How to make a glass aquarium yourself – instructions from A to Z

Whether you’re a novice or an expert aquarist, building your own glass aquarium can be a satisfying project. It gives you a closer connection to the aquatic world you’re creating and lets you alter the size and shape to suit your space exactly.

If you take the right steps, creating a glass aquarium is not as difficult as it may seem at first. You can build a stunning, long-lasting tank that will house your fish and plants for many years to come with the correct supplies, equipment, and a little perseverance.

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the entire process, from choosing the ideal glass to putting the tank together and adding the finishing touches that make it uniquely yours. This article will provide you all the information you need, regardless of whether your goal is to save money or just experience the satisfaction that comes with doing a project yourself.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade aquariums

Self-made aquariums at home have several benefits. The primary benefits consist of:

• the ability to make a tank taking into account your own needs – for example, a non-standard shape or size;
• a homemade product can easily be matched to any interior style;
• high quality of the product, since all stages will be controlled independently;
• savings, because such an aquarium will cost much less than store analogues.

However, handmade goods also have a number of drawbacks:

• the process of making an aquarium requires a careful approach and special attention;
• you need to get tools, which can be financially burdensome if you do not have them at home;
• the manufacturing process takes a lot of time.

Although creating your own glass aquarium can seem difficult, it can be a rewarding project that lets you design a unique tank that is ideal for your space and fish if you have the right advice. Even beginners will find it easy to follow this step-by-step guide, which will take you through every step of the process—from choosing the appropriate materials to caulking the final joints.

Rules for choosing a material

There are various steps involved in creating an ornamental fish aquarium at home. The tank’s dimensions and shape must first be precisely determined, taking into account the fish that will eventually occupy it.

Suitable shapes and sizes of the aquarium

The future tank’s dimensions and shape are decided upon at the very beginning. Glass was fixed to a metal frame in home aquariums until recently. In this instance, the reservoir’s walls were only straight. Frame models weigh a lot, and when water is poured inside, the seams get dry.

The most common type of aquariums nowadays are frameless glass ones, which can have any shape—round, odd, or traditional. Every category has unique qualities.

Glass aquariums can be categorized into multiple groups:

• round;
• rectangular;
• corner;
• panoramic.

With the exception of the round design, which calls for specialized tools and glassblowing experience, any of these designs can be independently created at home. The corner model appears intriguing, but it requires glassworking expertise and is challenging to create each component of the frame.

The most straightforward choice is a fish aquarium in the traditional rectangular shape, which is simple to construct at home even for those without any glassworking experience.

Take into account the following factors when deciding on the aquarium’s size and shape:

• the place where the tank will stand;
• the type and number of ornamental fish;
• in a large aquarium it is much easier to establish the correct biobalance, and maintenance will not cause any special problems – the optimal volume is 100 liters;
• standard aquarium sizes – the width is equal to the height, the length is twice as large as the width.

It is ideal for the tank’s width to not exceed 50 centimeters. An excessively wide bottom could result in persistent turbidity. Since a lot of fish enjoy digging in the ground, aquatic life will agitate it.

We also suggest reading informative articles about setting up 20 and 30 liter aquariums.

Glass characteristics

The choice of glass is a matter that requires particular consideration because it affects the overall quality of the construction. Not all glass kinds are appropriate for a home aquarium.

The letter "M" stands for the glass grade, and a number is also written next to it.

The glass M1 option is the best. Because this grade is the highest, an aquarium built of it will be dependable and have a very long lifespan. Glass that is not lower than category M3 is typically taken. Other grades—which will be weaker—are inappropriate because they are insufficiently strong.

The glass kinds chosen to build a home aquarium are as follows:

• display;
• plexiglass;
• silicate.

Make sure to carefully inspect the glass before buying. It ought to be sturdy and devoid of any cracks, inclusions, or scratches.

One crucial factor is the glass’s thickness. Using the following table, you can figure out the ideal thickness of the glass:

What kind of glue is needed?

The proper selection of glue determines the structure’s strength and longevity. These days, a wide variety of aquarium glue that is appropriate for glassworking is sold.

The glue needs to fulfill these requirements in order to be dependable and long-lasting in a homemade glass aquarium:

• elasticity;
• strength;
• safety;
• beautiful appearance;
• comfort of use;
• instant adhesion;
• high level of adhesion;
• durability.

