Making The Best and Easiest DIY Aquariums From IKEA?
I've been repairing and building aquariums for many years now. Typically that involves cutting glass, so it's not necessarily the most accessible task around. That said, I've been trying to find a way to build custom rimless tanks, that don't involve cutting glass. I want DIY aquariums to be an option for everyone.
It took me awhile to discover a solution, but not long ago, I had a eureka while at IKEA. I realized that they sell a lot of good glass shelving that could be used to build aquariums. So, I got to work finding pieces that could fit together, and to my surprise, they had several sets that work!
In this video, I outline the entire process from start to end. I decided to cover every aspect of it because I've never explained the tank construction process in much detail. Sure, I've shown it a ton of time by now, but there are a lot of tricks that I generally leave out to make the video more concise. Anyway, you could use these techniques to build most glass tanks.
All three tank sizes require the items listed below in the material list. The shelves specific to make each size tank are listed separately. I discovered two additional sizes that weren't included in the video and included them below.
MATERIAL LIST
ASI Black Silicone - amzn.to/3UycHTb
EVA Foam - bit.ly/3r0jO9w
Scotch Masking Tape - thd.co/3r1RUK3
Utrusta Shelf, 15x14.75” (x1) - bit.ly/3Ssz5vw
TANK SIZES
Small Tank Kit (24 Gallons; 92 Liters)
Shelf, 30x14.75” (x2) - bit.ly/3r4Qe2C
Large Tank Kit (29 Gallons; 111 Liters)
Shelf, 36x14.75” (x2) - bit.ly/3R3rEK0
Nano Tank Kit (14Gallons; 53 Liters); not included in video
Shelf, 18x14.75” (x2) - bit.ly/3BEFsVO
Extra Small Tank Kit (19 Gallons; 72 Liters); not included in video
Shelf, 22x14.75” (x2) - bit.ly/3fih1Wn
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I've been trying to figure out how to make DIY rimless glass aquariums more accessible for awhile. I don't think it gets much easier than this! I was able to build the additional tanks in about 15 minutes each, so I kid you not when I say these are very easy to make. Plus, they're a very cost effective way to get a beautiful rimless tank. As I said in the video, links for the products are in the description. Enjoy and have a great weekend SerpaSquad!
:)
💞💞
Is it strong enough to hold that amount of water with that thickness without any additional support? I've had not so great experience making my own and since then i entrust it to the glass maker
@@Valryas tempered glass is very strong,like he said
Thanks for another great video! Hope you're doing well with the move and everything. I've been wanting to try building an aquarium I've built terrariums but nothing with glass. Really considering trying this out. Thanks again!
I have never found anyone on KZhead who explains anything as clearly as you do. Thanks again.
Check out engineering explained. He'll put you to sleep with details.
@@jumbowana 😄Thanks. Next time I have coffee before bed I’ll look him up!😂
@@TerryMcGearyScotland another good "I have accidentally put stimulants into my body but need to sleep" is fire of learning. Very in depth historical explanations ranging from Mesopotamia to medieval Europe to ancient India. Learn AND get put to sleep
@@Alexredbluegreen 😁Also sounds good to me!🙏
@@Alexredbluegreen Thank you!
Went to Ikea, bought the shelves for the largest 29G size, followed your instructions and my first ever DIY tank is now happily hosting the new hillstream aquascape. Fantastic video, foolproof, no prior experience in building tanks needed whatsoever. Awesome job with the video! Thank you sir!!!
Which section of ikea you saw this glass and what size is the small side glass.
how much was total cost?
Any update on yours ?
Yay!!!!🎉
Awesome
if I may give you a good advice: I've been working as a plumber for 16 years now and it makes adding and working on silicone insanely cleaner and easier is to use a tapwater dishsoap mix and use a popsicle wood grip to scrape off the still wet silicon way cleaner than wi9th a pen or finger. By using these two things I made super clean and beautiful silicone sealings in new bathrooms for many years.
As a glazier silicone beads like that give me nightmares. Awesome method you have their sir!
Stone fabricator here and yes soapy water is king
How is the soapy water used? Doesnt it prevent the silicone from sticking to the glass if it goes in between?
