How to Build a Waterfall Over a Salt Water Aquarium

Healthy saltwater aquariums have strong water circulation and current. Most of the colorful reef fish and invertebrate animals, such as hard polyp stony corals and anemones, come from a turbulent and fast-flowing environment. Water running down into the aquarium from above can add to the turbulence and circulation. Aquarists can achieve this effect by building a waterfall above their aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 piece glass, 18 inches long by 6 inches wide, 0.31-inch thick, with predrilled 0.25-inch diameter hole, centered at the one (top) end.
  • 2 pieces glass, 18 inches long by 2 inches wide, 0.31-inch thick
  • Emery paper
  • Clean cloth
  • Small bottle of acetone
  • Nontoxic, 100% silicone sealer
  • Four pounds of aragonite sand
  • 2-inch-square piece of Styrofoam
  • Submersible pump
  • 3 feet transparent tubing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the emery paper to sand the edges of the 6-inch-wide piece of glass.

    • 2

      Pour a teaspoon of acetone onto the cloth and wipe the glass to remove fingerprints and any oil residue from the glass cutter.

    • 3

      Place the glass on a flat and dust-free work surface.

    • 4

      Use the emery cloth to sand the edges of the two narrow pieces of glass.

    • 5

      Pour a teaspoon of acetone onto the cloth and wipe the two pieces of glass to remove fingerprints and any oil residue from the glass cutters.

    • 6

      Squeeze a continuous bead of silicone sealer along the side-edge of the right hand, 18-inch length side of the 6-inch-wide piece of glass. Place the length side of one 2-inch-wide piece of glass against the bigger piece of glass to form a 90-degree angle.

    • 7

      Squeeze a continuous bead of silicone sealer along the side-edge of the left hand, 18-inch length side of the 6-inch-wide piece of glass. Place the length side of the other 2-inch-wide piece of glass against the bigger piece of glass to form a 90-degree angle.

    • 8

      Allow the silicone sealer to cure for 24 hours.

    • 9

      Squeeze a number of large balls of silicone onto the inside surface of the 18-by-6-inch glass and spread it across the entire surface of the glass with your finger.

    • 10

      Take a handful of aragonite sand and sprinkle it onto the silicone sealer, covering the entire surface. Allow the silicone to cure for 24 hours.

    • 11

      Lay the glass structure on its right side and squeeze several balls of silicone sealer onto the inside surface of the glass. Spread the silicone sealer evenly with your finger, covering the entire right interior surface of the glass.

    • 12

      Take a handful of aragonite sand and sprinkle it over the silicone sealer, covering the entire surface. Allow the sealer to cure for 24 hours.

    • 13

      Lay the glass structure on its left side and squeeze several balls of silicone sealer onto the inside surface of the glass. Spread the silicone sealer evenly with your finger, covering the entire left interior surface of the glass.

    • 14

      Take a handful of aragonite sand and sprinkle it onto the silicone sealer, covering the entire surface. Allow the sealer to cure for 24 hours.

    • 15

      Shake any loose aragonite from the glass structure.

    • 16

      Squeeze a tablespoon of silicone sealer onto the middle of the back, bottom surface of the glass structure. Place the Styrofoam block against the glass and hold it in place for a minute. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

    • 17

      Place a sturdy piece of string through the predrilled hole in the top of the glass structure. Hang the glass structure from a wall hook directly above the aquarium. Ensure that the lower end of the structure points into the aquarium and is approximately 3 inches above the water level.

    • 18

      Push one end of the transparent tubing over the exhaust nozzle of the submersible pump. Place the pump inside the aquarium, on the floor.

    • 19

      Push the free end of the tubing through the same hole as the string at the top of the glass structure. Face the end down onto the glass structure.

    • 20

      Fill the aquarium with water.

    • 21

      Plug the submersible pump into a wall outlet and turn it on.