DIY Fish Tower

FIY Fish Tower on My Humble Home and Garden.com

DIY Amazing Fish Tower on My Humble Home and Garden.com

Update 14 April 2015 *** Last fall I disassembled the tower and took it out of the pond. It was then cleaned and stored in the basement for the winter. We have cleaned out the fish pond this spring but have not put the fish tower back yet. In a couple of weeks, it will be back in the pond again and there are surely going to be more pictures.

***An additional note if you are considering doing this, it was necessary to clean the vase a couple of times during the summer. Fortunately, the vase I chose was not so big and it was relatively easy to do.

When I first saw a fish tower, I was just amazed! Are you?

After seeing how easy this is,

are you planning to make your own fish tower?

The idea for this fish tower came from Pinterest. A gentleman from Germany had made a fish tower from sheets of plexiglass. He cut legs out of the plexiglass so there would be room for the fish to enter at the bottom. On the top was a door.

I thought this was brilliant! I ran this by my oldest son and we brainstormed for a couple of days. I finally hit upon the idea of using a glass vase instead of trying to create a tower from the plexiglass.

Then I had to figure out how to raise it so the fish could swim freely in and out of it. One of my pot stands gave me an idea.

We went to a local store and scoured the garden items. I had taken a template to be sure the vase would fit upside down nicely on the plant stand. We found the perfect black plant stand, which was the right height.

As we went through the aisles of vases, a clear plexiglass vase caught my eye. It fit perfectly and at this point, Jon-Michael and I decided the plexiglass might be a better alternative.

It might not have been necessary, but I sprayed the plant stand with Rust-oleum Leak Seal, thinking it would be more water tight and prevent rust.

While that dried, I got the vase and the aquarium fish tank vacuum cleaner ready to use.

The black plant stand was then placed in the pond. The vase was turned upside down and held in place, while the tube of the pump was snaked down to the bottom of the pond, up through the opening and wedged up against the bottom of the vase, which was now the top.

It would have been easier if someone had been home and helping me at this point!

Then I started squeezing the pump and like magic, the water started rising in the vase! Soon I didn't need to hold the vase anymore and continued to pump until the vase was completely full of water.

I was so excited! To my absolute delight, the fish soon were swimming up inside the tower.

I have to admit, I couldn't wait to share this with my family and especially the grandchildren, Sophie and Aidan. I posted it on Facebook and sent pictures to all of my kids!

What joy this simple thing has brought me!