Best way to attach background to acrylic?

aquariaddictus

aquariaddictus

occasional user
Aug 17, 2002
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I know, most people paint - blue or black. I'm a girl and I want my plastic background! How to attach it? Any special considerations that differ from glass? I know I can't do the wet method, so I guess we're talking tape?

Any hints?
tia
jj
 
I am not sure what you mean by 'the wet method', but why wouldn't the vaseline approach work? You are asking about one of those postertype backgrounds? If so, lather a little vaseline on the outside of the tank and press all the bubbles out after slapping up the poster. Think that'll work?

Tape always leaves wavy detached background that takes away from the desired effect IMO.
 
Just a suggestion - use Pam. You know, that non-stick cooking spray.

HTH

It worked great for me, but I have glass..
Oh yeah, use one of those 'cancelled' credit cards to get some air bubbles that will be trapped, out from in between...
 
I don't think you're supposed to put ANYTHING on acrylic, except water and the special acrylic cleaner they sell you. That's why I wanted to know if anyone had experience with it.
I'll check with Tenecor and let you know what they say.
tanks
j
 
on glass tanks, the best i have done is vegatable oil and run the bubbles out with a ruler, when done, use wallpaper corner protectors to fasten the ends to the tank. the color is amazing.
 
Yeah... how do you attach the background?

I just taped mine onto my acrylic tank but I noticed that every now and then some water gets between the background and the tank, and causes the background to get stuck to the tank....

I prefer the stuck look.

How do I get the stuck look permanently?

Hmmmmmmm....

Vaseline contains petroleum which I think would eat the plastic...

Vegetable oil you say?
 
Originally posted by Luca Brazzi
Yeah... how do you attach the background?

.......Vegetable oil you say?
Click to expand...
Or try Pam cooking spray. It worked nice on my tank. I used an all black background, but I bet a color background would show up much more vivid than taping it on.
 
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i cleaned the back glass very good and took a paper towel with vegatable oil on it and smeared it down very good, then my wife helped me position it where i wanted it, then i took a heavy ruler and pushed all the bubbles out from one side to the other. when finished, i used some glass cleaner on the edges of the tank and the back of the background. bought some wallpaper corner guards and cut about 1/4" shorter than the height of the tank from bottom support to top support. you peel the backing off the glue inside ot the guards and start at the top and be very careful to get both of them even and press them firmly to the corner. wallah, the perfect wet look background that has no bubbles and wont blow loose after a little use.
 
Now... The Big Question...

Will this work on Arcrylic?

Im testing the theory on a smal tank I made to see if it starts eating through....
 
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