I know i am not the only one who is tired of paying up to $15+ for an aquarium background. Lets face it, it is glorified laminated paper. How would you like to be able to cover up to 3 55 gallon aquariums for 96 cents?

Step 1: Materials

You will need

1x tank to be painted
1x can of spray paint (it doesnt need to be krylon fusion, i just had it. I hav used the 96 cent stuff from walmart with great sucess)
1x plastic sheet or trash bag cut into a sheet
1x roll of tape (i used cellophane tape, but duct would work too)
1x pair of scissors
1x thing to stand your tank on for painting.

Step 2: Masking

Use the tape and the plastic wrap or trash bag to tape off the three other sides that you dont want to be painted on. Make sure your tape is flush with both ends of the tank, as to not get any paint where it is not wanted. (sorry for the bad pic. When you are working with three different substances that are clear (tape, plastic wrap, and glass), good pics are hard to come by.

Step 3: Tape It Up!

If you REALLY care about the welfare of your fish (and you should) you should mask off the top (opening) of the tank, so no paint can get inside. If you use krylon fusion, you dont have to worry about it harming your fish, but its not very asthetically pleasing to have a black splotch on your front glass. You could use more plastic, but i just used all tape to cover the top.

Step 4: The Stand

Use something as a stand to keep your aquarium off of the grass during the painting process. I used a 6" long peice of I beam, and an old towel to prevent scratching.

Step 5: Spray Away

Make sure you clean the glass of any dust or wateer marks before painting, or you WILL get them "locked" under the paint. I made that mistake on the first one i did. Needless to say, that one is now my wet/dry refugium, locked under the cabinent, where no one has to look at it.

Put on a small dusting first, and let it dry for about 30 seconds. This gives the paint a "foot hold", and lets it cling better. Use horizontal strokes extending over the edge of the surface. Release the button after each pass. (remembere to keep the nozzle 8"-10" away from the glass.)

You dont need a perfectly even coat, because it all looks the same from the inside.

Step 6: Le Fin

Let the paint dry for 1 hour. A second coat is not needed. Remove your masking, and take a look at what you have created.

I aprove!

This has been yet ANOTHER aquarium instructable by your friendly neighborhood Sgt.Waffles. At ease!