How to Make an Open Bottom Fish Tank
Open bottom fish tanks are beautiful conversation pieces. They are easier to keep clean, require less filtering and provide fish with a more natural environment. Because there is more surface area in an open bottom tank, there is better oxygenation of the water. Combined with a water wall, an open bottom fish tank adds to the relaxing atmosphere of a Japanese-inspired patio meditation garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Square fish tank, 30 inches long by 30 inches wide by 15 inches deep
- 2 sheets 18-inch by 24-inch acrylic aquarium glass
- 1 sheet 18-inch by 6-inch acrylic aquarium glass
- 2 sheets 6-inch by 24-inch acrylic aquarium glass
- 1 tube aquarium-safe clear silicone adhesive
- Two 6-inch by 2-inch by 2-inch clear acrylic or glass flat paperweights
- Submersible aquarium pump
- 15-inch bubble curtain stone
- 10 feet clear plastic air line
- Aquarium gems
- Aquarium-safe rocks
Instructions
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1
Use aquarium-safe silicone adhesive to assemble 2 sheets of 18-inch by 24-inch aquarium glass, 2 sheets of 6-inch by 24-inch aquarium glass and one sheet of 18-inch by 6-inch aquarium glass into a 24-inch tall by 18-inch wide by 6-inch tube aquarium, open at one of the 18-inch by 6-inch ends.
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2
Place the 2 clear glass or acrylic paperweights 12 inches apart in the bottom of the 30-inch by 30-inch tank. Secure them to the tank bottom using aquarium-safe, clear silicone adhesive. Allow the adhesive to set overnight.
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3
Secure the 24-inch by 18-inch by 6-inch tube aquarium, open side down, on top of the glass paperweights using aquarium-safe clear silicone adhesive. Allow it to set overnight.
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4
Place the submersible pump on the tank bottom. Attach the air line between the pump and the bubble curtain air stone. Place the bubble curtain air stone flat inside the tube aquarium. Place a few handfuls of aquarium gems in the bottom of the tank. Place a few large aquarium-safe rocks in the tank as well.
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5
Fill the tank with water. Allow the tank to sit overnight so that any chemicals in your tap water dissipate, or use commercial water conditioner. Prime the pump and turn it on. Circulate the water for 2 to 3 days before adding fish.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.tvlesson.com/video/21223_fish-tank-open-bottom.html
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Comments
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STUCK ON ADHESIVE...
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Iam going to try this
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skanders1
Oct 23, 2009
I have done a lot of research on these tanks and have a few small details to work out still and was hoping you could help me out. 1. For a tank this size how thick and what type of glass did you use. 2. I was wondering how to keep the bottom panel of the bottom aquarium from breaking from the weight of the top aquarium. I am assuming the glass paperweights will take care of this........... correct? 3. I think what you did from your previous comment was keep it simple and keep the aeration on the lower tank but when you research these tanks a lot of them have bubbles going to the top tank. I personally think this adds another amazing element to the set up and in my mind there are two possible ways to conquer this problems. Optoin 1 - some setups use a fridge pump to suck the bubbles out of the top of the tank but that seems like a waste of energy and a pain in the... -
Jane Smith
Oct 07, 2009
Thanks for catching that embarrassing mistake. The air pump (not a submersible one) attaches to the side of the outer tank. The line still goes from the pump to the air stone.
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Sheryl Maiorano
Sep 11, 2009
I am confused here, you ask for a submersible aquarium pump which is a pump that pumps water but then you have me attach airline tubing and an air stone to the water pump? How is that supposed to work? You also talk about better oxygenation given the greater surface area in this tank but no air pump is used? How do you prevent noxious gasses from building up in the bottomless tank?
