Painting Background

So I’ve been wanting to paint the back of my betta tank black, but the tank is plastic. Does that make a difference is to which paint I can use if I can even do it with a plastic tank? If you guys have any suggestions as to which paint is aquarium safe and works well please let me know!

 

Yep Definitely matters. Not all paints will stick to plastic and many are toxic to fishies. Krylon fusion is what I have used. Comes in a bunch of colors and is aquarium safe AFTER it cures.

 

Instead of painting, I have an alternative. I found using the black garbage bags as a great option for backdrops. I now cut the garbage bags into the shape of my aquarium and then just tape it in the back with regular clear scotch tape, similar to how you stick a regular backdrop. It looks the same as if you actually paint it. I use it in all my tanks and it looks like the ones that are painted. They are also waterproof so no worries there


If going with the paint option, I used to use acrylic paint since it’s easier to remove afterwards.

I also uploaded two pics with how the garbage bag backdrops looks when viewing the aquarium from the front.

 

So I’ve been wanting to paint the back of my betta tank black, but the tank is plastic. Does that make a difference is to which paint I can use if I can even do it with a plastic tank? If you guys have any suggestions as to which paint is aquarium safe and works well please let me know!

Mirrors. I place mirrors behind some of my tanks, especially the ADF tanks which also house bettas, male and female. Twice the fun. One male betta became obsessed with his reflection and the other, in a different tank, became bored of his reflection. I re-homed the obsessed male in a tank with no mirror!

 

Mirrors will stress bettas out. They should only be used for about 15 minutes at a time.

 

Mirrors will stress bettas out. They should only be used for about 15 minutes at a time.

I agree to an extent. Bettas, Male and Female, are peculiarly individual in their personalities. I have community tanks, and find that the male bettas, even with mirrors, become increasingly bored with their reflection. Females couldn't care less about their reflection. I can't understand why people think bettas are intelligent. They are not. They are merely, very easily bored.

 

Does the paint need to be safe for fish? Aren't you painting the outside of the aquarium?

By the way, I like the idea about using trash bags. I used brown craft paper for mine.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I’m going to try the garbage bag idea to start!

 

I hate store bought backings. I’ve always refused to do anything to the backs of my tanks. However, that black looks pretty darn nice. Think I’ll try it on one with the trash bag.

 

Instead of painting, I have an alternative. I found using the black garbage bags as a great option for backdrops. I now cut the garbage bags into the shape of my aquarium and then just tape it in the back with regular clear scotch tape, similar to how you stick a regular backdrop. It looks the same as if you actually paint it. I use it in all my tanks and it looks like the ones that are painted. They are also waterproof so no worries there


If going with the paint option, I used to use acrylic paint since it’s easier to remove afterwards.

I also uploaded two pics with how the garbage bag backdrops looks when viewing the aquarium from the front.

Nice tip! I originally painted mine with acrylic, but it looked gray through the tank.
I scraped it off and used black poster board.

So I’ve been wanting to paint the back of my betta tank black, but the tank is plastic. Does that make a difference is to which paint I can use if I can even do it with a plastic tank? If you guys have any suggestions as to which paint is aquarium safe and works well please let me know!

I like the idea of the black trash bag. I ended up using black poster board from Walmart.
If you paint plastic and don’t like it, I don’t know how easy it would scrape off compared to a glass tank.

 

Does the paint need to be safe for fish? Aren't you painting the outside of the aquarium?

By the way, I like the idea about using trash bags. I used brown craft paper for mine.

Don’t paint the inside. You are painting the outside. But you still have to worry about fumes if fish are already in tank. Trash bags as mentioned! Or poster board.
This is mine with poster board.
Sorry phone camera takes bad pictures.

 

I did the trash bag on several of mine today and they really pop now!

 

Just get some plain contact (the stuff you put on books) or vinyl and stick it to the back - painting sucks, the prep, the coats, the cleaning .. I just use vinyl these days.

 

I used algae *shrug*

 

The trash bag thing works very well, you can also hot it with a hair dryer to get rid of the wrinkles/tighten it up.

I tried a few options and ended up using rusoleum 2x acrylic gloss black in the long run as it was the "blackest" black in my lighting but if there's any chance you will change it, don't paint plastic.

If you want it permanent, get the fish out, in buckets or whatever you have but it will need to be a whole day or so to get the fumes off so be appropriate. Then clean it well. Mask all the other surfaces. Wipe liberally with acetone but don't let it puddle on the tape. (Tip: Acetone will etch most plastics and PVC pipe making it ready for spray paints) After it evaporates, spray it. Go light coats about 5 minutes apart no more than a half hour apart. And definitely not a day or even 3 later. You get one chance on slippery surfaces or the paint will "craze" it will look like cracked marble from inside the tank. After you do 4-5 light coats poke a hole in the masking on top of the tank and shine a light in there it will show what you missed. Paint a couple more coats and you should be good forever. I like to cover my paint with packing tape a couple days after it cures to prevent scratching and make it mag float scrubber safe. If for some reason you don't notice until after it's to late, acrilic craft paint can touch up without crazing, but it won't match. Good luck with your build.

 

Paint the outside of the tank. Never used plastic tanks though so I can't say about what kind of enamel will be best for that application.

 

Plastidip

Comes in all colors and non-permanent. People use it on all sorts of things.

Multiple light coats are better than heavier coats.

If you want to remove it to change the color for example, it will peel off. No scraping involved.