How to Build an Aquarium Refuge

Building an aquarium refuge is one way you can protect your smaller fish from the larger ones. In a mixed tank, larger fish will prey upon the weaker ones unless they have a safe place to hide. Creating an aquarium refuge will help your smaller fish stay safe. Whether you're breeding fish, or just protecting them, your aquarium refuge will be a safe haven for smaller fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Acrylic glass sheets
  • Drill
  • Acetone
  • Cotton balls
  • Nontoxic silicone sealant
  • Duct tape
Show More

Instructions

  1. Building an Aquarium Refuge

    • 1

      Drain all of the water from your fish tank. You might be tempted to just lower the water level to build a refuge, but you're strongly advised to drain it out completely and move your fish and plants somewhere else for a few days.

    • 2

      Measure the area where your refuge will be. You'll probably want it to be 4 to 6 inches deep.

    • 3

      Cut your acrylic sheets to size and drill holes that allow the smaller fish through, but not the larger fish. If you're protecting babies, keep in mind that they will grow, while the bigger fish may not. If you need your design to grow with the fish, consider using your design skills to make an acrylic frame with a removable panel that you can replace later.

    • 4

      Clean all edges of the acrylic with a cotton ball, soaked in acetone. This is the main reason to take your fish out of the tank. Assemble your refuge by squirting a layer of silicone along the edges and pressing into place. Secure with duct tape.

    • 5

      Clean the inside of your tank with acetone, and use the same technique to adhere the refuge to the inside of the tank. Make sure that your refuge is just below water level, so the predatory fish can't get in, but water still circulates through. Secure with duct tape for at least 24 hours.