First apply the silicone to the glass corners properly then use a spray bottle with an whatever 20/80 mixture of dish soap and 80% water. Spray it on the silicone and scrape it off with your finger or spoon. the dishsoap stops the silicone to stick to your hands or other places where you don't want it. if your line of silicone is properly done then it wond reach under it. @@janred94
Sorry but what do you mean using a popsicle wood grip? Do you mean you use a stick with the soapy water to smooth the bead? Thx
Hi, I have built tanks professionally in the past and have the following comments. Its quite important to have a spacer between the two bits of glass being siliconed. This has the function of producing a structural joint with the ability to move. Its too hit and miss to not use spacers. We used some plastic sticks about 1.5mm thick. These would be placed either end to space the glass, removed the next morning and the holes filled with fresh silicone. This joint becomes structural and ensures the glass does not touch, important if the tank is large and has to be moved. A smaller joint allows no movement and can tear causing failure. It might be good to make a video with different joint spacings to see how easy a small joint fails? I was often repairing tanks damaged during shipping where the glass had been bonded touching and a slight impact would break the glass. A note on tempered glass, its immensely strong but shatters into millions of pieces when broken. More reason to space the glass with a structural joint as tempered glass is susceptible to edge damage and failure. We always sat the side glass on the bottom pane and not in front. Im not sure if there is a defenite reason for this but i think a shear joint is stronger. Please dont take any of my comments as critisisim, you do a great job. I am also from the other side of the pond so things may be done differently here! Thanks Rod
Thank you so much for saying so Rod! What do you use for a spacer exactly? I live in a dorm, and move about once every year, so this is very relevant to me. How wide does the spacer have to be?
@@callusklaus2413Hi Klaus, its good to hear from you. We used some thin polycarbonate packers about 1.5mm thick. You could use some plastic cut from maybe a icecream tub or plastic container, its good to have 3 layers as you can then pull the middle one out and the other two will pull out easily. maybe 8mm wide would be ideal. I was wondering about 3d printing some wedges which would pull out easily due to the taper. I have repaired some big tanks in the past broken in shipping, always damaged because the glass was bonded without a joint.
I've only ever built one tank, and that was in the previous millennium when I was a teenager. I don't remember where I got the instructions, probably a magazine. Printed on paper, imagine that. And yes, the instructions said to use spacers, and I did. The advice for the joints was the opposite, though - to put the side panels on the outside of the bottom, because the linear pull was easier on the joints than the shear force (sides sitting on top of the bottom being pushed out, off of the bottom plate). However, the glazier that I went to said that he'd always cut the aquarium panels so that the sides sit on top of the bottom, and I didn't want to argue with him, so that's what he did, and that's how I built the tank. It worked just fine. The tank never leaked, but then again, it was only 50 L. I do remember that if I put my finger on the bottom seam, I could feel the side plate being slightly further out than the bottom, which seemed a bit alarming, but like I said, I had no problems. This Ikea method does both, by necessity. The front and back are outside of the bottom, and the sides are on top. That way, the shelf measurements fit without cutting. I would guess it's okay for the sizes available (80 cm is the longest shelf). To the people commenting on the different measurements in different countries: I should think it always works, since the height and the depth of the tank is always the same, the depth of the Ikea shelving system. I'm in Finland, and here, Ikea lists the measurement as 37 cm. So that's the depth and height of the tank, and the length is 30, 40, 60 or 80 cm (volumes 40, 53, 80 or 106 L).
@@rodjsy6363 Hey there I'm thinking of building a couple of 10 gallons to begin with and then later build a 29 gallon. But the issue is that all the shops near my area place allthe 4 glasses on top of the bottom and that's how I will build it. Would it affect the safety of the aquarium? I will use 4mm glass for the 10 gallon and 6mm for the 29g. Do i have to place something on top between the front and back glass panels like a piece of glass for stability? Also, I didn't fully understand the spacer thing. Why does it matter?
@@neeshooff704 the spacers allow for a bigger cushion of silicone between each glass panel. With the spacers, there’s a slight separation of the panels during application of the silicone. Once the first application cures, the spacers are removed, and the holes where they once were are then filled with silicone as well (then allowed to cure as well). Think of it as sort of the way our spines work. Between each vertebrae is a disc of cartilage. When a cartilage disc in the spine slips or gets broken, it causes two vertebrae to touch, bone on bone. It’s very damaging, because the two bones shouldn’t be touching. We need the cushion of the cartilage between them. The glass panels are sort of like our vertebrae, and the silicone is the cushion between them. The thinner the area of silicone between the two pieces of glass, the closer the glass pieces are to one another. If there’s a spot where they touch, any small vibration could cause the glass to shatter. I think this guy did a great job and I subbed because of this video, but the advice here is sound, especially if someone might need to move their tank in a vehicle where lots of vibration happens.
IKEA is going to be wondering why these glass shelves are selling so well lol
much better than the shelve bodies they slot into 😂
Explains why the shelves for their kitchens are always our of stock
Then it will only be a matter of time before they sell an aquarium kit. After all, it is self assembly. 😁
SO TRUE!!!!🙂🙂
Unfortunately, the more in sales the price increases and With item /product tracking in common use I'm sure they have caught on. What drives me nuts is people finding a deal and bragging online which provides advertising and product sales and results in price increases. Absolutely everything is !monitored through Google, Apple. Microsoft & social media platforms and the data for sale. You'd be shocked at what's sold and of value to retailers, researchers of every kind including medical and psychological. I laugh at surf the met without being tracked software sales ... it doesn't exist because if it did National Security would have it banned immediately unless a link for them is given. Facebook provides a open back door for the feds to access and monitor and it seems common sense the others do as well. Welcome to The emerging New World Order brought to you by psychotic control freaks for one world govt.
