes a little time and an extra coat or 2.

 

I just take some black cardboard (You can laminate it if you want) and stick it to the back of the tank in anyway you want. Safely of course.

 

I tried that with posterboard but the tape didn't hold, so....