I Want My Tank To Look Perfect !

[thumpersrx]

Hi Guys.
I love this forum and can't begin to tell you how much I've learned in the last few months !

My wonderful OH has bought me a beautiful Fluval Romal 240 as I was completely obsessed with my tiny 40l ! It has been running now for over a month, cycled with the media from my own tank plus a massive bag full from work. It is purely a community tank with colorful fish... neons, glowlights, guppies etc. It has a lovely light sand substrate and is well planted. Bogwood, rocks and not a shipwreck in sight !
I am over the moon with it... BUT...

We got a nice light blue "pebbley" background for it, spent ages fitting it and getting all the bubbles and creases out... lovely !

Its BUBBLED and looks AWFUL !

Problem is, the whole tank will need to be drained, 50kg of sand removed, cabinet slid away from the wall, and a complete ball ache of a job to re fit it !

Soooooo.....
Black painted background will be the way forward ! I've looked at loads of pics on here and the black tanks look so stunning.
Am I right in thinking that the black with the light sand will look nice, as well as showing off the guys at their most beautiful ?
If we do this, it need to be RIGHT first time.

What is the best way.... gloss paint ? Spray paint ? Any particular type or make ? And how do we do it .... Brush, roller or what ?
Thanks so much in advance oh great fish gurus.
(other half will drown me in the bleedin fish tank if it doesn't work)...so no pressure then.

Jude

 

[fluttermoth]

Is there no way you could remove the old background and slide a new one in? Just to save you the hassle of stripping down the tank; it's not fun

A large sheet of black card from an office supply place or something like that might do?

If not, you can brush or roller paint on; I think you want to use gloss.

I use black bin liners and most of my tanks have sand and it looks fine to me (I don't mind the wrinkles myself!).

Edit; Oh, I forgot to say; to the forum! And post some pics of your tank; we love nosing at other people's tanks

 

[Cazgar]

Hi thumpers, welcome to the forum.
I used black card with double sided tape for mine.
You could slide it behind the tank to save draining it.
Any bubbles or creases can be hidden with the planting.
As Fluttermoth says, pics please we love seeing pics of people's tanks

 

[thumpersrx]

OOOOOhhhhh Black card ! not even considered that !
There is no way of getting behind it without a strip down, but it may well be possible to peel the bubbly background off and slide a sheet of card behind without too much shouting, swearing and gnashing of teeth.

See... I knew you guys were good !

 

[Spurry]

just use black gloss thats all i used and same as others, i removed 60% water till i could slide the tank away from the wall like this

read my journal from HERE to see what i did

it looks like this now and no bubbles

 

[Termato]

You can also try a dark blue. It give the illusion of deep water.

 

[Cazgar]

I'm too scared to paint any of mine, by using card if I ever want to change it it will be easy

 

[thumpersrx]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76612090@N07/6878712820/
http/www.flickr.com/photos/76612090@N07/7024814339/
http/]www.flickr.com/photos/76612090@N07/7024815891/
http/www.flickr.com/photos/76612090@N07/6878716914/
http/www.flickr.com/photos/76612090@N07/6878718282/

You see the problem !

Just can't wait for it to "Bloom". It looks too new at the moment !

Barry and Barbara are enjoying a romantic meal together... Just hope it leads to the splashing of tiny fins !

Sorry, not sure how to put the piccys up without the external linky !

 

[Cazgar]

To get the pics to show up here you need to use the IMG code
Tbh, the bubbling doesn't look that bad, in a way it adds a bit of depth, but if it irritates you then by all means change it

 

[Spurry]

Your tank look lovely well done use the [ img] tags like this

 

[thumpersrx]

Ahh Pish... You do flatter me !

Can't find an option on Flickr to the IMG code.

I'm crap I am

 

[Spurry]

View all sizes right click copy location, if I remember right

 

[FishFanatic04]

Oh it's lovely! I wouldn't paint my tanks, only because I'm a flake and have to change things every few weeks. I use a little piece of sticky backed velcro on the back corners of the tank, and I velcro on my backgrounds of choice...I have been using fabric. I love the fabric idea because I got some that is sheer and shines a little... {cheap at a fabric store too} And it can get wet, and dries right out...posterboard might not last as long getting wet once in awhile.

 

[fluttermoth]

That's a genius idea! I'm so stealing that

 

[thumpersrx]

Nope... still can't get pics up.
Sorry !