How to Make a Big Fish Tank in a Home

Big aquariums allow the aquarist to house large numbers of fish -- creating spectacular underwater scenes with a combination of aquatic plants, driftwood and rocks. Large aquariums suit marine fish as well, as these coral reef creatures are highly territorial and become stressed in the confines of a small tank. Big aquariums require horizontal glass braces near the top of the tank, to prevent the glass from bowing outward under the pressure of the water. Although big aquariums are commercially available, it is possible to build your own at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Three sheets of sandpaper
  • Sharp scissors
  • Sturdy work surface or tiled floor
  • Six large towels
  • One piece of 5/8-inch thick glass, 60-by-24-inch
  • Two pieces of 5/8-inch thick glass, 60-by-20 inch
  • Two pieces of 5/8-inch thick glass, 24-by-20 inch
  • Two pieces of 5/8-inch thick glass, 60-by-2.5-inch
  • 8-oz. bottle of acetone
  • Clean cloths
  • Three tubes of nontoxic, 100 percent silicone, 10 fl. oz.
  • Masking tape
  • Empty cardboard boxes -- one or two, totaling about 18 inches high by 22 to 23 inches wide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the scissors to cut your sandpaper into many strips.

    • 2

      Lay a thick towel on a sturdy work surface or a clean section of tiled floor. Place each piece of glass, one at a time, on the towel.

    • 3

      Use the sandpaper to sand the edges of each piece of glass. Pour a small amount of the acetone on the cloth. Then wipe the edge of each piece of glass, to remove oil left by the glass cutter and any fingerprints or dirt.

    • 4

      Place the first 60-by-24-inch piece of glass, horizontally, on the clean work surface. Run a bead of silicone sealer along the top edge on the left- and right-hand length sides.

    • 5

      Run a bead of silicone sealer along both side-edges on the width sides of the first 60-by-20-inch piece of glass.

    • 6

      Run a bead of silicone sealer along the bottom side-edge of the 24-by-20-inch, left-hand side pane.

    • 7

      Run a bead of silicone along the bottom side-edge of the 24-by-20-inch, right-hand side pane.

    • 8

      Carefully place the 60-by-20-inch front pane of glass on top of the 60-by-24-inch base pane. Hold this pane with one hand, and place the left-hand side pane in position next to the bottom and front panes. Use masking tape to secure the left-hand side pane to the front pane.

    • 9

      Position the right side pane in position, next to the bottom and front panes. Use masking tape to secure the left-hand side pane to the front pane.

    • 10

      Run a bead of silicone sealer along the top edges of the width sides of the 60-by-20-inch back pane of glass.

    • 11

      Carefully place the back pane on top of the base pane, and secure to both side panes with masking tape.

    • 12

      Use your finger to smooth out the silicone sealer along the aquarium joins.

    • 13

      Leave the aquarium to dry for at least 24 hours.

    • 14

      Place one or two empty cardboard boxes, totaling about 18 inches high by 22 to 23 inches wide, into the aquarium.

    • 15

      Run a bead of silicone sealer along one length side-edge of the first 60-by-2.5-inch piece of glass. Rest this piece of glass on the cardboard boxes, and push the piece of glass against the front pane of the aquarium.

    • 16

      Run a bead of silicone sealer along one length side-edge of the second 60-by-2.5-inch piece of glass. Rest this piece of glass on the cardboard boxes, and push the piece of glass against the rear pane of the aquarium.

    • 17

      Leave the silicone to cure for at least 24 hours.

    • 18

      Remove the masking tape and boxes. You may need to crush the boxes slightly to remove them.