I Built a Huge DIY Plywood Aquarium! (Part Two)

Today, is part two of my biggest project yet - building my giant DIY plywood aquarium! In the video, I build the outer structure of the aquarium, with the plywood panels and the window frame. I also glue/screw the plywood panels into place and gear up for the next stage of the build - fiberglass and pond shield to make this thing waterproof.
This is my first time building a plywood aquarium, and I'm bound to make small mistakes along the way. If you're looking for a true "how to" video, I'd look up some of the Fishtubers who have more experience with these builds. I'm confident that this tank will all work out fine, but just wanted to throw out that caveat. Let's get to building the plywood tank!
Below are Amazon affiliate links to all of the materials I used in this plywood aquarium build. I'll keep an ongoing list here and throughout the series:
- Pond Shield (Black): amzn.to/4b6QzYm
- Pond Shield (Sky Blue): amzn.to/48Xbb3s
- Fiberglass Resin: amzn.to/3u2AUbX
- Fiberglass Mat: amzn.to/492RE1x
- Wood Screws - 3 inch: amzn.to/47Seyrk
- Wood Screws - 2.5 inch: amzn.to/496QJx3
- Wood Screws - 1 inch: amzn.to/47Qq8mK
- Wood Glue: amzn.to/3OfVsob
- Sander: amzn.to/3OihjLH
- Sand Discs (60 Grit): amzn.to/4bd1tvR
- Paint Roller Kit: amzn.to/3OeTfcy
- Paint Brushes: amzn.to/42flPk2
- Silicone: amzn.to/3SjsOnw
- Latex Gloves: amzn.to/4b3GTxX
Plywood/Lumber (so far):
- 3/4in 5-Ply Birch Plywood: x3
- 2x4: x14
- 2x6: x10
Tools used/eventually needed:
- Miter Saw: amzn.to/47HVn3u
- Power Drill: amzn.to/47P35c0
- Corner Clamps: amzn.to/4b3HeAJ
- Circular Saw: amzn.to/42oQgEa
Join this channel to get access to exclusive content:
/ @cichlidbros
Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for more updates on the plywood aquarium!

[@richardpeatfield4497]

It amazes me that aquarium domain doesn’t have a larger following. His passion for aquariums and its inhabitants is unsurpassed. He was recommended to me a few years ago by a neighbor and haven’t missed a video since. The 4500 gallon he just built is insane.

[@CichlidBros]

He’ll get there. Authenticity and hard work pays off

[@JungleJimAquatics]

Looking good! Aquarium domain is definitely the man when it comes to these giant aquariums!!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! Definitely helped me a ton

[@Jerry-lj3cf]

Can't wait for the tank to be finished 🙌. Looks good at this point 😅😊.

[@edcctf]

The stand held that cat... you're golden!! (Best wishes it looks great!)

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@AquariumDomain.]

Damn Troy, based on how this tank is looking, I would say that you are a natural! You are absolutely killing it! Be careful though, once you start building your own tanks it is hard to go back to regular old glass tanks....ask me how I know lol 😛 Thanks for the kind words and shout out and can't wait to see this beast completed! 🙂

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks man! Really appreciate that, and all of the help you provided through your videos. I probably watched your how to series 10 times. Definitely excited to get this tank filled with water!

[@AquariumDomain.]

@@CichlidBros The two things I really notice with larger tanks (especially the 42" front to back) is that the fish act quite a bit differently (more relaxed) and it really opens up what you can do with the scapes.

[@simianlife5949]

Man, as much as I love my home state of California, I am jealous of those Midwest basements. My one tank is getting lonely but I don't think my missus will let the guest room turn into a fish room. Very much looking forward to seeing this build come to fruition!

[@dennispeleg7843]

After building a few diy stands, I will tell you, purchasing a table saw and miter saw was a life saver lmao

[@sandyloyst1811]

I love that window Troy. Things are going pretty smooth so far, what's a couple of screws through the plywood. I just so excited for the next step. Team Troy

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks, Sandy!

[@Mayweathersdabest]

I can see your vision. I will be beyond amazing. Thank brother

[@Scaping_the_six]

Great build so far. I built my first plywood tank 9 months ago and love it. Unfortunately I noticed a slow leak yesterday. My advice is to focus on every square inch of the fibreglass and epoxy to insure it’s perfect. Take your time and I’m looking forward to the updates

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks man! I actually watched your videos and followed along with the updates in the Facebook group. Sorry to hear about the leak and hope you get the tank fixed up soon, it’s a beauty!