As someone who's in Australia with this hobby being ridiculously expensive, I am so happy to see this!
me too, I was thinking this way every time I go to ikea but wasnt sure about it but happy to find someone finally works this way
i feel your pain even the plants are overpriced
Yep. So over priced compared to what we see on these channels from overseas hey.
@@biggerman6002 Thats if you can even find the plants half the time!
Start out small and grow your own stuff. Start with less fish and breed to the number you want. Buy one of the plants you want, trim and replant it, or give it time to spread. I fully carpeted a shrimp tank with 2x tissue cultures which cost me $16 total. I spread it out and gave it time to spread
I want this guy to explain how to do EVERYTHING. He includes the “how” AND the “why” for each step but is concise enough that you don’t jump to fast forward through details you may already know (and miss something you don’t). Excellent details like the tape end tab/ tape end release chain - there is nothing more satisfying than getting to the end of a project and having the time you invested in prep paying off.
I love tanners no nonsense approach, he's not aggressive but the way he lays down common sense in an easy to understand and soft spoken way is great!
You know what, Tanner. You are incredibly talented. You are so patient, clear, and concise. All of your videos are just a pleasure to watch, but things like this remind me why you are probably my favorite that I watch in the hobby. You explain exactly why you do what you do, consistently. You aren't afraid to talk about the complications with projects and you set things out pretty realistically for those who are just starting, whether it is the older moss and terrarium builds, or the newer, more complex paludariums and vivariums. You also have made this to show that you can make tanks without cutting glass! That's so neat! One of these days, I will be brave enough to make my own tank. And you will be the one to blame for that.
As a tip for self leveling foam . Yoga mats can be purchased from charity/thrift shops for cheap! A couple layers of that will do the job and will be enough to do multiple tanks for only a few dollars
That's exactly what i was thinking!!!
i use sheets of polystyrene
Layers of polystyrene that is intended to go behind wallpaper will do the job.
@@anonamoss78 Word of warning... I used polystyrene but had an issue with tiny ants digging into the foam to build a nest. Ultimately this caused a problem for my tank with one corner sagging ever so slightly causing a weight imbalance. I didn't notice until the damage was done.
This channel deserves sponsorship from all the products that has been used here, especially from IKEA. One of the best DIY video I have seen in KZhead.
One good resource for plate glass, is to go to your local glazier ask if they have any 6 millimetre salvage. These are old shop windows that have had their corners knocked off, or are sufficiently large pieces which they keep when replacing them. They're ideal for making aquariums or providing divisions in existing aquariums, and costs less than buying shelving from Ikea. The glazier will even round the edges for you, for free. It's not a difficult process, though. You just rub glass paper over the edge to remove any potential sharpness.
Damn, that's amazing, thanks for the tip! I'm in university and on a shoe string budget. I harvest oak leaves, boil them, and bake substrate in the oven harvested from my parent's farm for reference to the amount of cheap behavior I get up to. I have been itching to get these beautiful rimless aquariums, but I have been discouraged by the price. I think I'm going to give this a try, it's a hundred dollar gamble, but that is incredible value if I can get it to work, and even less if I can find surplus from a glass business.
@@callusklaus2413 How'd it go ? Would love to hear from you!
@@callusklaus2413did it go well for you? I’m considering attempting a diy tank myself
IKEA? Not having to cut glass? Tanner, you're speaking my language. Using IKEA shelves is a perfect, accessible way for a lot of people to start making their own tanks! Thank you for the guide and I am _immediately_ saving it to my playlist of resources. If anyone reading is interested, here's a couple ideas that are even cheaper (or at least they were. Your inflation may vary 😉). Getting custom-cut sheets of glass from a glass cutter shop is actually way cheaper than I thought. It's a little cheaper than buying the IKEA shelves. Just make sure to ask to have the edges sanded and take into account the thickness of the panels of glass when giving the measurements. Absolutley feel free to ask them for help. Almost every shop I've been to has been super cool. Also, I recommend ¼" glass for anything 20 gallons and above, up to probably 50-ish. There are glass strength guides to show how thick the glass should be to hold the amount of water you want online you can look at. It's easy enough for basic tanks and always err on the side of caution. If you're making a tank with bigger panels, _then_ I would absolutely recommend taking the time to do some back-of-the-envelope calculations on what thickness and bracing you'll need. For standard aquarium shapes and sizes, it's not a concern but it doesn't hurt to take a lesson from Tanner and over-engineer 🤓 My second tip, for anyone living in the contiguous United States, is even cheaper. Petco runs a quarterly (that's every three months 🧐) sale on their aquariums. You can pull those apart and reassemble them as rimless. Or just pull the top rim off. Only do this for tanks that *don't* have a brace across the middle unless you plan to replace the brace with your own. Be careful when disassembling the tanks! I have cut myself more than a few times because I wanted to save the top plastic rim. Don't. It's not worth it. Acetone will also soften this plastic up and make it easy to pull apart. Just mind the acetone doesn't get on the lower rim if you plan to keep that. Best part here is you don't even need to reseal! You can also save the panes of glass for custom shapes. Slide a box cutter/utility knife/razor/sword into the gaps between glass panes and slide it down to cut the seals. Remember to go back and scrape every scrap of silicone off the edges to make a clean reseal. I'm currently sketching out a plan for a hexagonal tank made from 20 gal. panels 😀 Oh, and as a bonus tip, because a lot of people are intimidated by resealing tanks, it's easy to get cheap, leaking tanks from online listings, thrift stores, and even some local pet stores that don't want to bother. I once salvaged a leaking 35 gal. bow-front I bought for $20 😏
awesome!
