DIY Aquarium Backgrounds

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

06 Apr 2008 04:48 PM

Feeling artistic? Think about painting your own aquarium background.

Why use an aquarium background?

• It adds color to your home and aquarium -- there are many different backgrounds available at your local pet store or online retailer. Find one to coordinate with your room.
• It helps hide wires.
• It helps hide aquarium equipment.

Already have fish in your tank? No problem -- you're not painting on the inside of the tank. Paint on the inside surface of the tank can be very harmful to your fish.

Here's what you'll need:

• Glass or acrylic cleaners (plain old water and vinegar works well, or use your favorite window cleaner)
• Painter's blue tape for protecting the things you DON'T want painted
• Paint and brushes (use a water-based glossy latex paint for best results)

Start by cleaning the area you wish to paint. Next, tape off any areas of the tank, stand, and floor that you DON'T want to get paint on. If you're a messy painter like I am, you might want to throw down a tarp and make sure you're away from any walls that might catch splatters.

Once the surface of the glass is clean and dry, it's time to get creative! You can paint your aquarium background a solid color (maybe to match the walls in the room) or go wild and paint your own underwater scene. I'm sure you've seen those standard reef scene backgrounds available at the pet store... you can do much better!

Be sure the paint is completely dry between coats. If you add a second coat too soon, the first layer can smudge, smear, or just plain come off. Wait until the paint is dry to the touch and your art project is complete before removing the tape.

And don't paint all four walls of the aquarium -- otherwise, you won't be able to see inside! Stick with just the back side, or pick two adjoining sides to paint. That way, you'll be able to hide equipment and cords and still have plenty of viewing space.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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