All these requirements are met by silicone sealant. It offers dependable and long-lasting bonding. Consider the adhesive base’s composition before using it. The substance should not be antibacterial, nor should it contain any impurities; otherwise, the fish will suffer.

Numerous colors are available for silicone sealant:

• White. This is not the best option, since a white sealant makes the finished aquarium seem unfinished.
• Black. It is recommended to use for gluing large-sized containers. Black sealant looks stylish and elegant.
• Unpainted. Suitable for gluing small aquariums – no more than 100 liters.

You must also consider the attributes of the aquarium that will be built in the future. Use the following formula to determine the volume (in liters) of a rectangular or square aquarium:

L is the aquarium’s length in centimeters;

A is the width in centimeters;

H is the aquarium’s height in centimeters.

Once the calculations are complete, check the packaging to see the maximum pressure at which the chosen silicone is intended to operate. Chemlux 9011 sealant, for instance, is appropriate for aquariums up to 400 liters.

What tools will you need?

You should gather all necessary tools before you begin work:

• glass cutter, tape measure and metal corner (if you are cutting the glass yourself);
• angle clamps-holders for glass;
• aquarium silicone glue;
• a gun with a dispenser for gluing;
• a silicone spatula for sealant (or an unnecessary plastic card, for example, a discount card from a supermarket);
• solvent for sealant and a rag (for cleaning your hands or surrounding surfaces if they get dirty).

In advance, prepare a flat surface for your work. An enormous, sturdy table is perfect. Moreover, you can glue on the floor, but only after covering it with paper.

Making a large aquarium will require an assistant because it will be very difficult to do everything by yourself. Someone needs to hold the glass evenly while it is being glued.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

There are various steps involved in the self-manufacturing process. Since the caliber of the work done determines the final product’s dependability and durability, you shouldn’t rush.

Cutting the glass

The accuracy of the glass cutting will determine how stable and tight the finished aquarium will be. It is therefore preferable to buy glass sheets that have already been cut to the necessary sizes rather than doing this process yourself.

Glass cutting is a laborious and intricate procedure. High-quality work requires specialized tools.

The glass’s sharp edges should then be sanded. Given that silicone is only effective on unpolished surfaces, the flat portion of the edge—that is, the glued creators—cannot be processed. It is best to avoid grinding altogether if you are afraid of making a mistake.

Gluing the aquarium

The following plan is followed when adhering a glass aquarium:

1. Cover the surface you will be working on so as not to get glue on it. Install the bottom glass on wooden slats.
2. Degrease the glass edges, for example, with alcohol or acetone. Do not neglect this step, because this way the glue will stick better, which means the risk of leakage will be minimized.
3. Use masking tape to seal the surface along the seam, leaving a few millimeters from the edge. And do the same on the back side of the glass. Note that on the side glasses at the bottom, the tape should be glued at a distance of "glass thickness + a few millimeters".
4. Lay the side glasses around the bottom. Do not put the side glasses on the bottom. For beginners, the best option is only "around" the bottom, and there should be the same gap between the glasses everywhere (at least 1-2 mm).
5. Fix the walls at a right angle using corner clamps or make them from wood corner stands.
6. Apply a layer of sealant to the glass cuts from the inside. Work with a confident hand and without delay, because you need not only to seal the seam well, but also have time to remove excess silicone and tightly seal the joints while the glue is flexible (you have 5-15 minutes for this).
7. Remove excess silicone with a plastic spatula or its equivalent. Or rub the seam with your finger dipped in soapy water. It is important that there are no bubbles in the seams.
8. Also treat the outer corners with silicone. Remove the masking tape immediately after sealing the seams.
9. Wait until the glue is completely dry. Drying time depends on the thickness of the silicone layer, the room temperature, and also on the glue manufacturer itself, so read the instructions on the back of the sealant. Usually 1-2 mm of silicone layer thickness dries in a day (at a temperature of +25 degrees Celsius).
10. Excess silicone can be cut with a sharp knife or blade.

Additionally, view this video tutorial to learn how to glue an aquarium together by hand:

Additionally, the video below demonstrates an alternative to aquarium glass corner holders, or clamps:

Checking for leaks

Checking for leaks in an aquarium is the next step. After installation on the cabinet, the tank is filled with water. Next, take a paper that has a high degree of hygroscopicity, like corrugated or basic toilet paper.

