How to Fill an Upside-Down Fish Tank

An upside-down fish tank is a unique tank that makes use of water pressure and an air vacuum to suck water up into a tank through a hole in the bottom. It offers a stylish way to display colorful tropical fish. However, the mechanics of filling an upside-down fish tank can create some problems --- and messes --- if you don't know how to do it correctly.

Things You'll Need

  • Flexible air hose
  • Small piece of styrofoam
  • Bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert one end of the air hose into the block of styrofoam, making sure that the styrofoam doesn't block the opening in the hose. The hose should stick out about an inch from the other side of the block, and both the styrofoam and the hose should be small enough to fit easily through the opening of the upside-down portion of the tank.

    • 2

      Place the styrofoam end of the air hose into the upside-down portion of the tank. Most upside-down fish tanks are set into a square or rectangle open base that is also filled with water. The base of the tank already should have some water in it.

    • 3

      Fill the bucket with enough water to fill the upside-down portion of the tank. Make sure the water is consistent with the temperature of the water already in the base of the tank to prevent any damage to your fish.

    • 4

      Suck on the end of the air hose that is outside the tank as you slowly pour water from the bucket into the base of the tank. The vacuum you create by sucking the air out of the upside-down portion of the tank will pull the water up into the space that is being emptied. The styrofoam will rise with the level of the water, keeping the air hose above the surface so that you can suck out all of the air and completely fill the upside-down portion of the tank.

    • 5

      Pull the tube and the styrofoam block out through the opening at the bottom of the tank as soon as the water reaches the top of the upside-down tank.