Isn't there a risk of used tanks exploding?
@@radiationshepherd It depends on the maker and how they were used. I know some aquarium KZheadrs had mostly positive view on used tanks. I wouldn't trust aquariums with thin glass and it could use an expert eye first. Lot of people bought used tanks with great success. Some had problems and even flooded their house. But in LFS here a 19 gal. costs about 38 $ (997 CZK to be exact), made from Belgium float, so it's rather moot point in my case.
@@radiationshepherd you tap the edge of any piece of glass it goes boom. tempered glass the weak point it on the polished edges... but you can punch the face of it and hurt your hand... I personally would add some sort of protection on the edges... and maybe a cross support piece across the top.
my favourite thrift was a leaky 125 gallon with a teeny crack in the bottom near a corner. they were asking 50 canadian and i got it for 30 i was happy dancing the whole way home. i sealed that bad boy best i could at a glass-cutters, went there to figure out if it was salvageable or if the crack would end that panel but she holds water !!! had it for 3 years now and shes still going strong. even if it couldnt hold water id have used it for reptiles or something like that because that was a steal,,, my family makes fun of me for stalking buy-and-sell ads for cheap tanks but i cant help myself. screw paying like 200 bucks for a 20 gallon tank man my best friend dumpster dives at the pet stores,, shes been there so much that she knows all the managers in the area and most have given her a dumpster key or will leave it accessable for her. she gets tanks, cages, toys, brand new everythings out of there just because it had a tiny, very fixable defect thats usually just cosmetic. it all goes to her rescue, and im grateful they let her do it, but not every store will be friendly to you stealing their trash thank you so much for the info tho !! i never thought of breaking down old tanks to just,,,make my own dream tank
I’ve been interested in making large aquascapes and paludariums but what holds me back is how expensive rimless tanks are especially once you get into the 20+ range so this is extremely helpful and encouraging for me as someone who works min wage but still yearns to get into the hobby.
I'm forwarding this to our training department. It's an outstanding example of training step by step.
I’d love if you keep up with this Ikea series because it is available pretty much anywhere. How about trying to scape one with Ikea plants?
heck yeah the ikea near where i live has monstera, pothos, philodendron and peace lilies, which could probably make a banger riparium
Ikea has these amazing glass cabinets (Rudsta) that would make an amazing enclosure if sealed properly
Well said
I wish we had an IKEA near me lol
@@ghostsecosystem the greenhouse enclosures? Ive seen some cool stuff done with those
Just an idea for the silicone bead. From some other DIY channels I follow, they use a clay modelling ball tool to create a clean, consistent bead. And since the metal ball contacts the glass, when the silicone cures you can just peel up the excess.
Simple and effective, i gotta remember that when I try to build my first tank. Thanks for this great trick!
Modustrial Maker uses one when he makes molds for cement or resin pours. Super clean.
A tip from home DIY silicone in bathrooms/showers etc..... if you give the silicone bead a spray with soapy water (dish soap) then run your finger along it, you get a much cleaner and nicer fillet on the bead. If you are going to water test the tank anyway then the small amount of dish soap is going to get washed away and isn't going to be a problem.
@@andyholland2120 seen the guy that did our bathroom use a little wooden spatula with a rounded off tip. and lots of soapy water. it prevents the "rustic" look of the silicone.
I use silicone spatulas, You can buy it in sets with different radiousis or different size cut edges.
This is great! I grew up always hearing Ikea was awful but as an adult I find that it’s better to see their hardware as a blank slate perfect for customizing, or in this case, repurposing. Genius!
I’m probably weird, but every time I see someone do something awesome with IKEA products, I’m proud to be a Swede 😂
For anyone trying to do this for the first time, I can't stress enough how important this 7:36 step is. The bigger the tank, the trickier it gets to apply your silicone fast enough to get a good looking finish before it starts being problematic. This is mainly an issue as an esthetic point of view though, as any mistakes could be fixed by removing excess or applying more silicone afterwards to ensure it's watertight. Doing this correctly though will save you time and trouble and give you a really clean finish look that you wouldn't be able to get otherwise. Planing ahead is the key for this step. Also I'd like to point out that removing the masking tapes before the silicon dries up will save you a lot of headaches. This will prevent you from having to remove tapes that get stuck under dried silicone or in worst case scenario peeling out perfectly good beads of silicone forcing you to patch it up. Hope this helps!
