5ft fish tank

[ridout]

Hi all.
I have just got hold of a 5ft tank with a painted on blue background. The tank is in good condition but the silicone does not look that great. I was thinking of taking it apart, giving it a good clean then putting it back together. Any thoughts if this is a good idea and how can i get the blue paint off?

Regards
Ridout

 

[scatz]

sounds good mate.
get yourself some stanley knife/ razor blades, you can cut all of the old silicon off to reseal it, then use them to scrape the old blue paint off.
Last year i had to scrape the blue paint off of 24 2 foot tanks, some came off really easily in sheets, but most were a real ***** and took ages, hopefully you'll have an easy one

 

[JoePlec]

As above really.. Very sharp stanley blade and cut it out from the inside of the tank, dont go the whole way through the joint of the glass just take the inside bit out, your tank will stay in shape, then gun the silicone in and run your finger along it to make sure there is no air in between the glass and the silicone.

As for the blue background chances are its emulsion... throw a bucket of water over it, leave it for an hour or so then take a sharp wallpaper scraper and it will fly off!.

Probably do the paint removal first, then silicone the tank, remember to leave the tank 3 days before adding water after you have siliconed it! Them 3 days can be used to paint your background back on if thats your plan.. Emulsion normally takes 3-4 coats to look perfect.

Good luck with the new tank.

 

[ridout]

Thanks for the help.
Slight problem with the blue paint. IT IS GLOSS! :wb:

I'm thinking scrape around the edges of the tank then get paint stripper on the rest. Or i have heard of people taking the paint off with a wallpaper steamer and scraper. either way i think my patience is going to be tested.

 

[JoePlec]

Thanks for the help.
Slight problem with the blue paint. IT IS GLOSS! :wb:

I'm thinking scrape around the edges of the tank then get paint stripper on the rest. Or i have heard of people taking the paint off with a wallpaper steamer and scraper. either way i think my patience is going to be tested.

Ill give you one tip, buy something like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Harris-Decorating-Paint-Removal-Scraper-Tool-/200546729331?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Paint_Varnish_MJ&hash=item2eb1843d73, make sure the one you buy is 1" and not 2" or 3" because 1" is firmer, doesnt bend and gets paint off easier. You will probably be able to just scrape it off without wetting it or using any chemicals.

 

[rpp1973]

Personaly i wouldnt use a steamer!!! i have broken glass in our bathroom window when cleaning the tiles! also the kettle at work cracked the windo it was next to ! :wb::wb::wb:

scrape it or even solvent paint stripper. being glass it should be easy to wash off and keep out of the tank/ away from sillicone.:dk:

 

[Stan]

Here is a great article on re-sealing a tank.
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=737

 

[ridout]

Thanks for the re-sealing thread shenzhenluohan.:thumbup:

I'm half way there with the blue paint :wb::wb::wb::wb::wb::wb:
the scraping noise is killing me!!!!

will be worth it in the end. :clap: ......i hope

 

[macvsog23]

To remove paint use Nitromors do not get it on your skin or any open wounds but it is used to strip battle ships

http://www.restexpress.co.uk/acatalog/Nitromors_All_Purpose_Paint_and_Varnish_Remover.html?gclid=CJSfo5ehlacCFQgMfAodHlblcQ