Removing paint from back acrylic. Time sensitive.

[Miami Reef]

How do I remove paint from back acrylic? I purchased paint scrapers from Home Depot and it’s super difficult to remove it. I’ll have to take a video after posting this thread.

Time sensitive. All livestock removed from tank.

 

[Saltyreef]

Once its painted, theres usually no going back.
Even on glass youre going to scratch the pane.
Solvents would work on glass but i think youll be etching the acrylic.

 

[Spieg]

I honestly doubt that it can be done without damaging the acrylic. Might just try sandpaper and go finer and finer grit until you can switch to a buffing compound.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m painting over it with black. I purchased acetone and a magic eraser. Is anyone has other ideas please share.

 

[Tamberav]

Sanding and polishing maybe but that would be wayyy too much work.

 

[Saltyreef]

Ive always plastidipped my tank backgrounds just for this reason.
I think some manufacturers use film too. My biocube had film.

 

[Miami Reef]

Sanding and polishing maybe but that would be wayyy too much work.

I’m so nervous. I better figure out a solution soon. Let me try the acetone right now.

 

[Tamberav]

I’m so nervous. I better figure out a solution soon. Let me try the acetone right now.

Acetone seems like as bad idea as it will damage the acrylic and the blemishes would probably show through new paint. I am not sure if it would effect it's structural integrity.

If you are painting over it then just paint over the existing paint. You can rough it up like you would furniture with a finer grit sand paper to get the new paint to adhere better.

The livestock need to stay out for awhile for everything to FULLY dry. Don't rush. People have killed their livestock when setting up a tank too fast and not giving silicone or such enough time to fully cure. Make sure the paint you are using inside is safe.

 

[Miami Reef]

The acetone and magic eraser worked really well.

Are you positive I shouldn’t use it?

 

[Miami Reef]

I tried spray painting over the blue but you can’t see any of the black at all.

 

[jassermd]

Acetone will melt your acrylic... do a quick google search and you'll see lots of information on acetone and acrylic...

 

[Miami Reef]

Okay. I’ll try with the razor blade.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Denatured alcohol. The magic eraser is a nice touch good thinking there

 

[NowGlazeIT]

If you lay the tank paint side up the alcohol can soak a bit to help loosen the paint

 

[JumboShrimp]

@Miami Reef, weren’t you on another thread wanting to paint the “inside” of your tank black? And someone was just on a third thread wanting to put black film in there with magnets. (!?) Not wanting time sound harsh, but if you bought a tank with an acrylic blue background, then may I humbly suggest you now have a tank with an acrylic blue background.

 

[Tamberav]

Shouldn't be any reason you can't paint black over blue. It will take many light layers though that you need to let fully dry in between.

 

[Miami Reef]

@Miami Reef, weren’t you on another thread wanting to paint the “inside” of your tank black? And someone was just on a third thread wanting to put black film in there with magnets. (!?) Not wanting time sound harsh, but if you bought a tank with an acrylic blue background, then may I humbly suggest you now have a tank with an acrylic blue background.

This tank was built with the house over 12 years ago. I’m going black. I hate blue.

 

[Miami Reef]

Shouldn't be any reason you can't paint black over blue. It will take many light layers though that you need to let fully dry in between.

I’m REALLY hoping this is the case

 

[KStatefan]

I’m REALLY hoping this is the case

Painting black over blue on the outside of the tank is not going to make the inside change color.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I don’t blame you one bit for preferring black over blue. But I must have confused myself between the different threads/posts. I’m going to get out of your business and wish you success. I honestly no longer know whether you have a painted glass-backed tank with an internal blue acrylic weir, an acrylic tank with a blue-back, that you intended to paint black on the inside (?), or what the heck is going on.