- 1). Design your aquarium. Take into account the needs of your pets. For example, dwarf seahorses (Hippocampus zosterae) do their best in a taller tank. At the same time, design the layout of live rock, corals, and other sessile invertebrates. Also, decide if you can conceal a larger sump under a cabinet or if you are limiting yourself to a smaller sump built into the tank itself.
- 2). Cut your acrylic into the panes of the aquarium. Use a table Dremel or a table bevel to smooth the edges.
- 3). "Glue" the sides of the aquarium together with acrylic solvent. The solvent actually dissolves the acrylic together, forming a single piece. Use the ring stand and clamp to hold the pieces of acrylic in place while running a syringe full of acrylic solvent along the joint. If the pieces are properly smoothed and flush, capillary action will draw the solvent into the joint. Allow the solvent to dry per the manufacturer's directions.
- 4). Create a sump. If you are feeling particularly DIY, you can make a second acrylic box to work as the sump, or simply purchase a small fish tank. I recommend the latter as it saves time. A 10-gallon tank works perfectly. Glue acrylic panes to make baffles in the box to prevent flooding or a loss of suction. The size of the baffles vary depending on your design.
- 5). Create the overflow system. The overflow system is two acrylic boxes (using the same construction as the fish tank) with one box on the outside and one on the inside of the upper side of the aquarium. The lip of the inside box should be lower than the top of the aquarium. Plump the inside box with the PVC fitting and a baffle. Fill the inside box, the siphon, and the drain to allow excess water to drain into the sump.
- 6). Plump the sump. To do this, attach vinyl tubing to the fitting on the overflow box, then lead it to the "in" side of the sump. Attach another length of vinyl tubing to a small pump on the other side of the aquarium. Run the second length of vinyl tubing to the aquarium.
- 7). Activate the tank. Prime all pumps, and let all heaters sit for at least 15 minutes before activating them. Once the tank is up and running, mark the fill line.
- 8). Cycle the aquarium. This means check the water parameters while introducing ammonia to the tank. You can either do this with liquid ammonia, fish food, or very hardy fish, such as chromis, damsels, or salt-water adapted mollies.
- 9). Once the tank has cycled, perform a water-change and add your fish. Perform at least weekly partial water changes. Monitor the temperature, pH, specific density (salt content), and watch for ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. Be extremely careful not to overfeed.
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