Aquarium safe paint for background

[blue_ram]

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]

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.

[tom91970]

Hmmmm....never thought about that. I'll keep my fingers crossed that my 55g never springs a leak.

[blue_ram]

Originally Posted by Orion

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.

[blue_ram]

Originally Posted by blue_ram

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.

I took a closer look and it isn't silicone on the outside but the silicone at the seams that oozed through when the tank was made.

[Orion]

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.

[blue_ram]

Thanks, I will give it a try.