This is a good tips thx
I really appreciate that you included ALL of the supplies. I see so many DIY videos that assume you own stuff that I sometimes don’t! This was a really complete and helpful video and I am super grateful!
the smashing glass to illustrate tthe dangers of working with glass is the most 50s-educational-video cute thing i*ve seen all week
I admit I almost bailed at that point, and only kept watching to see if it would turn out to be horrifically funny. If it weren’t for my dark sense of humor I wouldn’t now know how to make an aquarium 😂
This is one of, if not the best, thorough, and fool proof DIY instructional videos I've seen. Love how you went through each step concisely and even make mentions of steps or details that could go without saying but benefit those who would not have thought of some of the little things. Thanks for an amazing video!
This comment section is a gold mine. Tons of budget ideas, from leveling mats to silicone trick. I love the community you build Tanner!
DIY ecospheres and aquariums have become such a fun hobby for me and my son thanks to this channel. Anytime I see a thrift store I gotta go check the glass section out to see if there's something to work with. Instead of having a bunch of weird tacky art pieces I've got a house full of living breathing pieces of art. Thanks for all the inspiration!
That’s my aim in future. 😄
can u share some of your creations?
@@CasildaChenier Good idea!
I have been watching your programs for several weeks (since I got re-interested in terrariums) and have enjoyed them and learned a lot. I feel like I watched you grow up from your first to your last, LOL. Good job! Keep teaching us how to do it, I now have two and want to build more. As a child I was always playing in the woods and streams and bringing home critters in jars and bowls to watch. My parents did not care for it much but they let me. I grew up in Louisiana so there was plenty of plants and animals to choose from. Thanks so much for the education.
I really like how detailed he is in his instructions,good job broski!!!
Same
This video would have been an epiphany when I was constructing my first paludarium tank! While my tank came out satisfactorily, I could have saved hours of research, planning, and razor blade scraping if I had this guide. So many amatuer DIYers will benefit from this video in big ways, including myself! Your calm, clear, and concise teaching method is just what this artform needs. I have a feeling that these next few months will be a very exciting time for this channel. 😄
Genuinely, you're an amazing teacher. Consistent, patient, informative, and incredibly interesting. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and passion with us, it's a wonderful inspiration as well as a calming respite from some of the harsher moments in life we've all had to face. It's hard to put into words how deeply I appreciate all your hard and beautiful work.
Bless you for this😅 I work at a pet store and the prices on the rimless tanks hurt my heart, but they’re soooo beautiful! I’ve been hunting for a way to create my own but I have no way to cut glass with confidence and it’s so expensive! This is incredible!!!
I’ve always loved how this channel has something for every body who’s interesting in making a naturalistic terrarium, vivarium, or aquarium. There’s so many resources and information for new people in the hobby, but also a lot of advanced ideas and tips for more experienced members of the community. I only started making naturalistic enclosures for all my animals because your channel made it seem easy to approach. This video is no exception.
Just want to say a quick thank to You! With your previous videos I now have the "know how" to cut glass for terrariums, and I've saved quite a good money, plus got to use old terrariums that would otherwise go to waste. Keep up the good work teaching us, and usin materials you already have - we don't need any more waste in this world. Your work is awesome!
I have followed your channel for a long time and my family and I love watching your videos. Very detailed oriented in your explanations and also providing suggestions. Congrats to you and your family for your new place. I can see that this will definitely make your channel expand along with new projects that I'm sure you've been wanting to tackle since space and time was against you. I'm happy to see your progress and keep doing what you are doing because this is very educational and enjoyable. Can't wait to see your future projects you've been desiring to work on in your new place.
Have never found anyone on KZhead who explains anything as clearly as you do. Thank you
Now we just need a matching Ikea aquarium stand 😁
Was thinking the same. I was considering using one of those square cube shelves, but the material seemed/felt like it wont support 150lb+ of water. Luckly hardwood 1x4, and milk creates work just fine
TV benches should make OK aquarium stands.
Lots of their furniture will work, but the material they use soaks up water like a sponge through the unfinished sides, ie. often the feet. So if you had some skills to encase the feet in a shell of polyurethane, silicone, or epoxy of some sort it would work great.
I use a hemnes 3 drawer dresser for my 20L. The kallax (cube shelves) are hollow and unless you frame it in something like ply wood I would be very nervous to put tanks on it. I have many kallax and made one into a bench. They are fairly wobbly. A trofast in their pine would be solid though
I've seen pictures of aquariums on modified Ikea boxes, but it seemed bit off. Kitchen cabinets (lower) with a solid counter desk over it would be fine. Most pre-made aquarium stands are made from the laminated chipboards anyway, despite (painted/stainless) steel and massive wood being better options.
