heek | the magazine for children

Pankaj Handa teaches you how to build your own aquarium

Before you decide to build an aquarium make sure there is enough space in the room in which you plan to install it. The space available will determine the size of the aquarium.

The most important thing about an aquarium is that the fish should feel comfortable. So, a good aquarium should be at least 3 feet by 1.5 feet in area. This can store up to 20 gallons of water which is just perfect for 12-15 fish.

What you need
1.	Five glass sheets each 6 mm thick cut into the following sizes • Two sheets of 3 feet (length) by 1.5 feet (height) for the front and back • Two sheets of 1.5 feet (height) by 1 foot (width) for the sides • One sheet of 3 feet by 1 foot (for the base) • Glass will cost you Rs 36-40 a square feet.
2.	A sturdy table (at least 4 feet by 2 feet)
3.	A tube of good grade silicon paste (300 ml). It can be bought from any hardware shop that deals in window glazing.
4.	Gun for applying the paste. Again can be bought from a hardware shop.
5.	Glass sealant (also known as putty).
6.	Brown tape
7.	Set squares
8.	A 24 mm-thick sheet of thermocol (4 feet by 2 feet

You are all set to begin now.

Take one 3 ft by 1.5 ft sheet and place it upright on the table. Apply the silicon paste along the left inside edge from top to bottom. Make sure the paste is at least 6 mm thick. Now take a 1.5 feet by foot sheet and align its length to the first sheet at 90 degrees (use the set square) and stick it to the pasted edge (see diagram). Make sure it doesn’t move at all or bubbles might form making it unsteady. The silicon paste is a fast-setting one so you won’t get a second chance to do it by trial and error. Use the brown tape to keep the pasted edge together. Leave for one hour to dry.

Repeat the above steps for the second side. Leave for an hour to dry.

Now we come to the most crucial part – fixing the fourth side. First, align the length of the sheet (see diagram) to the bottom edges of the two sides at an angle. Move it up slowly to make it slide on perfectly to the edges of the two side you have already fixed. Take a sketch pen and draw a line along the edges so you know exactly where to paste the silicon. It will also give you the chance to correct/adjust minor fluctuations. After you have pasted the silicon stick this side to the other three and your basic box is ready. That leaves you with the fifth side/base. Leave the whole thing for an hour with tape stuck on all corners/angles.

After an hour line the edges on the top with silicon paste and place the last sheet of glass on this box. You now have an inverted aquarium. Don’t touch it for 24 hours.

After 24 hours you can invert the aquarium and remember to place it on the thermocol sheet. This prevents the glass from chipping. To be doubly sure the aquarium won’t collapse, line the edges with silicon paste from the outside and the inside. But use a scraper to level it.

You can build a roof for the aquarium so that the fish don’t jump out. The roof can also be the place to hang a light from.

Getting the aquarium ready for the fish

What you need
1.	Silica sand
2.	Pebbles
3.	Artificial plants
4.	12- 15 fish (Mollys, Tetras, Goldfish – ask the pet shop to recommend similar)
5.	An air pump and rubber tube
6.	Fish food (You can get the above at any pet shop)
7.	Twenty gallons (100 litres) of normal tap water

Spread the silica sand at the bottom up to a level height of two inches. Slowly let in the water till it reaches a height of 1.2 feet. Fix the plants the way you want them. Get the pet shop assistant to fix the air pump and tube so that there is a continuous circulation of air. Wait for some time and let in the fish. Twelve to fifteen fish can comfortably live in this. Cover the aquarium with the roof.

Fish like Mollys, Tetras and Goldfish can live together without fighting. Moreover, they are inexpensive. You can also go in for exotic fish like Parrot Fish, Oscar Fish or Angel Fish but they can’t live with the former. Plus, they are expensive.

Feed the fish only once a day for six days in a week. Watch out for signs like sluggishness that may indicate that the fish is sick. If a fish is sick ask a vet for advice. Other symptoms are white spots on the fish, fungus because of change in temperature, and the fish refusing to eat.

Take care of your aquarium. Clean it at least once a month by siphoning out 50 per cent of the existing water and replacing it with fresh water. There is no need to take the fish out while changing water. Also, make sure the temperature of the water is correct. Ask the pet shop for details. If your aquarium has lights, don’t leave them on for more than 8 hours.