Custom Home Aquarium

Building your own custom home aquarium can be a fun weekend, or even a winter project. All you need is the patience to learn how to choose glass of the right thickness, find the right adhesive, how to make seams that are tight and bubble-free, and why measuring accurately is so important. Do keep in mind, it may be a challenging project for a beginner.

Materials You Need

Unless you are planning a super-size aquarium for very large, or a large population of fish, then you should need nothing more than good quality, ¼” thick sheets of glass for aquariums up to 55 gallons. You can buy a sheet yourself from a glazier, and using precision tools, cut out the bottom, side, back and front panels yourself. Or, once you have the dimensions and measurements figured out, you can ask the glazier to cut your panels for you. Glass that is cut, does not have absolutely smooth edges. Bear that in mind when cementing the panels together, or have the edges ground down before you start, or sand them yourself.

Remember too, that one-gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 lbs. so not only does your glass have to be the right thickness, but it must be cemented together properly. Plexi-glass is less expensive, less breakable, and has flexibility. However it is also easily scratched and some people find it harder to join than real glass.

Don’t forget in planning your aquarium size, that you will need a canopy. This helps to keep heat in the tank at a more even level, and prevents fish from jumping out. Either build your tank so that a store bought canopy will fit it, or be prepared to also build a canopy.

To assemble your aquarium, use only 100% silicone sealant that is non-toxic and designed for aquarium use. Try not to build in excessively humid weather, as that will delay the sealant’s curing time.

Putting it Together

Lay out your pieces of glass, marked to show which edge is to go up/down, and which side is in/out. Cut 16 pieces of duct tape in 4” lengths, then stick one end of them to a handy, nearby surface where you can retrieve them while assembling and cementing the glass.

Start by laying your bottom piece of glass on a clean, smooth surface. Take 8 pieces of the duct tape, and attach them to the underside of the bottom sheet, sticky side up, two to each side. Next, lay a line of sealant, at least 1mm thick, along the inside of the front edge of the bottom sheet. Take the front panel of glass, tilt it at a slight forward angle, then align and set it upright in position. Once you are satisfied it is aligned, bring up the two pieces of duct tape underneath and press to the front panel. A second pair of hands will help at this stage, to keep the single panel upright until you can put one end, in.

When you have installed one end, bring up the duct tape and press to the glass. Take two of the extra pieces of tape, and fasten them 1/3 and 2/3 of the way up the join, to support the corner. Repeat for the other end, adding extra tape on the corner, and finally, install the back panel.

Do not attempt to smooth out or cut away excess sealant. That can be done when it’s cured. Once the tank is assembled, run a line of sealant along the eight inside seams, smoothing it down with your thumb, in one continuous motion to force it into any spaces there may be in the join.

Allow the tank to sit for 24 hours to dry, then fill with water let it sit for 24 hours in order to see whether any leaks develop.

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