Hey Tanner, thanks for the extended explanation. I used a previous video to repurpose an old aquarium by cutting glass and turning it into a shallow tank. I would not have been able to do so without your excellent guidance. Cheers!
You literally add every small detail to make things as easy and seamless as possible. An absolute hero
About a year ago I was very inspired by your channel to create a terrarium for the plants that need higher humidity. I was able to find a used fish tank that had a small crack on it, but for my purposes it didn't matter. But it had a metal rim on it keeping it together. I spent 5 HOURS trying to separate the glass from the rim, I managed to remove two of the pains, but I had to give up on it, because to be able to remove the rest of them I would have had to brake the glass. Its been sitting partially dissembled for a YEAR! But this idea of using Ikea shelves is genius! I'm gonna toss the old project and TRY THIS instead!!
Excellent video! Finding the glass and providing detailed instructions makes it possible for anyone to buid a tank. Thank you Tanner!!
@serpadesign is above realy from you?
fantastic tutorial! and finding those glass shelves for THAT price is SO much cheaper than getting cut glass. ill be using this for ALL of my future custom sized tanks for sure!
I can't thank you enough for how thorough you are with your demonstrations & explanations.
Thanks, Tanner. Another wonderful and descriptive how to video. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and share with us all!
I've been building and repairing aquariums since the early 70's. This was the best and easiest how-to video I have seen. Absolutely awesome video Tanner! Thank you for sharing. 👍
Since you are someone who knows what they doing, can you please tell me why not having a frame wouldn’t cause it to leak? Is it due to the size? If so, at what size do you need a frame? I am asking because I have a 150 gallon 48”x24” aquarium that has a slow leak on the side seam. The original top frame broke at the center piece that goes from front to rear. That center support missing I believe is the cause for my leak. Any idea on how I could repair it? I can’t find that size frame to simply replace it.
@@starwarswannabes285 First I would really clean were that seam leaked. Taking the entire seal off down to bare glass. If the tank is quite old I would reseal all the inside seams. The reason for the plastic frames, especially on bigger tanks utilizing center supports, is to prevent the glass from bowing out under pressure. Manufactures use the thinnest glass they can get away with since it's cheaper than using much thicker glass. As far as repairing the missing support on the top frame you have a few options. Two of the easiest would be either finding a strip of plastic and plastic weld it into place. Or get an aluminum strip from a hardware store and use epoxy to attach it in place. Of course test the connections by hand first making sure it's fairly strong.
@@James_Hande Thanks. With that center support missing for so long it may be bowed, but I can’t tell looking at it visually. So if I reseal the seams, and create that center support, I may be in luck. The glass on mine is pretty thick about 1/2 in. The only other issue I will have is that the tank is about 31” tall. That is longer than my arm length so resealing it will present a challenge masking it and caulking it. I will see if I am find any videos of how that would be done without actually getting in the tank and risking breaking the glass.
@@starwarswannabes285 Could always lay it on it's back on something soft and flat. Easier to reach in.
That’s really cool. I’m sure I’d get pretty stressed trying to get it all together, but it’s an amazing way to build your own tank without the worry of having to buy and cut glass to size
The instructions were so clear and it was so insightful! I’ve wanted to attempt my own tank build for a while now, thank you! I feel much more confident that I can now 😊
While I doubt I’ll be making a Tank anytime soon this is a great video for those comfortable with DIY. Your videos are so efficient with no padding , well paced , and easy to follow .
love this, love you, love that you keep us up to date on your move and im stoked to see what comes next
Hey tanner, you probably already know but if you dip your finger in some soapy water as well as lightly spraying the silicone before you wipe it, you'll get a better finish. It's what we use when we install bathroom furniture. You can also buy a caulking tool that you can use instead of your finger which will get you precise beads of different sizes!
Spray with soapy water and wipe in with paddle pop stick gives an awesome even finish
Such a neat and easy way to make a rimless tank! The end result hits a ton of checkmarks with not just the process, but also with what it's made with (and the availability of said items). With the range of sizes, these tanks could very easily be used + adapted for all sorts of critters esp in the exotic pet community. Incredible work!
One of the best aquarium diy videos I’ve ever seen. I appreciate this so much! Perfect timing and explanations for each step of the process. I’m going to attempt a bookshelf aquarium thanks to this video.
Excellent, excellent, excellent teaching video. You are a great teacher anyway, Tanner! Thank you and congratulations to you and your wife on the new house!!! ☺️
Great ideas as always!!
Just finished watching this video for the second time. I learned a lot, thank you for all the effort and detail you put into this video!
I’ve recommended your videos to all my friends who DYI, not only are you thorough but also precise in all your instructions!!!
Thanks so much for such a clear and well articulated method for creating a tank. I appreciate all the tips. Thank you!!!!
Just FYI to those who go to Ikea, the dimensions listed for the shelves are for the SYSTEM, not the shelves themselves. To get the actual dimensions you have to click on the measurements.
