DIY Homemade Aquariums

Draw up a schematic for your aquarium to help give yourself an idea how the pieces will fit together. Draw out the pieces of your aquarium and label the dimensions. To build a 55-gallon tank, your aquarium needs to be 14 inches tall, 14 inches deep and 48 inches long. If you choose to build an aquarium of a different size you will need to determine and draw out the appropriate dimensions.

Purchase 1/4-inch sheet glass and have a professional at the store cut the glass to the dimensions you need. Once it is all cut you should have five sheets of glass for the bottom and four sides of the tank. If you are building a 55-gallon 14-by-14-by-48 inch aquarium you should have three pieces measuring 14-by-48 inches and two measuring 14-by-14 inches.

Have an additional 6-inch wide piece of glass cut measuring the depth of your tank. If you are following the example your piece of glass will be 14 inches long. This pieces of glass will serve as a brace to stabilize your aquarium when it is full of water.

Gently sand the edges and corners of the glass to remove any sharp edges. Fine-grain sandpaper around 100 grit is sufficient. Clean the edges of the glass with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel, then let them dry.

Lay out the pieces of glass and mark them with a marker so you can tell them apart. Arrange the pieces of glass, beginning with the piece for the bottom of the tank laid flat in front of you.

Cut several 4- or 5-inch pieces of duct tape and keep them nearby so you can grab them when you need them. Stick eight pieces of tape to the sheet of glass in front of you by lifting the glass slightly off the ground and sliding half the piece of tape under it the pressing the tape against the glass to make it stick. Use two pieces of tape on each edge of the glass and space them as evenly as possible.

Pick up the piece of glass for the front of the aquarium and apply a bead of silicone sealant along the inside bottom edge of the glass. Line up the bottom edge of the tank front with the appropriate edge on the tank bottom, holding the tank front at a slight downward angle.

Slowly bring the tank front into the upright position, pressing it into the edge of the tank bottom and creating a seal with the silicone sealant. Fold the two pieces of duct tape on the bottom of the tank up to secure the tank front in place. Do not wipe away any excess sealant.

Repeat the procedure for installing the tank front to attach the two side panels then the back of the tank. After attaching each new panel, apply two pieces of duct tape at the corners to keep the panels upright.

Apply a generous bead of silicone sealant to all of the interior joints, one at a time, and run your thumb or finger over the entire length of the silicone bead to spread it and smooth away any air bubbles.

Attach the brace to the tank by applying a bead of silicone sealant to the inside edge on both short ends and laying it across the top center of the tank so it bridges the front and back panels. Press down gently to secure the brace in place.

Allow the silicone to cure for 48 hours then fill the tank with water and let it sit full for another 24 hours. If no leaks appear then your tank it water tight and ready for use.