I'm a new member, but I've built hundreds of tanks. It will go much better if you make a pair of 90 degree jigs. Forgive me if you've built before, but maybe someone will find this useful:
Start with two plywood bases, about 4" wide and 2' long. Attach a vertical triangle to each base with glue-and-screw, making a 90deg angle at the back of the base. This will make a flat-bottomed aquarium. For a recessed bottom, you need to have a supporting moulding, and you should build it right into the base moulding.
Have some masking tape pre-cut to 4" segments.
All measurements assume 1/4" glass. Clean the glass very thorougly before beginning.
Some people like to run masking tape along the inside 5/8" or so from the edges. This will create a clean edge when you pull the bead at the end. Personally, I've never felt the need. Messy beads are the result of too much silicone, and too much silicone makes lousy joins anyway.
The 17x17 piece is the bottom. Put it flat on the bases, snug to the risers. Take your next piece, which should be 16.75" x 17" -- the back --, and run a bead of clear silicone along one of the long (17") edges. The bead should be a little narrower than the glass. Press the back down onto the bottom gently but firmly. Tape the back to the risers. This is just to keep it from falling over. Don't mess with the silicone yet!
Take the next piece -- a side -- which should be 16.5"x16.75". Put a thin bead of silicone along two edges of this piece, and CAREFULLY but firmly place it into the end-corner. Make sure that the long edge goes to the back not the bottom. You'll likely have to adjust it a little to ensure it is flush to the end. Tape it to the back and bottom with a few pieces of masking tape. Again, don't mess with the silicone at this point.
Repeat for the second end. This will result in an open-fronted aquarium loosely held together with masking tape and uncured silicone.
Very carefully, run a bead of silicone up the front edges of the two "end" pieces. Be careful not to push them off flush to the bottom and back. If you do, adjust carefully. Run another bead along the long edge of the "front" (for a 'cube' it may require measuring to find the long edge).
To finish, place the front, at an angle onto the bottom, then pivot it up onto the ends. Press it firmly into place. Square the pieces flush and tape.
In pressing the tank together, there will be silicone on the inside and outside. With a damp finger, start at the back inside corner and pull the bead upwards. Support the outside of the glass with your other hand. Do all four corners and then the four lines of the bottom as cleanly as you can. Don't do anything to any excess on the outside. You'll clean that up with a razor at the end.
Leave it for a few hours on the jig before moving it. Don't test with water before 24 hours.
Merry Christmas.
Matt[/i][/b]
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