Oh my god, THANK YOU! I've been trying forever to figure out how the pieces fit together without the side panels being 1/2" taller than the back/front, and this is why. They end up being 1/8 shorter than the back/front, which is exactly what we see in the video.
Tanner is the KING of this CRAFT. ~Y’all gotta give your credit where it’s due. There’s a lot of you that don’t mention where y’all even learned how to cut glass, let alone build a scape! TRULY Thank You Man! ~ One of the Most Deliberate & Intentional Scape Creators & Teachers out here.
Love the tanks❣ You make so easy to do and explain things slowly enough for us to listen and comprehend!!!
This was an incredibly detailed, chill, and instructive video. You seem to excel at all your crafts.
I've had Ikea glass shelves that I kept from a bookshelf I owned years ago. I've been wanting to make an aquarium out of them for the longest time but didn't know how to go about it. When I saw your video pop up I was super excited! You explained it so well and gave me the confidence to try it. And today, I did! I always enjoy and appreciate your content.
awesome! what size is it? and what are u going to stock it with:)?
@@wonder777warrior6 Thanks! It's about a 20 gallon tank. I'm still deciding on what fish I'll get, but it'll be freshwater and will have live plants.
Progress?
@@ericsooy5430 All is well! I've had fish and live plants in it for about a year now. Really glad I did it 🙂
Wow! I was just saying that I'd like to upgrade my 20 gallon to rimless and trying to justify the cost- thank you so much for showing us how to do it - Now I just have to be brave!!
Someone truly for the people. Thank you Father Serpa♥️
Thank you for this foolproof indepth explanation!! Your videos make the process look so easy but there are a lot more steps involved that a newbie simply wouldn't think about and would have to figure out by themselves first. Been binging your videos the past weeks and very inspired to start some projects!
I have a number of aquariums, I'm a teacher and before I started teaching I worked at a factory and used a caulk gun for hours every day. I am nothing short of amazed after having watched this video. You make this project easy to understand and explain every detail in the most simple way possible. At no point did you talk down to the viewer even in the slightest. This is by far the most approachable DiY-project on YT. Just out of curiosity; have you tried using a caulk gun powered by an air compressor? I find them to be the best option for consistensy.
It's not as easy as it looks trust me 🤣
Very good video! Didn't know those tanks weren't standard. You can't get anything else here in germany. Only thing i do sometimes is retrace the corners with silicone when the seals look flimsy. One had clear silicone and i went over with black. Looked quite good.
Love the idea of making diy aquarium and love even more how good you demonstrate and explain the whole process. Thank you much
This is by far the best instructional video I've ever seen! The process is so thoroughly explained, even a complete novice will be able to make a quality tank at an affordable price. Really good work!!!
Little tip aside: dipp your finger in some dishwashing detergent before you flatten the silicone. It makes it easier, with a cleaner result.
Wonderful video, as always Tanner, thank you! I was wondering about the evenness of the top edge. Seems to me like the glass panels for the ends are sitting on the base, but the front and back panels are sitting beside the base. Wouldn't this make the end panels sit the thickness of the glass higher? 🤔
Eureka ! Congratulations my friend. Thank you very much to share those skills with all us!
Love your channel brotha! I have been a fan for years. And this video above all makes me feel like I could do what you do. You explain things so well, step by step, and clearly and concisely, keep doin what you do brotha!
I’ve all ways wanted to make a aquarium because of your video’s keep up the hard work!!!!
How you managed to keep the height of the front and side panels the same? Correct me if I’m wrong. Both panels are 14 inches wide, the side panels are 15 inches high and lie on the top of the bottom panel and the front panel on the side of this panel. Sorry for my English, I was trying make it clear but you know guys 😂
I think he is compensating for that with the thickness of the caulking @ 11:41 You can see that they don't line up
I've been wanting a new bigger tank and this is going to help me save so much money. Thank you for the clear and incredibly helpful instructions and all the supply details! Definitely earned my subscription!
This is so helpful. I’ve only ever fixed some leaks in old tanks, never actually assembled one completely. Thanks for the informative vid!
Great video, very informative, as always. Unfortunately, the Utrusta shelve dimensions are different in Germany. We don't have the 15"x14 3/4" one, so it doesn't work here. Learned a lot from this video nonetheless.
Use the metric sizes and it does work. I am building two tanks based on the 60cm and 80cm Utrusta shelves. There will be a small excess on the width of the sides (.7cm) but that can be hidden at the back of the aquarium.
@@grahamepigney8565 Good idea, I didn't think of that
Same in Australia. It's cheaper to get glass cut to size anyway from a glass supplier. Just give the dimensions to them, account for glass thickness!
Hi Tanner, there are sites on KZhead that warn against using tempered glass for an aquarium because, allegedly, a simple tap on a top edge will cause that panel to shatter. I expect other subscribers will also have noticed these warnings. Will you please comment? Thank you. Michael.
