Mirror background.. can I paint it?

[mihkey]

I just bought a tank, and failed to realize the back of it is a mirror. Can I paint over that black so it doesn’t stress out the fish? Or can I somehow build a rock wall?
-Mikey’s gf

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I just bought a tank, and failed to realize the back of it is a mirror. Can I paint over that black so it doesn’t stress out the fish? Or can I somehow build a rock wall?
-Mikey’s gf

Can we get a photo?

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

I don't think there are many reef-safe paints. Maybe take a flat piece of acrylic or starboard plastic and silicone it to the back.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I don't think there are many reef-safe paints. Maybe take a flat piece of acrylic or starboard plastic and silicone it to the back.

This, a piece of colored acrylic.

 

[mihkey]

Can we get a photo?

 

[mihkey]

This, a piece of colored acrylic.

Where do I get that? And how the heck do I do that?

 

[Jedi1199]

If you absolutely must cover it, I am going to go with the acrylic idea. Frankly, in a few months the back glass will be covered with algae anyway so its kind of a "why bother"

 

[mihkey]

If you absolutely must cover it, I am going to go with the acrylic idea. Frankly, in a few months the back glass will be covered with algae anyway so its kind of a "why bother"

I don’t have to cover it and I honestly prefer not to, but I don’t want to stress the fish out, they see themselves with a reflection in their current tank and don’t get upset but I don’t want to transfer them to it and have them freak out

 

[mihkey]

I don’t have to cover it and I honestly prefer not to, but I don’t want to stress the fish out, they see themselves with a reflection in their current tank and don’t get upset but I don’t want to transfer them to it and have them freak out

I also saw that krylon fusion seems to be reef safe, should I use that? Or should I just leave it as is and let the algae do it’s thing?

 

[Jedi1199]

I don’t have to cover it and I honestly prefer not to, but I don’t want to stress the fish out, they see themselves with a reflection in their current tank and don’t get upset but I don’t want to transfer them to it and have them freak out

Personally I wouldn't worry. They may flare up at the "Newcomers" for a day or so, but once they realize there is no threat, they will move on to more important things.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

If you absolutely must cover it, I am going to go with the acrylic idea. Frankly, in a few months the back glass will be covered with algae anyway so its kind of a "why bother"

Also my opinion.

 

[mihkey]

Thank you guys, I will leave it and if it becomes a huge issue with them I will buy acrylic and cover it but I’ll just let the algae do it’s thing in there and go from there )

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I also saw that krylon fusion seems to be reef safe, should I use that? Or should I just leave it as is and let the algae do it’s thing?

krylon fusion is to paint the outside glass, I would not use it inside the tank.

 

[Freenow54]

I just bought a tank, and failed to realize the back of it is a mirror. Can I paint over that black so it doesn’t stress out the fish? Or can I somehow build a rock wall?
-Mikey’s gf

Suggest using plastic. I use cheap boot trays to make things like that. A modeling store that sell styrene would be another idea. Would not paint

 

[AydenLincoln]

Can you take a better photo? Confused as to what or where the mirror is?

 

[Freenow54]

Can you take a better photo? Confused as to what or where the mirror is?

I think they meant to say " back" of tank

 

[hyprc]

Am I the only one worried he's gonna get stress issues from fish trying to attack their reflections?

 

[mihkey]

Am I the only one worried he's gonna get stress issues from fish trying to attack their reflections?

That’s what I was scared of so I didn’t know if I should cover it. Currently I just have a pair of clowns in my other tank.

 

[mihkey]

Can you take a better photo? Confused as to what or where the mirror is?

It’s hard to tell in pictures, but the back wall of the tank instead of being glass is a mirror. When you look at the tank, you can see your reflection

 

[The_Paradox]

Unless your ambient lighting is pretty bright all the time, the inside glass always becomes a mirror.