How to Build a Custom Saltwater Aquarium

Saltwater aquariums require strong circulation. This is best achieved by allowing water from the aquarium to flow into a remote sump (plastic or glass reservoir) that is positioned below the aquarium. The water will collect oxygen as it falls through the "plumbing" in route to the sump. Water in the sump is then pumped back into the opposite side of the aquarium, where it creates circulation throughout the entire tank.

Things You'll Need

  • One piece of 0.31-inch thick glass, 47.24-inch x 15.6-inch, predrilled with a 0.72-inch diameter hole (in the back right hand corner)
  • Two pieces of 0.31-inch thick glass (47.24-inch x 17.72-inch)
  • Two pieces of 0.31-inch thick glass (15.6-inch x 17.72-inch)
  • Plastic sump (26.4-gallon)
  • 15.6-inch PVC pipe (0.72-inch diameter), male thread on one end
  • 11.81-inch PVC pipe (0.72-inch diameter), female thread on one end
  • Washer (0.72-inch diameter)
  • 3 tubes of nontoxic, 100 percent silicone, 10 fl. oz.
  • Roll of masking tape
  • 160-gallon-per-hour submersible pump
  • 4.86-foot flexible plastic pipe (0.2-inch diameter)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the bottom piece of aquarium glass (47.24-inch x 15.6-inch) on a flat surface, like a work bench, and squeeze a continuous bead of silicone along each top-surface edge.

    • 2

      Squeeze a continuous bead of silicone along both side-surface edges of the front pane (47.24-inch x 17.72-inch) and along the top-surface edges on both sides of the two side panes (15.6-inch x 17.72-inch). Squeeze a continuous bead of silicone along the top surface of the bottom of both side panes (15.6-inch x 17.72-inch).

    • 3

      Position the front pane of glass on top of the base pane. Hold the front pane with one hand and position one of the side panes in position next to the bottom and front panes. Secure the front pane to the side pane using three strips of masking tape on the outside of the tank.

    • 4

      Position the second side pane next to the bottom and front panes and secure it to the front pane with three strips of masking tape.

    • 5

      Position the back glass and secure to both side panes with three pieces of masking tape on each side.

    • 6

      Allow the silicone to dry for 24 hours and remove the tape. Do not touch or move the aquarium during this time. If it is not disturbed, the tank structure will keep itself aligned during the drying process.

    • 7

      Place the aquarium on its stand and place the sump (plastic 26.4-gallon reservoir container) under the aquarium, so the predrilled hole in the bottom of the tank (and later, the 11.81-inch PVC pipe) is directly above the reservoir.

    • 8

      Place the washer over the threaded end of the 15.6-inch PVC pipe and position this end of the pipe in the predrilled hole in the base pane of the aquarium. This piece of pipe will now be standing vertically in the aquarium.

    • 9

      Screw the 11.81-inch PVC pipe into the 15.6-inch PVC pipe. Tighten well. This piece of pipe will now be suspended vertically above the sump.

    • 10

      Push the end of the 4.86-foot flexible plastic pipe (0.2-inch diameter) over the exhaust nozzle of the submersible pump and place the pump into the sump. Hang the opposite end of the pipe over the aquarium rim at the opposite end from the predrilled hole.

    • 11

      Fill the aquarium until water level reaches and begins to flow over and into the 15.6-inch vertical PVC pipe and down through it, into the sump. Fill the sump to the halfway mark with water.

    • 12

      Plug the submersible pump into a power source and turn it on. Sump water will be pumped back to the aquarium, from where it will continually return to the sump via the vertical PVC pipe.