An alternative to painting your tank

[Sierra_Bravo]

I'm building an in-wall 120 and wanted a different solution to painting the sides and back of the tank. I've read quite a few ways people have blocked out their tanks but wasn't really satisfied. I wanted to be able to change colors from black to blue if the urge hit and I wanted to be able to see into my tank from the fish room behind the wall the tank is displayed in when I was performing maintanence.

Here's what I came up with: I used 1/4" pvc foam board. It comes in a number of sizes, thicknesses, and colors. It was lightweight but stiff and easy to cut using a table saw or circular saw.

For $50 (plus shipping) I bought two 1/4 x 24 x 48 pieces online from eplastics.com and cut them to fit between the top and bottom rims of my Aqueon 120. In the rear I had to notch out to accomodate the Shadow overflow. The trick to keeping a tight seam is making sure you butt together the two factory edges. If I had a rimless tank I would have used extruded plastic J-channels attached to the tank to hold them in place (also available online).

Best part about it is that if I want to change to a different color I just have to cut a second set. They are paintable, too, so If I didn't have the custom notch for the overflow I'd be able to just flip them around.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

 

[don_chuwish]

Cool idea - is there water in the tank? Curious how it looks full.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Not yet - I should be filling it this weekend. (fingers crossed)

 

[Pepcrylic]

Great idea.
I went to the fabric store and bought sea blue material, Then I made a curtain rod out of 1/2'' conduit. Strung up the material. I am able to pull back the curtain when I am at the back of the tank. The reflextion of the material from the front view makes it look like the side are also covered. Cost me less than $20. If I get tired of the color I can change it out for less than $10.

 

[cilyjr]

I use a thin piece of black plastic (1/16)with magnets glued on in each corner then on the tank braces.
It's worked for 8 years now. It's good because I can easily removed them to see in from the back (built in tank) and cleaning the back glass is as easy as cleaning the fromt.

 

[revhtree]

Great idea man! I would love to change mine out from black to blue and then back to black when I tire of the blue! Would be nice to be able to add gradient colors.

 

[tobyte1]

On my 6ft, 210g, I have a 'canvas-like' material that is black on one side and blue on the other. Its held to the back of the tank with velcro strips. I can change from black to blue in about two minutes. It's been working great for over five years now...

 

[leptang]

I do the same thing but using coroplast

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Thanks for all the responses and other great ideas. Here is a full shot of the rear and that the pump magnets still hold through the foam board:

 

[reefknight]

I have used adhesive backed sign vinyl for years. Very easy to apply, comes in different colors, though I only use black. Is extremely easy to remove if you need to do so as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016MYMB5O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was some of the last that I purchased and worked well. If you can get the thickest mil you can locate, especially if installing on a large tank. You don't want to try applying a very thin vinyl on a 6'-8' tank. It will tear as you're positioning it. Always looks killer in the end.

 

[mkj]

yep, vinyl works great, cheapest and very easy to install/uninstall/change colour. Although, I don't know anyone that ever does that.

I use black vinyl that looks like Kevlar on the none stick side. Looks awesome

 

[WDLV]

Sorry if someone already stated this but...
Use black. The colors won't show up because there's air between the glass and the backing. I had a light blue backing on my 210 and it ended up looking black when installed.