From Stan & Debbie Hauter,
Your Guide to Saltwater Aquariums.
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If you are up to giving it a try, building a fresh or saltwater tank from scratch can be fun, as well as challenging. From tips on working with glass, to providing a materials list, pre-assembly instructions, and complete step-by-step instructions on how to construct a 55 gallon glass aquarium with 1/4 inch glass, here is everything you need to know about how to do-it-yourself.

Working With Glass Tips

• The aquariums we have built using these instructions measure 14 inches high, 4 feet wide, and 14 inches deep, but are ideal for customizing smaller sizes as well. If you plan to build a taller or larger sized tank, refer to our aquarium glass thickness calculator.
• Plan ahead before cutting the glass by drawing a good schematic. If you do not feel comfortable with cutting glass, have a professional glazier cut and prepare the pieces for you.
• Use precision measurements, because this will insure a proper fit.

• We have always constructed our aquariums with the two end pieces of glass fit inside of the back and front panes, and the front, back, and two side panels set on top of the bottom base pane of glass. >> View Panel Placements Diagram

• Undoubtedly you will be putting a lighted hood on your tank, so design it accordingly. Do not put a solid glass cover on top of an aquarium, as this restricts the oxygen-carbon dioxide gas exchange efficiency, resulting in poor or inadequate aeration of the aquarium.

• Other common mistakes to avoid.