How to Make Aquarium Trim

If you have cracked your aquarium trim during a move or just want to spice up your aquarium, make a new trim for your aquarium. The trim does not affect the structure of the aquarium. Rather, it serves as a border around the glass or acrylic, similar to flooring trim or crown molding. As long as the trim sticks to glass or acrylic, you can use it to beautify your aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Water siphon
  • Bucket
  • Utility knife
  • Clear silicone caulk
  • Quarter round molding
  • Tape measure
  • Table saw
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Sponge
  • Glue cartridge
  • Hot glue gun
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove all the water from the aquarium. Close the tube end of a water siphon with your thumb, and place it inside a bucket. Scoop aquarium water into the funnel on top of the siphon. Open the tube end by removing your thumb. The pressure will suck the water out of the tank, through the siphon and into the bucket.

    • 2

      Remove the existing trim. Insert a utility knife between the aquarium surface and existing trim, and pull the knife to loosen the adhesive between them. Pull the existing trim away from the aquarium surface.

    • 3

      Pour water back into the aquarium to check for accidental punctures made in Step 2. If you find no leaks, proceed to Step 3. If you do find leaks, seal them by squeezing clear silicone caulk into the holes.

    • 4

      Look for a flooring trim that works for you. Quarter round molding is recommended because it has two flat surfaces.

    • 5

      Measure the dimensions of the aquarium,using a tape measure. Cut the quarter round molding to the dimensions of the aquarium using a table saw. For example, cut two 20-inch pieces and two 10-inch pieces of molding for a 10-by-20 inch aquarium.

    • 6

      Clean the aquarium surface with rubbing alcohol and a sponge to remove the adhesive residue from the aquarium surface. Let the surface dry for 20 minutes.

    • 7

      Squeeze a layer of glue on the bottom border using a hot glue gun. Press the back of the molding to the surface of the aquarium.

    • 8

      Fill the edges of the surface and molding with clear silicone caulk. The caulk is waterproof and prevents water from leaking into the cracks. Let the silicone caulk dry for five hours. Repeat Steps 6 through 8 for the rest of the trim.