DIY Plywood Aquariums

Use plywood as an inexpensive way to build your own aquarium. Marine grade plywood is used for tanks up to 450 gallons. This aquarium project will hold 140 gallons of water. The plans for this aquarium can be altered to make a larger or smaller aquarium. Choosing the size and shape of your aquarium is a benefit of building your own plywood aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Saw horses
  • 1 piece 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 24 inches by 8 feet
  • 1 piece 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 16 inches by 8 feet
  • 2 pieces 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 3 inches by 8 feet
  • 2 pieces 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 3 by 10 inches
  • 2 pieces 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 16 by 22.5 inches
  • 1 piece 3/4-inch marine grade plywood, 12 by 22.5 inches
  • Sandpaper
  • Clamps
  • Waterproof glue
  • Drill
  • 120 2-inch drywall screws
  • Gloves
  • Fiberglass cloth
  • Scissors
  • Resin
  • Paintbrushes
  • Silicone aquarium caulk
  • Caulking gun
  • 1 piece glass, 1/4-by-94-by-15-inches
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sand down all the edges on the plywood to remove any burrs or rough spots.

    • 2

      Lay the 24-inch board on the saw horses and place a ring of waterproof glue around the edges. This board serves as the bottom of the aquarium.

    • 3

      Stand the 16-inch-by-8-foot board flush with one of the 8-foot long edges on the bottom board. The two boards make a 90-degree angle. Attach the two by placing screws in 3--inch intervals through the bottom board into the 16-inch board. You can drill from under the saw horses up or flip the boards and drill downward. Use clamps to hold the boards in place while you drill.You now have the bottom and back of the aquarium.

    • 4

      Flip the aquarium so that the bottom board is vertical. Place the two 16- by 22.5-inch boards at opposite ends of the aquarium bottom flush with its shorter edges and flush against the back. Use a clamp to hold the boards together. Attach these boards to the aquarium bottom with screws in the same fashion as the back.

    • 5

      Place a 3-inch-by-8-foot board along the front of the aquarium and screw it into place with screws every 3-inches. This is the bottom of the glass frame for the front of the aquarium. Glue all the sides together that do not have screws in them and allow the glue to dry for 12 hours.

    • 6

      Run a bead of glue down one side of each of the 3-by-10-inch boards. Stand one 3-by-10-inch board up on top and at either end of the glass frame bottom, with the glued side flush with the aquarium's sides. These are the sides of the glass frame. Drive a screw through the glass frame sides into the aquarium sides every three inches. Lay the second 3-inch-by-8-foot board across the top of the glass frame and screw it in place.

    • 7

      Spread out the fiberglass cloth and cut it to fit the inside of the tank, minus the hole for glass. Overlap the cloth at all the seams in the aquarium. Place the cloth in the tank and spread resin over it with a paint brush.Let the resin dry for 12 to 15 hours. Trim any cloth that is extending above the aquarium.

    • 8

      Line the glass up with the frame inside the aquarium. Place the aquarium caulk around all the edges of the glass and press the caulk into the glass. Hold the glass in the frame forcefully to remove all the bubbles. Allow the caulk to dry and apply a second coat of caulk. Leave this layer rounded.

    • 9

      Attach the 12-by-22 1/2-inch board to the back panel and glass frame as a brace with screws every 3-inches.