[@tjautocross]

Looking great, Troy. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeremymoore450]

Troy, This is so cool I actually went and watched the king of DIY channel on the plywood aquarium builds. These are so cool to make. Will you tells us how much your all in at when your finished I am curious about these now. :) GJ on the cuts. Yeah circular saws can be a bit intimidating if you haven’t used them before and to keep them straight on the line and keeping the plywood from binding up the blade. 😂❤looks good buddy.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks, Jeremy! I’ll definitely share the final costs after the build. Appreciate it!

[@drewsta005]

Coming together great! Next steps will be when it really comes together. I’m here for it! Congrats

[@PriceTagAquariums]

Great progress on this, Troy. There is a lot of time, work, patience, money, effort, and trial and error put into something like this, especially doing this for the first time! Very nice work, and already, congrats on this project so far!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, really appreciate the support!

[@razinfishes1918]

Definitely looking good. I wish you the best as you prepare to water proof it. Absolutely a critical step

[@Aquariumecosystem]

Looking good man, can't wait to see how it goes.

[@legionaquatics]

This is gonna be so cool when its all done! Great video!

[@reggie2803]

Can’t wait to see future videos and the finished product. The frame looks very sturdy. Making me think about doing something similar.

[@mitchepley5315]

Hey Bro! Tip need to screw in those front screws flush or the board you put to cover it wont sit right 👍🏼

[@pagewhite8177]

So I assume Rambo is a catfish? 😂 It’s looking great, I didn’t understand what you meant by plywood aquarium in the previous videos but now I see, it’s literal. Very interesting!

[@CichlidBros]

Lolll. Thank you, I’m excited for it!

[@jasonmillwood2893]

Great work man! Looking great

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@mickeysr5817]

Great video 😊 DETROIT

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@LaRosi0114]

I didn't know you are in (or from) Illinois! I knew I enjoyed this channel. 🤙🏼 It is looking great! Can't wait to see the next post!

[@CichlidBros]

Haha yep! Chicago suburbs. Thanks for watching!

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Awesome

[@RocsAquatic]

Looks good

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@dwsdarius]

Coming along nicely!

[@CichlidBros]

👊🏻👊🏻

[@dannyaquatics]

Great work. That's going to be beautiful

[@kevwill42]

lookin forward to the completed tank!

[@carmelomorales6357]

Takes a lot of work for one person, but looking good

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@tilapiastew6784]

I don’t know if this is applies to your build but many of the plywood tanks I have seen have a stud system on the outside of the plywood to hold the tank together. Hope everything goes well.

[@AnthonysOutdoors]

Agreed, the amount water pressure is gonna be pretty high against just plywood panels with screws only holding the corners.

[@CichlidBros]

There will be more bracing added

[@robertorenzetti5960]

Looking good

[@harshtruth9148]

looks great man

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@Popgraph78]

Нужно было поставить диагональные распорки. Прочность конструкции увеличится в разы.

[@AllforKidsbySusanna-xj8eq]

WOW 👍👍👍👍👍💯💢💯💢💯🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@carlwagers9829]

Lets gooooo! Great video as always Troy! But we have a problem.... that dang Cubs flag. Every time I see that it gives me a bad feeling because you have grown up on the dark side 😂 go Cardinals!

[@51inches]

I GIVE YOU A LOT OF CREDIT.....I AM NOT A HANDY PERSON. I WOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.....I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT....WITH FISH SWIMMING IN IT....KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.....

[@josepolanco1228]

Great job . As a wood worker for years and comfort with any power tool. To make life simple and avoid the trouble of dealing with plywood have panels. Once your frame is build and you have exact measurements, as you said , measure 2,3 😁 . Have the lumber yard or home depot, lowes cut the plywood panel for you for a minimal fee, 50 cent to one dollar per cut. Makes transport easier also , not to say the trouble of cutting them. The panel cutter make it easier and get a nice even cut. Cant wait for the finished product. Good going. Subscribed 👍

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, really appreciate that and welcome to the channel! That’s a great point about cutting at Home Depot. I’ll mention that in one of the next videos!

[@josepolanco1228]

@@CichlidBros saves the hassle of using a straight edge dealing with clumsy heavy panels and the list goes on

[@miguelcintron7048]

Riffwaters has great plywood builds, this is looking awesome 😎

[@CichlidBros]

I watched some of those videos as well!

