How to Make a Glass Aquarium

Determine the ideal dimensions of your aquarium. If you already know where you want to put it, measure the space and use that as your guide. Once you know about how large it should be, draw a simple diagram and label all the sides with accurate measurements.

Double check your measurement figures to make sure that they all add up. Then make a list of all five glass panels: the front, the back, the two sides and the bottom. Include the measurements of each of these panels on your list to make shopping easier.

Buy your glass panels from a hardware store that offers custom glass cutting. Most retail hardware chains offer this service for less than a dollar per cut, and you can save on cuts if you can have multiple panels cut from a single piece. Bring along your list of the panels and their sizes so that you can give it to the glass cutter, avoiding any incorrect measurements.

Gather the glass and the rest of the materials in a workspace where you have plenty of room to assemble the aquarium on a flat, stable surface.

Sand down the raw edges of each panel of glass with a piece of fine silicone carbide sandpaper. Then wipe each side clean using a clean rag dampened with a little acetone.

Lay the bottom panel of the tank flat on your work surface. Pump a thin line of silicone right along the surface edge of the front side of the bottom panel. Then quickly but carefully pick up the front panel and gently press the bottom edge onto the wet silicone. Hold the panel steady while looking closely at the joint, and make sure that the entire width of the front panel glass is sitting flush against the surface of the bottom panel. Continue holding the panel for several minutes while it dries. Make sure the panel can stand upright on its own before completely letting it go.

Choose a side panel to attach next. Make a thin line of silicone along the surface edge of that side first, then make a thin line of silicone down the connecting edge of the front panel. Press and hold the side panel into place until it can stand on its own.

Connect the back panel using the exact same method as you used in the previous step.

Connect the final remaining side panel using the method used in the last two steps.

Pump a thin line of silicone into each of the eight seams from the inside of the tank. Use a small corner-shaped silicone spreading tool to work the silicone down into the corners and seams. Allow the silicone to dry for at least 24 hours.

Use a razor blade to carefully cut away gobs of excess silicone.