How to Make an Aquarium Out of Wine Barrels

Locate an old wine barrel. Ask around; a friend or family member may have one just lying around. If not, scavenge salvage stores, garden shops and garage sales. When you locate a barrel, make sure that all the wooden slats are solid and all the metal hardware, such as the bands that hold the top and bottom together, are fully intact. This will prevent the liner from becoming damaged and allowing the water to leak out.

Cut the barrel in half. You can choose to use a whole wine barrel, but because of the depth of the barrel, using whole-barrel aquariums makes it hard to see the fish when you look down. In most cases, a half barrel will be preferable. You can accomplish this several ways, but the easiest way is to use a circular saw. Measure the barrel, marking the walls as 18 inches tall. Mark a line around the outside surface of the barrel, and use the circular saw to cut off the excess.

Cut the liner to fit the barrel. Place the pond liner in the wine barrel. Have someone else hold it in place while you trim away the excess fabric. The ideal size is to have the liner fall approximately one inch below the top of the barrel. Don't worry about making the liner perfectly smooth along the inside. Creases, folds and bubbles due to trapped air between the barrel and the liner are normal.

Add decorations. Even though you won't be able to appreciate the decorations as well as with an indoor, all glass tank, the fish will appreciate having some decorations in the barrel. Line the bottom of the aquarium with brightly colored gravel. This will provide a lighter colored background that will help you see your fish, and will also provide a great surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. Place a hiding place in the bottom of the tank to help your fish feel safe. A large aquarium cave or a terra cotta planter broken in half will work fine.

Add water. Fill the barrel with water from a garden, and add the appropriate amount of dechlorinator as you fill. This will remove any harmful substances from the new aquarium. Make sure you don't fill the barrel all the way to the top, as it will overflow during heavy rains. Allow the water to stand for several days so that the temperature of the water stabilizes.

Add plants. Because this aquarium does not have a mechanical filtration device installed, it is important to ensure that the water is properly oxygenated and that the harmful compounds the fish release are removed. The best way to do this is to add live plants. You can use submersible plants or floating plants or a combination of the two. Good plants to use are water lilies, anacharis and duckweed, all of which can be found at your local garden shop.

Add fish. Keep your fish population to a minimum, and do not add fish that will outgrow their habitat. Common goldfish are cheap and hardy, making them a great addition to this type of environment. Comets work well also. Stay away from koi or other fast growing larger fish as they will quickly outgrow the wine barrel. Add a few snails to help keep algae at bay.