Best paint for in tank surfaces

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I built an aio sump for my 20 gallon reef tank (was too lazy to make an external sump and didnt want to do a canister or hob setup) and I made the walls for the sump out of clear acrylic (it's all my hardware store offered) but I want to paint it black or blue and I just need suggestions on wraps or paints that would be safe to use on surfaces that are fully submerged in my tank. Specific brands are great but just types of paint works too! Thank you all in advanced.

 

[kireek]

Well this is a tough one.I have never heard of anyone painting things for use inside the saltwater aquarium.Someone may have tried it on a man made background though. #Reefsquad any suggestions ?

 

[JoshH]

Krylon fusion is usually the go to for paint and would be about the only thing I would recommend for in tank use. But even that's a stretch, it might flake off if you scratch it over time which could potentially cause issues.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Not sure about paint, but you could order a thin sheet of black acrylic and use it as your background

 

[Ron Reefman]

Or go to a daeler that tints car windows and get the darkest tint they offer. I needed some to dim down the led display on the cable TV box and they gave me a 8x10 sheet for free. I ended up using 2 layers, but it sticks together well after it's completely dry.

I considered painting my skimmer body since my fuge light makes algae grow inside the skimmer. But my wife made a 'wrap' out of blue some Sunbrella material we had left over from the BBQ grille cover she made. Some velcro along the edges and it works great and is easy to remove!

Good luck.

 

[Lukas75]

I paint the outside of practically everything with Krylon Fusion, but not so sure about the inside. To use as a background though painting the outside has worked just fine.I did laminate a thin piece of black acrylic to a glass baffle with silicone to cut down on light spilling from the refugium section to the skimmer section. I'm not sure if that's what you are trying to do or if that might help you.

Edit: I ordered the black acrylic online.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

So I built an aio sump for my 20 gallon reef tank (was too lazy to make an external sump and didnt want to do a canister or hob setup) and I made the walls for the sump out of clear acrylic (it's all my hardware store offered) but I want to paint it black or blue and I just need suggestions on wraps or paints that would be safe to use on surfaces that are fully submerged in my tank. Specific brands are great but just types of paint works too! Thank you all in advanced.

Ok, if my tank. Get 100% silicone (black type if black background) , with spakle knife apply to surface thin layer get black thin cotton or plyester cloth cut to size before starting add to silicon layer. On there for life. That what i do and did 1980's

Also because its cloth can glue corals easy to it

 

[Big G]

The only glass paint that I have used that is food safe and dishwasher safe requires the glass to be baked in an oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. I use boat paint on the outside of glass but would not recommend it for inside as it never completely dries and could leach chemicals into the water.

 

[Cment]

I would not recommend any type of paint/spray paint for in tank use. Way too much risk involved IMHO. I would order a piece of black acrylic and go that route.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

So I built an aio sump for my 20 gallon reef tank (was too lazy to make an external sump and didnt want to do a canister or hob setup) and I made the walls for the sump out of clear acrylic (it's all my hardware store offered) but I want to paint it black or blue and I just need suggestions on wraps or paints that would be safe to use on surfaces that are fully submerged in my tank. Specific brands are great but just types of paint works too! Thank you all in advanced.

Also is tank glass if yes acrylic panel may come apart at one piont.

 

[Fin]

This is an excerpt from a post here by a forum member a few years ago, who actually wrote Krylon about the paint being safe to use in an aquarium...

Quote from krylon:

"Thank you for contacting Krylon.

Unfortunately, we do not recommend any of our products to be applied below the water line. None of our products are immersion-rated or waterproof. Our products may last for a time under water, but there is no guarantee as to how long they will hold up.

Additionally, we have nothing that is FDA approved, which is important in terms of ingestion. Our products may harm the aquarium life.

I wish you the best of success with your search for a compatible product. Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Regards,

Daniel
Krylon Product Support"

 

[jsker]

I would not recommend any type of paint/spray paint for in tank use. Way too much risk involved IMHO. I would order a piece of black acrylic and go that route.

+1

I would suggest ordering the acrylic pieces online the color the you would like.