How to Build a 30-Gallon Fish Tank

So you've been a fish enthusiast for many years and want to take the hobby to the next level, or you may be a novice to the world of pet fish but enjoy the challenge of a do-it-yourself project. Whatever the reason, building your own tank is a rewarding way to enhance your fish keeping experience. Customizing the perfect tank for your home and lifestyle is an opportunity any crafty individual can not only enjoy, but be proud of once the tank is finished and a fish community is thriving inside.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass (two sheets of glass 1/4-inch thick and 36 inches by 24 inches for the front and back; two sheets of glass 1/4-inch thick and 12 inches by 24 inches for the right and left sides; one sheet of glass 1/4-inch thick and 36 inches by 12 inches for the bottom sheet)
  • Gloves for handling the glass
  • Silicone carbide sandpaper
  • Acetone
  • Paper towels
  • Duct tape roll
  • Washable felt tip marker
  • Non-toxic silicone sealant, clear
  • Razor blades
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Instructions

  1. Glass Preperation

    • 1

      Purchase five pieces of glass: front; back; bottom; right side; and left side. You will use the bottom piece of glass for a base and adhere the other four pieces to it with the silicone. If you are able to speak directly to a glass cutter, let her know what the glass is to be used for. A good glass cutter will be able to cut your glass pieces out so they will match up and prevent leaks. Use an aquarium glass calculator to determine the proper thickness your glass will need to be for the size you plan to build.

    • 2

      Taking some silicon carbide sandpaper, gently sand down the edges of the glass that will be adhered together. File down any sharp edges until the glass is smooth.

    • 3

      Pour a bit of acetone onto a paper towel and wipe down the edges you just sanded until the glass is cleaned properly.

    • 4

      Using your washable felt tip marker, label each pane of glass. The two sheets of 1/4-inch thick glass (36 inches by 24 inches) are the front and back pieces; the two sheets of 1/4-inch thick glass (12 inches by 24 inches) pieces are the right and left side; and the single 1/4-inch thick glass (12 inches by 36 inches) piece is for the bottom of the tank.

    Tank Assembly

    • 5

      Cut 15 to 20 pieces of duct tape roughly 5 to 6 inches long. Set these pieces of tape aside for later use.

    • 6

      Lay the bottom piece of glass for the tank out on your workspace, with the inside of the glass facing up. Dab a bit more acetone onto a paper towel and clean up the edges once more just for safe measure.

    • 7

      Place eight strips of duct tape underneath the bottom glass panel, stick half of the tape onto the glass and leave the other half sticking out with the stickiness facing up. Evenly space the pieces of tape and do two strips on each side of the bottom panel of glass.

    • 8

      Run a thin line of the sealant along the horizontal edge of the bottom glass pane and quickly retrieve the pane of glass you marked for the front. Holding the front pane with the top slightly tipped towards you, firmly and gently set the front pane of glass to the silicone sealant and straighten the glass up to a 90 degree angle.

    • 9

      Carefully hold the glass steady as you fold the duct tape up to help keep your pane of glass in place as the silicone adheres. It is important that you do not touch the silicone with a cloth or blade until it is completely dry.

    • 10

      Run another line of sealant long the horizontal edge of the bottom glass pane at the edge where the right side of the tank will be and a line of sealant down the vertical edge of the front pane where the right side of the tank meets with the front.

    • 11

      Retrieve the pane of glass marked for the right side and firmly yet gently set it into place with the silicone on the bottom pane's edge and the front pane's edge. Fold up the duct tape stuck to the bottom pane and apply two strips of tape onto the corners where the front pane and right side pane meet. You may also want to add a third piece of tape in the middle of the front and side pane to ensure stability.

    • 12

      Follow the above steps for attachment of the left side pane of glass to the bottom and front panes. Remember to apply three more pieces of tape to the front and left side panes for stability while the silicone dries.

    • 13

      Run a line of silicone along the horizontal edge of the bottom pane, and both the vertical edges of the left and right side panes. Retrieve your last pane of glass, the one marked for the back of the tank, and firmly yet gently set that into place.

    • 14

      Fold up the last two pieces of duct tape from the bottom pane to the back pane, and attach three pieces of tape to each side as you did for the front and both side panes. Run a solid line of silicone (only about 1/4" thick) to the eight joints that were made when the glass was aligned.

    • 15

      Allow all the sealant to dry thoroughly but let your tank sit as is for the next 24 to 48 hours. It is vital for your tank to sit for as long as possible before filling it with water to ensure the silicone dried thoroughly. Filling your tank before the sealant has dried completely will cause leaks and more time on your part in fixing the silicone.

    The Water Test

    • 16

      Check the silicone to make sure it has dried completely. If it appears to still be wet or tacky, let it dry for another 12 to 24 hours before continuing on to the next step.

    • 17

      Fill the tank up with water for a test run. Add water until there is only 1-inch of space at the top of the tank; this is enough water to check for leaks.

    • 18

      Let the tank sit for 24 hours, then check the silicone for any leaking. If you do have a few leaks don't panic. Simply drain the water from the tank and apply more silicone to the edges of the glass where they meet. Especially in the joints, as these tend to be the harder areas to target. Remember to let the silicone cure another 24 to 48 hours before adding more water and running the water holding test again.

    • 19

      Once your tank holds water without any leaks at all, you may remove the duct tape and wash off the marks.

    • 20

      Move your new tank to it's permanent location and begin decorating and preparing it for your pet fish.