Aquarium Paint

[jimboliana]

Hello all,

Can anyone help, i need some non-toxic, waterproof black paint that is safe to use in the aquarium and that will stick to plastic? I need to paint my spray bar which is grey ABS plastic

Anyone know of any? the only stuff i have seen so far is http/www.blagdonwatergardens.co.uk/blagd...ation_1164.htm# but it is for concrete! I have phoned a couple of art shops and they cant help

Any help would be great as i am getting my plants on saturday and need to sort it b4 then

Thanks

 

[DaveW]

I know that George painted his spray bar & intake pipe, but I don't know which paint he used.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing and have got a small tin of Humbrol interior & exterior paint. It's safe for children's toy......hard wearing....most plastics.... excellent durability-resists steam and humidity, and so on. I'm sure it's non-toxic but not 100% sure it's water proof, but I would of thought so being external paint?

 

[simonbrown403]

Ask george he painted his with a black acrilic i think.

See his journal

EDIT~ DaveW beat me to it

 

[jimboliana]

DaveW and simonbrown403 already asked George and he got it from work! so no luck there

Thanks for the info though

 

[DaveW]

I have found a phone number on the back of the tin. I have to give them a call tomorrow and let you know what they say.
If you find a paint that is safe and water proof please let me know.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

It may sound weird, but why paint them anyway, whats wrong with them already?

 

[jimboliana]

Cheers DaveW,

I'm away for the next two days, great but i will let you know friday

Moody, they are grey, my background is black and they stick out like a sore thumb, only plants will cover them if i plant them in certin places and i want the option of planting an island in the middle with out grey spray bars commin at yeah

 

[DaveW]

It may sound weird, but why paint them anyway, whats wrong with them already?

The Ehiem pipe work is a clear green, and as jimboliana said "they stick out like a sore thumb".

As for the paint jimboliana, I have just phoned they with the answers we needed. The paint I have is non-toxic and water proof once it has dried. I even explained what I want it for and was there sould be no problems at all. The paint is "Humbrol Enamel" paint, which you should be able to buy from any hobby/model shop. I'm going to give it a go at the weekend, I'll let you know how well it went.

 

[jimboliana]

Nice one thanks

 

[DaveW]

Quick update:
I've painted a odd piece of Ehiem pipe, but the paint takes a while to dry.
I first rubbed it down with a bit of fine wet & dry, wash and dried it. Then gave it a thin coat of paint. This morning gave it a second coat, had to wait for a day for it to dry enough, but I'm going to leave it a day or two more for it to dry right out.
Once it's properly dried out I'll see how well it has stuck to the pipe, and how it looks in the tank. I have used black gloss, which I hope will blend into the back ground. I've gone for gloss because the JBL CO2 tubing is a glossy black, and so is the back ground. They both look matt black when looking into the tank.
Hopefully I will have the intake pipe painted in time to install. I will post a picture or two if it all works.

 

[Themuleous]

Please do post some pics, I need to paint my lighting struts as they look stupid at the mo!

 

[DaveW]

Well I'm happy that it sticks to the pipe fine, and the gloss black blends in lovely with the black back ground. So I've started to paint the proper bits. The first coat is on and I'll add the second in a couple of days. The only thing I would like to point out is that the paint does take a while to dry out. In fact I will leave the finished items a week before using them. It's properly over the top, but better safe than sorry! I will post pictures of the finished items at the end of the week.

There is just one thing, the Ehiem suckers will stick out as they show up grey.

Does any one know where I can get some glossy black suckers that will hold the pipe work?

 

[DaveW]

I haven't forgotton. I will be taking some picture tomorrow.

 

[YOYO]

Hi Jimboliana , This maybe a little late for you as i have just read your post but i may have some info for you about paint . There is this stuff that you can get which is called aquaseal40 its used for sealing roofs . It is bitumen based and is aquatic safe as i used it to seal my koi pond years ago . It is really thick stuff but if you water it down and aply a couple of coats it will last you for ever . It is brown when you paint it on , but dries black . I had 2.5l of the stuff from b&q for around £15 , but this was a couple of years ago . I think they still stock it but not as aquaseal40 , but if you look at the roofing paint and read the labels to find the bitumen based one it should say that its aqua safe . Just a thought for you though mate . Good luck . Ps . its been on my koi pond for 11yrs with no problems .

 

[DaveW]

Well, here it is!

I have also brought some Fluval suction clips that are black, and stay black in the water, unlike the Ehiem ones. The paint has a little smell to it, but is going away. Once I've install the inlet pipe I will do the spray bar.
I think it looks good, how about you?