How to Make Fish Aquarium With Shoe Box
Aquariums can be a fun and exciting decoration for any room in your house. However, if you are looking for an inexpensive way to create an aquarium, look no further than your nearest shoebox! This article will show you how to make a fish aquarium with a shoe box.
We will also provide tips on making your shoebox aquarium more decorative and functional. So, if you are looking for an inexpensive way to get into the fish-keeping hobby, or if you are just looking for a new weekend project, read on to learn how to make a fish aquarium with a shoebox.
Supplies That You’ll need:
- Shoebox
- Scissors
- A sheet of paper
- Black marker
- Waterproof tape or glue for plastics
Step by Step Guide: How to Make Fish Aquarium With Shoe Box
Step 1: Setting the Stage
Take your shoebox and cut out two pieces of the box’s sidewalls. Make sure that you leave them about 1/2 inch to an inch high. Next, cut out one piece of the bottom. You can now set these pieces aside because they won’t be used for a while.
Step 2: Making the Lid
Take one of the pieces you’ve cut off and turn it upside down. You’re now going to take your marker and divide the piece into two sections, like a tic-tac-toe board. The shape isn’t important, as long as you remember which parts are not connected.
Step 3: Connecting the Lid
Take the section you’ve put on top of the piece with two rectangles. Take your ruler and marker, along with some tape or glue if you are using it for plastics, and draw lines from one side to the other to make an “X.” Flip this piece around so that its connected sides are at the bottom.
Step 4: Working on the Exterior
You’re now going to take the piece that you’ve cut out for the bottom and turn it into one of the sides. Take your ruler, marker, and tape/glue, if you are using it. Draw lines from each corner down each side to connect in the middle of the four sides (one at a time, don’t connect all four yet). Then, do the same for the other three sides.
Step 5: Creating Your Exterior
Take your shoebox lid and cut two slits in it so that they’re in a diamond shape. Next, take a fishing line and tie it in a knot around one of the points where you’ve made a slit in the shoebox lid. Next, take the other end of the fishing line and tie it to one of the pieces you’ve cut out for the exterior side. Do this for each corner of your “X.” You can now set your box on its side, where it will be used as a stage.
Step 6: Setting up Your Filter
Take the other piece you cut out for the bottom (the one that wasn’t connected to the tic-tac-toe board) and turn it into an artificial plant pot. If you’re using it for plastics, take some tape or glue, and make a small rectangular area in the middle of one side.
Put your mesh screen over this and tape/glue in place. Now take the second piece that you cut out for the side and attach it to another mesh screen using tape or glue if you’re using it for plastics. Finally, attach this mesh screen to the shoebox lid, leaving a small gap where all of the fish will breathe.
Step 7: Creating the Ocean Floor
Take your shoebox lid and cut a small hole in its middle (only wide enough for an electric cord to pass through). Next, take one of the mesh screens you’ve cut out and attach it to this tiny hole with tape/glue if you’re using it for plastics. This will be where the water flows through and allows you to clean the water easily.
Step 8: Adding the Ocean Rocks
Now that you’ve finished setting up your shoebox aquarium, it’s time to add the ocean rocks and plants. When picking out which types of plants and rocks to use for this type of setup, make sure they match the temperature of the water. If you’re not sure, ask a clerk at your pet store or do some web research to find out what types of plants and rocks are best for the type of fish you plan to have in your shoebox aquarium.
Step 9: Fill and Add Your Water
Now that you’ve finished making your shoebox aquarium, it’s time to fill it with water. First, make sure that everything is working properly by testing out the filter and lighting. Once everything is set up correctly, add your gravel, plants, and decorations. Be sure to check on your fish regularly (be careful not to disturb anything) to stay healthy and add more water when necessary.
Step 10: Adding Fish
Once everything is working properly, you can add your fish. Remember that not all types of fish can live together; be sure to research which ones are compatible. It’s also important to match the temperature of different species so they don’t get sick. Once you’ve set up your shoebox aquarium, take care of it by feeding the fish regularly and adding more water when necessary.
Step 11: Adding Lid Decorations
After your aquarium is finished, you can add decorations around the lid to make it look prettier. You can use fake plants, rocks, toys, etc., to make your shoebox aquarium look more realistic for the type of fish you’ve chosen. Be sure to check on your fish regularly (be careful not to disturb anything) to stay healthy and add more water when necessary.
Step 12: Maintaining Your Shoebox Aquarium
Now that you’ve finished making your shoebox fish aquarium keep in mind that there are some things you’ll need to remember. First, if you plan on using this as an actual fish tank, make sure to properly maintain it by changing the water once every week and cleaning the gravel regularly so that your fish stay healthy. Remember also to change their food periodically.
If you want this shoebox aquarium to be a decoration, clean out your fish after they die or if they escape (if you’ve made a hole in your lid).
Some Tips and Suggestions to Care for Your Aquarium Shoe Box
Here we have given some tips on how to make a fish aquarium with a shoebox.
1. Don’t place your fish tank near a place with high humidity because it will damage the materials used in constructing wicker.
2. The maximum capacity of your fish tank is 8 liters or 2 gallons.
3. You can keep a few plants in your aquarium shoebox, for they may add beauty to the interior design of your home. They can also provide a natural habitat for your fish.
4. Never keep in the aquarium shoebox any fish that will outgrow the size of your tank in just a matter of days and kill other smaller ones.
5. Cleaning the inside is very easy just remove the water and replace it with a clean one when necessary, or when you start to see some algae forming on the inside.
6. Give living conditions as close as possible to those from their natural habitat, e.g., the water should be clean and clear with a temperature of about 22 to 24°C (72°F).
7. If you have a good quality aquarium shoebox, the only thing that you will need to replace is just the gravel and water whenever necessary. Everything else in it should last for a very long time.
Precautions & Warnings
1. Be careful when using a hot knife, as the blade may have hot plastic.
2. When cutting or heating plastic, do so in a ventilated area. The fumes released from heated plastic are not healthy to breathe.
3. Do not place close to a space heater, open flames, or other heat sources that may heat the plastic enough to release fumes.
4. Keep out of reach of children and pets, as they may chew on the plastic pieces.
5. If you get any glue or sharp plastic pieces in your eyes, rinse immediately with water for at least 15 minutes and contact a doctor if there is no improvement.
6. Do not use sharp tools to cut holes in the box.
What Are the Benefits of Keeping Aquariums in Your Home?
The benefits of having fish aquariums in your home are endless. Not only do fish tanks look beautiful, but they also serve many practical purposes. For example, fish tanks can help you to relax after a long day at work or school. They provide kids with hours of fun and even serve as great learning tools for young children.
Fish tanks can truly benefit almost any home. Kids are generally very enthusiastic about their new tanks, but they will need some guidance in caring for them. It is important to make sure that you do not try to speed up the learning process by making things too easy on your child.
You Can Check It Out to: Tie a Hook for Catfish
Conclusion
If you have a spare shoebox and some fish aquarium supplies, you can make your fish tank in no time. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and take into account the size of your shoebox when selecting your fish. Now you know how to make a fish aquarium with shoe boxes and other things to make your fish aquarium.
It’s way cheaper than buying one, plus the creativity of making it yourself is half the fun! With a little effort, you can create a beautiful and functional home for your new pets. Have you made a DIY fish tank before? Share your experience in the comments below!
You Can Check It Out to: Bait a Circle Hook for Catfish
