Both tanks were painted and I needed to get the paint off and repaint them.
I was told that you use methylated spirits or mineral turps, depending on whether your paint is water or oil based (I can't remember which way around it was). So I bought bottles of both since I had no idea what the existing paint was based on.
Turns out the methylated spirits worked really well, some points I have learned:
- using a paint brush, coat the paint liberally in methylated spirits and wait for a few minutes
- use a *new* razorblade to strip the paint
I was told that to ensure paint adhesion long term I could use a preparation liquid that works even on glass - it wasn't expensive so I gave it a shot. Put it on using a paint brush and after 90 min it's ready to be painted on. It makes the glass sticky so the paint stays on better (that's the theory). The stuff is called ESP (Easy Surface Prep).
More to come as I progress!!
Start - as you can see from the side panel it's messy and tedious.
Then - better progress on the back panel thanks to the right tools.
Both tanks without paint.
The first coat on the back panels
Final coat on all three panels
The stand, made to order by fellow PCS Club Member scroogy1 - thanks very much!!
Update 12/1: MDF sheets cut, luckily I still had some lying around. Sometimes it pays off not to throw anything out, haha
Sheets on the stand
Empty tanks on the stand
Top tank, cleaned (sort of) and filled up to test for leaks
Bottom tank, filled up and soaking some wood pieces
notice I have put the bottom tank onto a dark cloth as a little experiment to see if it makes fish less skittish than having a white bottom.
Update 16/1 - both tanks up and running and stocked. Pic of one of my hoplo catfish
Top tank, temporary residents are my Labidochromis sp "mbamba" juvies. They love the space, much better than a 12x12 cube.
Filtration is an Eheim 2028.
Bottom tank is my hoplo tank, 11 fish in there and three nice pieces of wood.
Filtration: 2 sponges and an Eheim Pickup