[@Jdubswateringhole]

A track saw would make those plywood cuts so much easier but you did a great job! How did you source your glass?

[@blessedone1186]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@oscardean6351]

It’s looking awesome, but for strength, I think I would’ve lapped the sheets of ply and screed them to the base it would’ve made it much stronger,just made the back panel a couple of inches longer. although I’m sure it will be fine .Gonna be a lovely tank 👍☹️

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

As a long term aquarist that has designed and used sumps for decades, I cannot imagine a poly sump where you cannot see what is going in inside the sump.

[@CichlidBros]

I love the seamless sump. It will be my third. I wouldn’t want any other sump

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

@@CichlidBros i have harvested hundreds of cherry shrimp, dozens of baby synodontis and Africans and grow anubias, crypts and swords in the center section refugium. Requires a glass or acrylic sump to see and harvest these creatures if you are into living sumps you should try it out.

[@thehairywoodsman5644]

if, I might make a suggestion that will make your fish room look a whole lot better....burn that Cubs banner and put up some Rangers gear !

[@CichlidBros]

Lolll

[@liamknight-wd4qg]

Hate to be a killjoy as the tank is going to be awesome. Would it not be a good idea to reinforce the side and back panels with 4x2 uprights and double boarding? Just have visions of the tank bowing out on the sides and back. Would be a catastrophe if it gave way.

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, I will be adding that with my next step. Definitely going overkill on the bracing as well

[@dennispeleg7843]

What length screws did you use to secure the panels of the tank? Also is the base of the tank screwed to the stand? If so, what length screw?

[@fishyabish9557]

My only advice would be to use an impact driver to put the screws in only use the drill for drilling holes

[@bluecollarfox913]

Instead of or in addition to the L brackets just add gussets in the corners with 2x4s. It’s very strong that way

[@joeprovenzano4362]

Should have Home Depot cut the wood for you

[@MrPatagonianFox]

Are you planning to add doors and a floor to the stand? I don’t think I’d be comfortable with such a large sump sitting directly on my carpet.

[@CichlidBros]

Yep

[@mateuszx17]

There must be absolutly added legs ( for example in the middle of shorter site) and these that are must be thicker. If not, this construction will crook, distort, twist and be leaking no matter how tank upper will be corectly done.

[@MyIOnU]

Are you sure the plywood can withstand the water pressure without any frame support on the side and back?

[@CichlidBros]

As I mentioned there will be bracing added in the next video

[@vhgilmor]

400 gal x 8.34 lb/gal = 3,336 lbs. I would put more than than angle brackets on the legs. Be careful. Good Luck!

[@ronaldpatton5668]

Did you at least use marine grade plywood ?

[@markcomfort784]

What about your basement floor Did you cover this I didnt see? That is going to be a lot of weight.

[@CichlidBros]

It’s a concrete floor

[@WatsonsAquatics]

Solid slab there isn’t a weight limit

[@IsaiahP-sf6bo]

Building a plywood pond same way just no viewing panel I opted out of a pond liner because in my eyes the risk wasn’t worth it when I can spend a few more and have peace at mind knowing it’s less likely to fail

[@drumskas]

Looks good but I'll tell you something, you better not ever move from that house cause that monster must weigh at least 500 pounds lol. And I am a fan of your channel but let me tell you, you put way too many screws, more than you need. And also more 2x4 than you need. 😂

[@Hugh_Jainus]

Presumably it's better to be overbuilt than underbuilt?

[@Mayweathersdabest]

Listen so long as overkill is detrimental to the structure,, being safe is better than being sorry. I'd spend the extra couple dollars to be able to sleep right beside the freaking tank!!!! I can't wait for the finished product!!

[@fatfishdesignzllc]

I hope you are planning to add some framing to the walls on the upper section 3/4 ply with 1000 screws is actually weakening the structure, not to mention the screw heads need to be counter sunk.

[@CichlidBros]

I am, like I said in the video. And it’s 5 ply

[@ezwaters5847]

Wondering the same things. Those screw heads sticking out are really triggering my ocd (same in the stand in part 1). Doesn't look like they went in enough to draw the wood together very much. Also very curious about how the sides are going to be supported including left and right of the viewing panel. Part 3 should be interesting....

[@jeremy87turbo87]

First time using a lot of those tools. I would have to say awesome job, man.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks 👍

[@FNP90840]

I’ve had a Oscar for a month in a 90 Gal it’s around 2-3 months old can I add same fish you add in your 180??