vinyl would be a good idea. By taking the time out to paint instead of taping on your aquarium background, you'll end up with a very eloquent and visually pleasing tank! Having something stuck on the back becomes a nuisance, doesn't look as clean, and its easier for water to get trapped behind it and the glass if you have a small spill or from filter splash. A popular trend in recent years has been to create DIY 3D backgrounds. For a quick and easy temporary cover, I have used black fabric. These backgrounds can add visual interest and depth to an aquarium, and they can also provide a place for fish to hide and explore. Black Drawer/Shelf Liner-04F-C6U51-06 - The Home Depot, http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/12-tank-journals/372793-40-breeder-rack.html, https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003YHCa00-01000-s1050-win70-other-smile-us000-pcomp, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Were always learning, figuring stuff out, taking advantage of the enormous smarts of our friends and our on-line community, and trying to give some of that back in turn. Your previous content has been restored. All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you as is without warranty of any kind either express or implied. Find out how to make it here!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aquariumfishcity_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',135,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumfishcity_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; DIY Aquarium Backgrounds on YouTube are a dime a dozen. Acyrlic paint is easy enough to scrap off and change of you wanted, If painting, tape it off with blue painters tape and use on of them sponge rollers. The AquariumFishCity is reader-supported and we hope you love the products we recommend! Black Drawer/Shelf Liner". AquariumFishCity.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. -$6. All you need is some FoamiT! 5 Rigid Foam, an expanding urethane foam that comes in liquid form. Plus, the richer brown and charcoal grey colors will really make your fish and plants pop. Paint isn't an option. The post that I used for inspiration was some off topic blog site. Don't paint it! Above is one of my former 10-gallon aquariums in which I painted the background black. Can get any colour under the sun too! leann2800 - It seriously is a simple solution! 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I painted my tank empty but I've touched it up when filled with no loss of livestock. If anyone has any other ideas or similar experiences, please comment below. If you are carefull and have enough room you might be able to reach behind your tank without having to move it to paint it. A diamond is simply a lump of coal that did well under pressure! Do not make the mistake I made by ordering window film online without having a physical sample. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Here's a good tutorial on how to paint on a background, should be just fine with fish still in as long as you don't go pouring paint into it. aquarium 2006 If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. If youre bored of the traditionalblack or blue background, why not try something a little different? Here is a really simple one, buy this! ATI 4x80 watt T5 with 2x Super Flora T5 Giesemann, 1x ATI Purple Plus, 1x ATI AquaBlue Special. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Glass is semi-permeable, and I was under the impression that you are not supposed to use certain chemicals (e.g. While many fishkeepers choose to purchase pre-made backgrounds, it is also possible to create your own. The rubbing alcohol will remove any dirt and grease so that the paint will adhere properly. Here is another brilliant video tutorial on how to make a DIY 3D aquarium background with silica sand waterfall. We took a trip to The Home Depot and picked some samples to bring home and look at on the back of our tank. I think the material was $20.42 a running foot, but the roll widths are 48 inches. x 18 in. They sell black flat sheets for beds for like $10-$15 from the warehouse. JavaScript is disabled. I paint all of my tanks. You do have to pay shipping, but if you are super selective about what you use for an aquarium background, this will not matter. I thought I hit the jackpot when I discovered there were 87 pages of choices! Also, the selection is endless with the ability to mix different colors. The printed ones, except maybe for rocks just don't work in a planted tank where the focus needs to be on plants and fish in the tank, rather than the background. | Aquarium Co-Op USB Nano Air Pump Review, One Year Review Of The Aquarium Co-Op Nano USB Air Pump, My Favorite Box Filter And Why I Hate It | Lee's Triple Flow. With so many different types of paint out there, I had to do a little digging to find the correct type to use. Its just a simple coat of paint. Step 7: Continue to add layer after layer until no more light is going through. I'm about to paint my big tank but will avoid it if I can. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It pretty much hides the massive filter in the corner and gives it heaps of depth. If you shop salvage, it can be found for very cheap in a wide assortment of colors. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission. aquarium background diy gallon transformation supply list My tanks are 4-foot and 5-foot long. Cover it all and make sure to cover the open end so that no paint gets inside the tank. So, how do you get a solid fish tank background color? CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Made from premium quality material has gone through stringent quality tests. You wont be able to replace the background easily since your tank is going to be heavy. Current Tank: 125g reef ready with 40 gallon sump. Haven't had a problem with it. I remove it to clean the tank with a mag-float though. Did it on water change day. I used it on our Mr. Aqua 8 gallon rimless, and it turned out pretty nice. Step 2: Open your choice of paint and pour it into a paint tray (Or use the can). Copyright FNZAS Incorporated. Dont get me wrong, Im not afraid to spend money on equipment if its useful and/or is a compliment to our setups. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more! The choices were pretty slim. Plus, you can always repaint it if you want to change the look of your decor down the road. You'll end up with a big newspaper box with one exposed glass side. Small Small Small Tank For Growing Plants & Fry Maybe. aquarium fish background tank poster backdrop sticker mountain decorations backgrounds fog glass black poster board/foam board. I would recommend painting the back of the tank black. The first two layers were carved into the desired submerged tree and rocks, and the last layer was glued on top. Continue reading to see what we found to be the most practical option. Plasti dip, a spray on rubbery compound that can be easily removed. I have a sheet of pellet liner (goes between the pellet and bags/boxes etc). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'aquariumfishcity_com-box-4','ezslot_2',112,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumfishcity_com-box-4-0')};I was very impressed by this idea when I found it seven years ago, and I knew I had to try it out for myself. Once it expands and cures, its very strong and lightweight, making it perfect for aquarium use. Upload or insert images from URL. The laminated background that once looked so promising is now just a bubbled and crinkly-looking backdrop taped to the back of the tank. I imagine you can get really creative with backgrounds using the method you've described. We're also here to help you if you need advice. I did this a couple months ago with one of my tanks and I have been so impressed with how it came out. Besides, having been in the construction industry for most of my life, I know that removing paint from glass is not too difficult. A simple colored background is a great way to spruce up a fish tank, but it's not always as simple to install as you might imagine. Display as a link instead, There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating an original look for your fish tank, and with a little bit of creativity, you can come up with something truly special. I have never really thought to painting the outside but I think it is a clever idea. I was surfing Amazon for aquarium background ideas when I discovered an extensive list of Window Film. Do you think this is the case with paint as well? Although it wont help in your situation of not being able to move your tank, black vinyl from a sign writer or similar is the best IMO. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. just use rustoleum ultra cover latex paint. I just used acrylic craft paint you can get at any craft store (cheap) and used a 4" roller. So go ahead, try painting your next aquarium background. Scaredy fish - female guppies who only come out at night. I used something like that on one of my tanks. Super easy, CHEAP at $0.69 a sheet (big sheets don't know dimensions) and looks great. Its been awhile, so I cant recall which one it was. I just use that black plastic flim you get at the LFS. The problem is that tape-on backgrounds just never get flush enough to the glass to look uniform and professional. It'll really make a difference. The next step is to cover all areas of the tank that you wish to not be painted. I use black posterboard from dollar tree on all my tanks now, used to paint. I found a roll that was a frosted white color for about $15.00, so I grabbed it and took it home. The idea of a black sheet just occurred to me. Custom solid color background for fish, reef, or reptile tanks. Also takes quite a few coats. imo. Additionally, it costs more to make an entire background using this method. It also scrapes off pretty easily with a razor blade or metal putty knife. I sure like to think so. ), The 5 Best Centerpiece Fish for 20 Gallon Tank (#4 IS My Favorite), 55 Gallon Fish Tank (Dimensions, Weight, Stand, Lid, Filter, Fish & More), Black Aquarium Background: Pros, Cons & Ideas, Two component castable rigid urethane foam, 5 pound density - great for propmaking, gap filling and more, Easy to measure and mix - 1:1 mix ratio by volume. The information, content and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. Painting the outside of your aquarium is surprisingly an easy process that takes only a day to complete. Step 5: Roll your second layer, this will be a much thicker coat. We ordered 5 samples and paid around $5.00 to have them shipped. Such a simple solution. We recommend cutting from the bottom of the graphic with a sharp razor blade (read application instructions for more info). I've never put a background on a tank. I slide it into the bottom and top edge of the tank rim and use tape on the edges. