If you want to build a fresh DIY aquarium from the beginning it can be fun, and challenging. There a few tips on working with glass aquarium to preparing materials lists, pre-installation instructions, and complete step-by-step instructions on how to build a 55-gallon, 1/4-inch glass aquarium, here’s what you need to know.
Tips for Working with Glass
- The aquarium built using these instructions measures 14 inches high, 4 feet wide, and 14 inches deep, but can also be adapted to smaller sizes as well. If you are planning to build a tank of greater size or larger, consult the aquarium glass thickness calculator.
- Plan ahead before cutting the glass with a good scheme. If you are not comfortable with the glass cut, get a professional glazier cut and have them cut for you.
- Use accurate measurements, as this will ensure accuracy and help prevent leaks. The aquarium is built with two pieces of glass on the back and front panels, and the front, back, and two side panels are located on the bottom panel of the glass. Undoubtedly, you will put a light hood on your tank, so design accordingly. Do not place solid glass cover over the aquarium, as this limits the efficiency of carbon dioxide gas exchange, resulting in less or inadequate ventilation of the aquarium.
- The aquarium built using these instructions measures 14 inches high, 4 feet wide, and 14 inches deep, but can also be adapted to smaller sizes as well. If you are planning to build a tank of greater size or larger, consult the aquarium glass thickness calculator.
- Plan ahead before cutting the glass with a good scheme. If you are not comfortable with the glass cut, get a professional glazier cut and have them cut for you.
- Use accurate measurements, as this will ensure accuracy and help prevent leaks.
- The aquarium is built with two pieces of glass on the back and front panels, and the front, back, and two side panels are located on the bottom panel of the glass.
- Undoubtedly, you will put a light hood on your tank, so design accordingly. Do not place solid glass cover over the aquarium, as this limits the efficiency of carbon dioxide gas exchange, resulting in less or inadequate ventilation of the aquarium.
List of Glass Aquarium
In addition to the 1 bottom, 1 front, 1 back, and 2 pieces of glass, you will need the following items to build your aquarium.
- Crossing a single razor blade.
- Acetone.
- 100% silicone sealant is non-toxic. All-Glass® Brand 100% Silicone Sealant or other similar products.
- Roll the paper towels.
- Washable markers.
- One roll of duct tape.
- Some silicone or silicon carbide sandpaper.
- For larger aquariums above 30 gallons, we recommend installing at least one “support bracket” in the center of the tank. This is possible by cutting a glass piece of glass that is sized to fit the “outer” edges of the front and back panels, then mounting them with silicone. For added strength, you can feed and attach two pieces together using silicone, or especially for longer tanks, installing two separate pieces of the glass evenly from each end of the tank.
Get Ready
Before starting an aquarium, get the items ready for use and learn about the important things following instructions.
Provide Cut Glass Panes
- Once the glass pieces were cut, using a silicone or silicone carbide cloth, buff all the raw edges of the glass just enough to release the sharpness.
- Clean all parts with glass panes and edges about 1/2 inch deep (any place where the silicone will be used) with acetone on a paper towel.
Provide Channel Tape
Cut 16 strips of duct tape, about 5 inches long, and attach it to something close to reachable that has a clean surface to it, and the tape won’t stick around too much, with at least half the hanger hanging down freely. If during installation you run out of tape, before installing another panel, cut more.
Tip: If at any point during your construction you are having problems with the tape not sticking to the glass, just clean the area with some acetone on a paper towel and try again.
How To Properly Install Glass Panels
As each pane is mounted, as you go, you will use a thin but sufficient line of silicone for each section in all the areas to be connected, and then, in a slightly forward corner, align and insert a piece of glass onto the bottom glass panel, and slowly tilt it upright, pressing it lightly, but firmly into silicon, fastening it to the position. Do not remove any excess silicone that may squeeze to the outer edge of the glass. These can be cleaned or trimmed later, once the silicone has fully healed.
- After all your pieces of glass have been cut and prepared, place, or arrange the pieces so you know where they are going. Once the placement of the pane has been determined, to help keep track of where each piece is going (the sides or sides of the glass panel will go up or down, inside or outside, etc.), mark them with words or direction arrows using the end marker washable.
- Take the bottom of the glass, place it on a flat, non-rough surface, then firmly press and stick 8 pieces of duct tape (2 pieces on each side) into the glass from the bottom with the sticky side (see figure 1)Tip: This is easy to do by lifting the glass from each side just enough to fit the ribbon in place. Following how to properly install the glass panel information above, install a windshield (see figure 2). Once the windshield is in place, fold the 2 pieces down the channel band and attach it to the front of the glass.
- This step is easier to do with your assistant holding the windshield upright and in place while you complete the first art installation in the next step.
- Using the same mounting method, attach the first panel (see figure 3), fold the bottom 2 pieces of the channel band and attach it to the front of the glass, and secure the side piece to the front of the glass by wrapping 2 additional strips of the channel tape in the around from one side to the other (see example right diagrams).
Install Parts and Back Panel
- Follow the same procedure as above, attached the other side, and finally the back panel.
- With all the parts in place and the tank built, run the dense but dense silicone into eight joints in the inside of the tank, then move your thumb over the silicon from one end to the other, preferably in one movement continuously, to smooth the silicon down and force it into the joint area. (Insert “bracket” here, if you add one).
- Let the silicon be cured for 24 hours.
- Fill the tank with freshwater and let it sit for at least 12 hours, 24 times better. This gives you a good test period, and you will feel more confident when you finally fill the tank with salt water, put it back together, and increase your population.
Sources: Thesprucepets
