Is acrylic paint safe to use around/on the outside of fish tanks?

Hey y'all,

This might sound like a dumb question but it's a genuine question. Is acrylic paint safe to use on fish tanks. For example, I got a free 2.5 gallon recently and intended to turn it into a shrimp tank. Sadly, since beggars can't be choosers, it's bright pink with sparkles. No offense to pink but I prefer black so the interior of the tank is what catches the eye. I was wondering if I could paint the pink plastic with black acrylic pain and then possibly seal it with mod podge and if that would be okay? Or would I run a major risk of getting toxins into the tank and killing all the live stock? It's empty right now so this isn't a too pressing question. Would a different acrylic sealer work instead of mod podge? Should I just try to find a different paint or deal with bright pink?

 

pink plastic ? is it a critter keeper or somthing?
But no, I would not put any type of paint on the inside of an aquarium.

 

pink plastic ? is it a critter keeper or somthing?
But no, I would not put any type of paint on the inside of an aquarium.

It wouldn't be on the inside, but on the outer rims and no it's not a critter keeper it's an actual aquarium but it's just some TopFin one. Since it was free I decided it was a good deal

I'm probably better off buying a different aquarium, shame its a waste

 

I’ve used acrylic on the outside of my fish tanks before and it’s worked fine, all the fish are still intact. Just be careful not to get any on/in the interior and you should be good.

 

I’ve used acrylic on the outside of my fish tanks before and it’s worked fine, all the fish are still intact. Just be careful not to get any on/in the interior and you should be good.

Okay, I'm also probably going to let it cure for a week or two and it says it's non toxic. Did you use mod podge to seal it or does that not work?

 

for what i understand its the plastic rim piece around the top. Acrylic latex paint won't stick to the plastic on its own, you will need to sand the surface of the plastic so the paint will have something to stick to, as well you should prime it. Now that's the dangerous part on which primer to use, there is some nontoxic primers out there but they are made for specific surfaces, not the plastic you're working with. IMO I wouldn't attempt it cause paint night still flake off over time getting into the tank. Look into replacing the tank rim or find another tank.

As for painting the ouside glass with acrylic latex paint, go for it, I and a lot of people here black out the backs of our tanks

 

It wouldn't be on the inside, but on the outer rims and no it's not a critter keeper it's an actual aquarium but it's just some TopFin one. Since it was free I decided it was a good deal

I'm probably better off buying a different aquarium, shame its a waste

If its just the rims of the tank there should be ways to change the color.
Liquatex basic acrylic paint should go on the plastic fine, I could test it later if you really want to know cause now im curios. also how about tape? Duct tape comes in any color of the rainbow, or black electric tape you can get at the dollar tree.