making a realistic aquarium in minecraft, by MrAllGuy on YouTube. 1 min 5 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 5 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Dig a rectangular hole where you want the tank, at least 3 blocks long, 2 blocks wide and 2 blocks deep. Make it deeper if you plan to keep bigger fish like salmon.
Line the floor and the inside walls with sand, gravel or prismarine so the tank looks like a natural riverbed rather than a hole in dirt.
Place sea lanterns or glowstone into the floor blocks before you finish the floor, so the tank glows from underneath.
Fill the tank with water source blocks, working from the bottom up. Check that every block is a source and not flowing water before you move on.
Plant seagrass and kelp, then add coral fans and coral blocks. Coral must stay underwater or it turns dead and grey.
Catch fish with a water bucket and empty the bucket inside the tank. Tropical fish, cod, salmon and pufferfish all swim happily in a small pool.
For a borderless look, swap the top edge blocks for waterlogged slabs, stairs or trapdoors so the water meets the ground with no glass in sight.
Cover the outside walls with the same block as the surrounding ground, leaving only the water and its contents visible.
Add a one block lip around the top edge to stop items and mobs dropping into the tank.
Tips and common mistakes
Always place water source blocks instead of letting water flow in, or the tank will drain the moment you break a block.
Dig one block deeper than you think you need, since fish swim near the bottom and a shallow tank looks cramped.
Put the light source in the floor, not the walls, so it lights the water without showing a bright block on the side.
Test the tank in creative mode first if you are unsure about the waterlogged edge trick.
Questions
Can I build this aquarium without any glass?
Yes. Waterlogged slabs, stairs and trapdoors hold water in place, so the tank keeps its shape with no glass walls. Cover the outer edges with matching ground blocks to hide the seams.
How many fish can one small tank hold?
A tank 3 blocks long and 2 deep comfortably holds three or four small fish. Fish do not fight or die from crowding, but too many in a small space looks messy.
Why does my water keep flowing away?
You probably placed flowing water instead of source blocks, or left a gap in the wall. Fill the tank completely with source blocks and seal every side before adding fish.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