After adding water to the aquarium, thoroughly clean it. After that, take the paper, firmly press it against each face, and set it aside for a while. There will still be a wet spot on paper even if there is very little leakage.

It is not required to rebuild the aquarium from the ground up if just one section leaks. It is sufficient to fix the current mistakes:

• The angle flows. Take silicone glue and treat the angle from the inside. If the course continues, then cut and take out two walls that form an angle.
  Remove the remaining silicone with a knife, degrease the surface with any alcohol-containing compound, use a lint-free rag. Seal the walls with silicone sealant and reattach.
• The seam is leaking. Using a knife, remove the seam where the leak was noticed. Treat the seam from the inside with silicone glue. If the leak still remains, cut out two walls and seal the seam again with more glue.
• Small bubbles appear. If tiny bubbles appear from a small gap, no special measures are required. This is quite acceptable, but provided there is no leak.
  If a leak is observed in the problem area, it is better to take a different silicone sealant so that in the future there is no further violation of the integrity of the structure.

Features that you need to know

If you intend to build your own glass home aquarium, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the details involved beforehand. The future artificial reservoir’s strength and duration of use are influenced by a number of significant subtleties.

Preparing glass surfaces

Once the future structure’s dimensions have been determined with precision, cut out the aquarium’s walls and bottom. Grinding the edges will result in a stronger adhesion, so it is not advised.

Make sure to degrease the glass components before beginning the glue process.

For this, use any composition that contains alcohol. Use masking tape to cover the outside glass near the gluing point to prevent cross-contamination of the parts.

Criteria for determining the size of the seam

When choosing the glass thickness for a home aquarium, you can follow these guidelines:

• tank up to 20 l – 3 mm;
• up to 30 l – 4 mm;
• up to 80 l – 5 mm;
• up to 150 l – 6 mm;
• up to 200 l – 7-8 mm;
• up to 300 l – 10 mm.

How to work with glue?

Drops of glue should be applied to the glass edges, and they should be left for two hours to fully solidify. After the glue dries, trim it off, leaving a 1-2 mm layer. This is required to keep the glass surfaces from coming into contact with one another. The gradual breakdown of glass is caused by touch.

Only use a clean sponge and foam rubber to remove any remaining glue from the glass. The glue takes a minimum of two hours to fully dry. You can then add another coat of sealant, which will give it even more strength. Using a sharp knife, trim off any excess glue after it dries.

How to properly strengthen the side parts and what the stiffeners are for?

Stiffeners are another important point. These are unique glass strips, about five centimeters wide. They fortify the structure’s walls.

They should be utilized to give the aquarium more strength for varying aquarium volumes. If the aquarium is longer than 50 cm, they are required. Attached between the upper sections of the vertical walls are stiffeners. They guarantee that the water pressure is distributed uniformly throughout the tank.

Stiffening ribs and special ties are required if the vessel is longer than 1.5 meters.

This will contribute to the aquarium’s maximum dependability and durability. The glass’s color is just as significant. For aquariums, transparent or green glass is typically used.

How to make a lid?

Making the lid out of a lightweight material is advised. A small aquarium is ideal for plastic that is 3 mm thick. You can’t just cover the aquarium with a layer of plastic, so cut sides of building materials that are 10 cm wide to create a lid frame. Use resin as glue.

For corner seams, use metal corners, which will serve as extra stiffeners.

Step	Description
1. Planning	Decide on the size and shape of your aquarium. Gather all necessary materials, including glass, silicone sealant, and a frame if needed.
2. Cutting Glass	Cut the glass panels to size using a glass cutter. Make sure the edges are smooth to avoid injuries.
3. Assembling Panels	Apply silicone along the edges of the glass panels. Carefully press the panels together, ensuring they are aligned.
4. Sealing	Apply an additional layer of silicone inside the aquarium along all seams. Let it dry for

A fulfilling project that lets you give your aquatic creatures a unique home is building your own glass aquarium. You can guarantee a long-lasting and secure habitat for your fish and plants by closely adhering to the instructions, from choosing the appropriate glass to adequately sealing the tank.

Each step should be completed slowly, with careful attention to little details such as cutting, measuring, and bonding the glass panels. You’ll be able to look forward to a reliable, leak-free aquarium as a result of these meticulous steps.

After finishing, you’ll

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