How to Construct a Fish Aquarium
Building a fish tank is not as difficult as it sounds. The key is knowing how thick the glass needs to be to withstand the pressure from the water inside of the tank. The size of the aquarium is another important decision, as it will help determine the glass thickness. What type of glass to use is a consideration too. Once all of these have been decided upon, the construction of the tank can begin.
Items Needed:
- annealed glass
- laminated glass
- toughened glass
- glass cutter
- wet sander
- aluminum support brace material
- newspaper
- adhesive tape
- silicone that can be used under water
- razor blade
- Decide on the size of the tank. With this in mind, select a type of glass for the aquarium. Annealed glass works well, but it breaks into razor sharp pieces when broken. It is also referred to as plate glass. It can easily be cut with a glass cutter. Laminated glass is annealed glass that has been laminated to another piece of the same thickness. This keeps the glass from shattering when broken, however it is not as strong as annealed glass. Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is the strongest, but it cannot be cut. It will need to be purchased precut in the correct sizes.
- Purchase the glass to be used in the project, along with the brace material and silicone. Cut the glass to the correct size for the aquarium. The two side pieces should be the same size. The base should be the same length as the sides less the the thickness of the glass on each end. The same goes for the edges on the base that meet up with the end pieces. The two end pieces should be the same height and width as the base. Consider having a glass company cut it, especially if using the laminated kind. If using toughened glass, it will need to be purchased in precut pieces or it must be cut by a professional. Paying to have glass cut to size is not very expensive and can reduce the stress of attempting it at home. Have the edges wet-sanded by the glass shop, or use a wet sander to do it at home. Sanding will lessen the chances of cracks taking place in the tank after it has been assembled.
- Cut the aluminum support brace material to fit the tank. The end braces should be slightly shorter than the braces on the long sides so that they fit snugly when put together.
- Lay down the newspaper. Use the adhesive tape to hold the glass pieces together over the newspaper. Carefully seal all of the inside joints with a thin amount of silicone. Using a finger, press the silicone down so that it forms a curve around all of the glass edges. This should be done quickly and at the same time, as wet and dry silicone will not stick together. Allow to dry.
- Remove adhesive tape.
- Using the silicone, adhere the braces to the outside of the tank. Tape the braces securely to the glass for a tight fit while drying. Allow to dry thoroughly.
- Do not use for 24 hours so that maximum strength can be obtained while drying. Remove tape, and test to see if there are any water leaks. If water leaks are present, all silicone will need to be removed and redone. Clean up any unsightly silicone with a razor blade. The tank is now ready to house the fish.