Aquarium safe paint for background

blue_ram

Large Fish
Jun 21, 2008
516
0
0
Florida
#1
I have read that people are using regular spraypaint to paint their outside backgrounds. Wouldn't the solvents in regular enamel or lacquer dissolve or weaken the silicone on the outside of the tank possibly causing a leak?
 

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#2
I have no idea. All of my tanks, the front and back glass extend all the way to the edge, and the silicone seams are on the sides, where I didn't need to paint. So I didn't have to worry about that part.
 

blue_ram

Large Fish
Jun 21, 2008
516
0
0
Florida
#4
I have no idea. All of my tanks, the front and back glass extend all the way to the edge, and the silicone seams are on the sides, where I didn't need to paint. So I didn't have to worry about that part.
All my tanks have the silicone on both the inside and the outside seams. It seems they are all a variant of perfecto tanks if that matters.
 

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#6
Excess silicone is nothing new, I've seen lots of tanks that have some extra at the seems. It doesn't seem to bother anything.

What I was saying about the glass, is that the side pieces of glass are sandwiched in between the front and back pieces, so that all the exposed vertical seems on the tank are facing left and right from the tank. I've always covered up the sides with paper and tape and the top with a towel to keep paint going where I didn't want it to go, but that was mainly for aesthetic reasons.