How to Build a Custom Glass Fish Tank

When the fish tanks offered at the local pet store do not fit your idea of the ideal pet fish habitat or your home décor, you can build a custom glass fish tank. Not only can you create an aquarium you will love, it will cost much less than a pre-fabricated fish tank.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick glass
  • Glass cutter
  • Aquarium grade silicone sealant
  • Cardboard
  • Measuring tape
  • Grease pencil
  • Masking tape
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Instructions

  1. Build a Custom Glass Fish Tank

    • 1

      Select glass that is appropriate for the size of fish tank that you intend to build. Any aquarium less than 18 inches long can be built with 1/4 inch glass. Larger aquariums should use 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick glass.

    • 2

      Measure the glass pieces and mark straight edges with the grease pencil at the appropriate points. Be sure all angles are perfectly 90 degrees, or your custom fish tank will not fit together properly. You will need a base and four sides for the aquarium.

    • 3

      Score the glass along the lines you measured and drew with a glass cutter tool. Run the tool several times along the edge of a straight edge to create a good groove. Apply gentle yet firm pressure to the glass to snap it off at the scored line. For large custom-fish tank projects, doing this with a helper is recommended.

    • 4

      Lay the base piece of glass on a flat surface and apply a thick bead of aquarium-grade silicone sealant to the top side of one edge of the glass. Lower the correct piece of cut glass down onto the silicone sealant at the very edge of the glass base.

    • 5

      Support the positioned glass piece with wooden blocks or have a helper hold it in place while you work on the next side. Repeat the procedure of squeezing out a bead of silicone on the base, and adding another application to the side edge of the piece of glass you already positioned on the base. Then, slide the side piece of glass into place, making sure the corners and edges meet up perfectly. Use masking tape, or other sturdy tape, to hold the two sides together.

    • 6

      Repeat the procedure of applying sealant to the base and the edge of the glass fish tank walls and the putting the next piece of glass in place until the four sides of the custom fish tank are assembled. Squeeze a bead of silicone sealant onto all the inside edges at the bottom of the fish tank and smooth it out with a protected finger or a piece of cardboard.

    • 7

      Remove the masking tape when the sealant has cured slightly and apply silicone to the inner joints. Smooth this out as you did for the inside base. Repeat the procedure for outside joints if necessary. After this has dried, remove excess sealant with a razor blade or knife.