Best DIY educator ever!! Thank you. You literally are a role model ❤
I myself am a big fan of DIY so I watch your channels quite often because I'm in the aquatics Hobby and thank you very much for the great details and all the information you put in this & other video I know it takes a lot of time so I appreciate that... and once again you came up with another great idea I never even thought of looking for Ikea materials for an aquarium thanks friend kicking butt again!
Ge recently changed their 100% silicone to be mold resistant. Apparently they put a low enough amount of the chemical into the silicone they can call it 100% still. Just wanted to toss that out there though. The new tube is not the same as the older ones. I have had a full tank loss after adding some rocks I had siliconed together. They had a 5 day cure before going in.
I wonder if that contributed to the price increase.
@@mkuhnactual is possible. I think it was around the same time that I got the first danger tube.
Great work. I’m a bit confused, all your panels measure 14.5. So how do the side sit on top of the base and still come to the same height as the front and back.
Exactly, how did he managed that? What did we miss?
It's not the same height! You could realize in 11:40 and in other parts when he is gluing it up. The difference should be approx. 4mm. I was wondering the same because the measurements of Ikea Germany are different. The missmatch here would be 22mm! Sadly no "no-cutting" solution then...
@@ipunsk the mismatch based on sizes here in Europe would be about 1.5 over hang at the back for the sides, not really a deal breaker. The sides, back and front are all glued to the edges of the base.
You can use the extra piece as a lid for the aquarium.
The side pieces are 15”x14.75”and the glass is 1/4” thick
I've been following you for a few years now. And still learn something with every awesome video. Way to go SIR. Keep up the great work!👍
This video has come out at a great time for me, I've been thinking of wanting a shallow tank to play around with for a while and have a leaking 10gal I have to replace the seal on. I don't think I'll need to completely tear it apart but it's still good to see these step by step instructions for working with the silicone before I muster up the energy to try working with it. Thank you
Great idea ! But unfortunately for me (in france) ikea dont sell the same sizes as for you in the US.. Here you can only find 30 or 40 or 60 or 80 x 37cm, which means you'll have to cut a bit off whatever tank size you choose. Your 15x14 3/4" save you from that issue. I suppose it's the same problem everywhere in europe.
I was lucky and found a 60X30cm shelf in another shop to go with the 30X37cm and 60X37cm from IKEA. Maybe you'll find something, too.
Im also from Europe. Have you cheked the „nordli“ glasses? 80 x 47 and 40x47 would fit? Or how should the Europe cm pieces be? Thanks
@@MrSonnyjack same problem, there's no piece for the sides, in this case you'll need a 47x46.5
Yeah this sucks a little
@@jockeparty yes and unfortunatly the ikea glasses can`t be cut right? Due to securty glass? Otherwise i would try to cut the big one for two side parts..
In Ikea UK, glass shelves does not contain combination of sizes which can give you a box.
I appreciate this video. Explains everything clearly and concisely.
Absolutely wonderful explanation! Thanks for sharing your experience, expertise and thoughts!
The sides are 15x14 3/4 ", wont the sides be slightly taller at the top, doesn't seem to be in the video, how was the slight difference adjusted?
Did you find out ?
How considerate of Ikea to offer conveniently matching panels of glass!
Awesome!!! This opens a lot of possibilities up! Thanks so much for sharing this, working with glass was an issue for me. But I love the look of the rimless tanks....❤️❤️❤️👍
This was such a well thought out and well explained tutorial. The knowledge you have is amazing.
Correction: Panel size for the larger size is (36x14.75") for those that don't double check in the description 😊
I must be visually or mathematically challenged. I love this idea, but the math doesn't add up to me. You put the side pieces on top of the bottom piece. Since the side pieces are 14.75 inches by 15 inches, the only way the side pieces could fit on top of the bottom piece and inside the front and back pieces is for the width of the side pieces to be 14.75 inches and the height of the side piece to be 15 inches. That would make the sides 15.25 inches tall, while the front and back are only 14.75 inches tall.
This is one of the best, most considered ‘how to’ videos I’ve ever seen. Not just to do with tanks… all videos ever!
Absolutely brilliant. You explain this so clearly.
Just keep in mind that the Ikea glass is tempered glass. You can't cut this or drill it and if it breaks it will break in spectacular fashion.
And it may break if it gets a small scratch from say a grain of sand.
Yea, tempered glass seems like a very, very bad idea for an aquarium. You will get scratches on the glass, and those scratches may cause the glass to shatter in a million pieces.
He does mention it at 3:42. But I guess it cannot be stated enough or it will be spectacular indeed. :D
great video... but i think you can find a glass aquarium for less than the cost of the glass from Ikea...
Not here in France. Equivalent sized aquariums will cost about twice as much once you have factored in delivery costs.
This is an amazing tutorial! Really well explained, the shown steps are clear. I don't even have a need for another one and yet this vid makes me want to go ahead and try making an aquarium
I messed up some tanks in my learning process and this video cleared up a lot of the prep work needed to avoid the mistakes I made. Thanks again Serpdawg