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We offer in-depth insight into all of your fishkeeping questions, needs, and concerns about freshwater, brackish, and saltwater fish. Just be sure to clean off the surface before you paint it, unless you like the look of painted on dirt and fingerprint smudges. After some thought and a little data mining, I discovered decorative window films. The hardest part of this project is deciding on the designs of the rock formations and shelves. We have shelves full of bins with old filters, lights, airline tubing, etc., etc. Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazons commitment to empowering them. Removing paint from glass is not too difficult. I hate scraping paint off second hand tanks :nilly: I used black vinyl fabric stuff from Spotlight for behind my tank, looked just as good as painted IMO. There is a post on My Aquarium Club that is pretty close to what I read. aquarium background double popetpop adhesive sided sticker decorative tank fish 3d After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I could cut one of those to fit and it would easily do both tanks. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, 12 Pizza Cutter by KitchenStar | Sharp Stainless Steel Slicer Knife - Rocker Style w Blade Cover | Chop and Slices Perfect Portions + Dishwasher Safe Premium Pizza Oven Accessories, KitchenStar Pizza Cutter Rocker 12 inch - Stainless Steel Pizza Slicer Knife - Black NonStick Sharp Knife with Blade Cover - Pizza Making Tools & Oven Accessories - Dishwasher Safe, 14 Pizza Cutter by KitchenStar | Sharp Stainless Steel Slicer Knife - Rocker Style w Blade Cover | Chop and Slices Perfect Portions + Dishwasher Safe Premium Pizza Oven Accessories. You have to wet down the back of the tank put the background on and squeegee out any air bubbles. The color that we had in mind was a replication of an overcast day in the woods. Backgrounds are applied to the outside glass or acrylic surface and can be trimmed if absolutely necessary. Zulma Burgos-Dudgeon from United Kingdom on January 26, 2012: Very good hub. Maybe Ill find another use for it. The inspiration for this article came to me a couple days ago when I was looking at all the stuff we have accumulated for our tanks. JavaScript is disabled. I found a window film manufacturer on the East Coast of the United States called Decorative Films that has an extensive selection of colors. No reflection or anything? Youre seeing this ad based on the products relevance to your search query. Agreed about the black BG -- it draws the eye to the foreground rather than the background, kinda makes the tank look less boxy. The Aquarium Fish City is reader-supported and we hope you love the products we recommend!). Craig does a great job of explaining each step clearly. Clear editor. Look into plastidip, its easy to apply like spray paint, but is removableif you change your mind down the road. My first thought was that it might really be difficult to change if you wanted a different color. One of the questions I get asked the most is how I get my black backgrounds. One that works too! This is a very detailed and easy to follow video, which is great for beginners. The theme of our layout had to have this specific color to match what we had envisioned. I'm going for blue also which makes it even harder :lol: Good point - hadn't thought of that. I figure if you're noticing the background then the foreground is too boring. GLA CO2 system, Flourite substrate, Digital Aquatics Controller. One of my tanks with painted black background. Love your tanks and they will love you back. The project was pretty simple. Come here to enjoy pictures, videos, articles and discussion. Zach's writing ranges from matters of gardening, cooking, aquariums, and fish to more niche topics like coin collecting. SPORN Aquarium Background, Static Cling, Classic Java Moss on Driftwood: 5 Quick & Fun Ideas for An Aquarium, SunSun HW-602b Vs. HW-603b Canister Filter (Whats the Difference? This photo is an example of how a painted background aquarium looks without water. High quality window film is not cheap, but paint is. Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. Since the paint is directly on the glass, I think it looks better than anything else as you notice backgrounds when there are uneven spots. There are a lot of DIY aquarium background ideas out there, and most of them are easy to do. :dunno: I've seen those black backgrounds in petshops but I can't really justify paying $20 per tank for a black bit of paper -- I was hoping I could get something cheaper. You cannot paste images directly. Zach (author) from Colorado on February 04, 2012: Zach (author) from Colorado on January 26, 2012: InterestCaptured - It's a good point to bring up, but I'm almost 100% sure that glass is not semipermeable. x 18 in. Taped off the edges and did 3 coats. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. You should choose the right foam board. Depending on the materials of your aquarium rim/frame, sometimes, the inside edge of the rim cant be painted, so you can see it from the inside of your tank. Little did I know that the manufacturer description and sample color in the image was not quite the color that I thought it to be. Its very easy to do, and the results are great. We also had a suckerfish that grew to be about six inches long. windex) on the outside because of the possibility that it could seep in. You can read the full disclosure here. We picked a color, bought a quart of semi-gloss enamel (enough to paint the back of the tank 50 times), a 3 sponge roller, and throw-away plastic pan. Moved the tank back after 1.5 hrs and refilled with water. When the samples arrived, they were 5 by 7 pieces. But if you take your time and plan everything out beforehand, youll be able to create a beautiful and unique aquarium that will be the envy of all your friends. New multi tank project to create a new display tank. I painted my 36 gallon with water in it. This time, the tutorial is brought to you by Craig. While binging on YouTube videos one evening, I was watching about the 50th video of someone scaping their aquarium. I just use the cheapest matte spray paint I can find - less than a dollar per can, painted my 40b with about 2/3 of a can. If youre not careful, you may end up with a mess of bubbles and foam floating around in your tank. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! For short term, i have just tucked it under the top glass at times. Copyright 2021Fifth Estate Development, LLCPO Box 141713Gainesville, FL 32614-1713info@aquariumvinyl.com. Three things you must remember when painting your aquarium black: If youre looking for a unique and eye-catching backdrop for your aquarium, why not try making your own DIY aquarium background? By Paint can be an option. With some pink foam, paint, and a little bit of creativity, you can design and install a custom background that will transform your fish tank into a one-of-a-kind underwater world. Just tape off the sides you don't want to get paint on and spray paint it. Who doesn't love a black aquarium background. Powered by Invision Community, I hate scraping paint off second hand tanks. I noticed a couple of rolls of window film that I purchased from The Home Depot and Amazon and saw a $50 bill laying there. I've only shown tanks with black painted backgrounds, but you can do whatever color you wish. This provides a realistic 3D effect that will look great in any aquarium. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. It's made of recycled plastic and is mottled in colour, comes in 1200x1000 I think. There are several posts and videos that show how to paint the glass, from which roller you need to use to how many coats of paint to apply. But in reality, how often do we break down our layouts? Did you just use regular tape to apply it to the tank? Working outdoors, spray the paint lightly and evenly onto the aquarium glass. If you don't mind that, I'd highly reccomend it. Im not unhappy with the choice, but we have a lot of it left. as long as you can get the black stuff to stick firmly to the back of the tank, it should be okay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are looking for ease of installation and removal, then purchasing window film from Decorative Films is the right choice. Moreover, she shares some mistakes and fixes to help you create a beautiful aquarium background without spending much money.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'aquariumfishcity_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',138,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumfishcity_com-leader-2-0')}; The final product looks fantastic and is sure to impress your friends and family. I've painted one of my small ones and it does look fantastic. Never paint the inside of your aquarium, only the back, as you dont want to poison your fish. I found that if I put a tank with it on by a window that it was rather light, so I stuck a bit of poly to it and it made it work much better. This photo is an example of how a painted background aquarium looks with water. My fish splash like mad so that'd be no good. It would be difficult to put on in such a tight space though. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Generally, it will be covered the lid/hood and lighting unit, but its something to keep in mind. Im bringing back a roll of black/blue tank vinyl. My backgrounds are painted on with waterbased acrylic paint and peel off quite easily. I watched as he cleaned the glass, and then painted the back of his aquarium black. keep adding coats until it's totally opaque, I'm assuming I can't paint an inhabited tank. He also shares some helpful tips and ideas. AquariumFishCity 2022 | Guide for Fishes and Aquarium Lovers, DIY 3D Aquarium Background with Pink Foam and Silicone, Make 3D Aquarium Background Using FoamiT! 5, DIY 3D Aquarium Background Submerged Tree and Rocks, Created Faux Rock Wall DIY Aquarium Background, DIY Black Aquarium Background with Background Adhesive, Foam-iT! The answer is easy: you paint one. Overall, I think it took about 3 coats to completely block out any light that would show through the back of the aquarium. If you dont see your size, place a custom order in your tanks exact dimensions for no additional cost. No wires could be seen through the tank and the black really helped make the rock scene pop! Though, that's mainly a concern for rimless tanks. Staples has them just cut to size. Home Depot have "Con-Tact Solid Grip 48 in. Find out how to make it here!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aquariumfishcity_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',134,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumfishcity_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; Compared with carving pieces of pink foam to get your desired shelves and rocks, this is an easy way to create custom foam rock walls that will look great in any aquarium.