RAOK

[bnoel210]

When i painted my tanks i just used some cheap spray paint. The key is doing several light coats and make sure glass is clean.

[rickl]

I used a cheap can of rustoleum oil base, and a throw-away brush. If you look at the back, it's not very smooth, but looking through the tank it's great! I painted the bottom the same way. I think most any paint will get the job done, and unless you're scraping at it I doubt it will let go.

-Rick (the armchair aquarist)

[fuzzylogic]

same here. I just use leftover interior/exterior black latex with a lil 4 inch roller while the tanks were up and running. took about 3 applications and I love it. For me its the only way to go

[ree123]

I clean glass with windex, then use the cheapest Wal-mart brand spray paint, which is just over a dollar a can. I spray on two coats. I have their basic blue and gloss black on the backs of numerous tanks. The blue seems to give the eye of the hobbyist a greater depth perception, IMO.
The black seems to allow the eye to be lost into the tank somehow so that the black backs seem to never end. Not sure I know how to explain that exactly.
Bottom line, I like the blue better.

I also have numerous tanks that are bare bottomed for breeding and I used both of these colors and some various greens and browns and rust colors, all again the cheap Wal-mart spray paints.
Bare bottoms w/o paint cause the fish to be skiddish and fearful, again IMO.

Of course spraying gives a smooth back/bottom. Rolling gives it that rippled effect.

It is easy to remove if desired. Just spray a small spot of brake cleaner onto a small single spot of the back to soften the paint, wipe that off immediately, then use a single edged razor blade and start scraping from that point. It will peel right off with the blade action. No need to spray much or the entire back. Just a spot to get the scrapiong started.