How to Build an Aquarium With Sealant

Pet owners enjoy uniquely shaped aquariums to house their reptiles or fish. The design and materials needed to construct such an aquarium change based on the intended use. For example, aquariums that hold water must be built with thicker glass, while those used for reptiles can be built with glass that is thinner. Thicker glass is also necessary for larger aquariums to prevent bending or cracking. The glass plates are glued together with silicone sealant to prevent water from leaking through the seams.

Things You'll Need

  • Plate glass
  • Aquarium silicone sealant or 100 percent Silicone
  • Masking tape
  • Acetone or alcohol
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Instructions

  1. Building a Glass Aquarium

    • 1

      Design the aquarium and determine its dimensions including the length, width and height in centimeters.

    • 2

      Calculate the necessary thickness of the glass based on the dimensions and intended use of the aquarium. Water aquariums are very heavy and the glass will bend and crack if not thick enough. The Aqua Tools website provides an aquarium calculator for dimensions entered in centimeters. For example, a safely built 30x30x30 cm aquarium requires glass with a thickness of 3 mm.

    • 3

      Cut the plate glass and sand the edges. Individuals who lack the tools to complete this step can have it done at the shop where the glass was purchased. Five plates are needed to complete the aquarium. For example, a 30x30x30 cm aquarium requires three plates that measure 30x30 cm, and two plates that measure 30x29.4 cm to account for glass thickness.

    • 4

      Lay out the plates, making sure the shorter pieces are reserved for the sides. Clean the glass face and edges with acetone or alcohol. Place a continuous strip of silicone, 3 mm wide and 2 mm away from the edge, along the front edge of the bottom plate. Place the front plate on the silicone and hold. Do not wipe away extra silicone. Tape the sides together while the silicone cures. Continue sealing and placing the glass plates to form the aquarium.

    • 5

      Remove the masking tape once the aquarium cures and trim extra silicone. If the aquarium is used for water, let it set for at least a week.