Things You'll Need:
- Glass
- Silicone sealer, non-toxic
- Emory cloth
- Razor blades
- Glass cleaner
- Duct tape
- Triml
- Hinges
- Drawer front
- Extra bracing material.
- Wiring
- Hinges
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Step 1
Cut or have the glass cut for the front, back, sides and bottom of the aquarium. Measure very carefully considering the depth of the wall, room for equipment, and possible electrical wiring. Sand the imperfections from the edge of the glass, but don't round the edges.
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Step 2
Clean the areas to be bonded with a non-toxic glass cleaner and let dry thoroughly.
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Step 3
Lay out the pieces of the aquarium on a large scratch free surface. Mark on them with a non-toxic marker for directions if needed.
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Step 1
Using strips of duct tape, create hinges on the bottom piece of glass to hold the sides, front and back when ready.
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Step 2
Place one end piece on the outside of the bottom piece and secure with duct tape. Have a friend help hold the piece in place.
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Step 3
Run a bead of silicone sealer along the edge of the end piece and place on top of the bottom piece. Secure it with the duct tape hinge. Use more duct tape as needed.
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Step 4
Repeat with the rest of the pieces. Run a 1/4" bead of silicone sealer all round the seams of the inside, and smooth it with your finger or smoothing tool.
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Step 5
Let the silicone cure for a minimum of 48 hours; remove duct tape and trim off excess silicone with a razor blade. Fill with water to check for leaks. Drain and dry completely to reseal leaks with silicone and repeat the drying process.
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Step 1
This step will vary depending on the material of the wall as well as the depth. Concrete and brick walls are strong but are much harder to cut into. Consider hiring a professional to do this. Drywall or paneled walls may need extra bracing for strength.
Don't skimp here. You could have a disaster on your hands if the area isn't strong enough to hold the aquarium, water, fish, and equipment. Leave extra room around the sides and top. Remember, you have to access the aquarium easily for maintenance and you need space for equipment. -
Step 2
Once the wall is cut, leveled and braced, determine where you want the equipment (filter, air pump, etc). If you are using a traditional side mounted filter, make sure you have left enough room for it, although you may want to consider a less bulky type of filtration.
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Step 3
Unless you are a licensed electrician, consider hiring a professional to do the wiring for the electrical equipment. Otherwise, you can use a strip plug far enough away that it won't get water on it.
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Step 4
Screw the hinges onto the drawer front and then mount it on the wall above the aquarium using toggle bolts if necessary.
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Step 5
Slide the aquarium into the wall and level. Attach the trim around the remaining three edges of the wall.
Fill and enjoy your new wall aquarium.
