How to Build a Fish Tank with a Kids Workshops Kit

Young girl and her mom in front of their finished fish tanks

Last updated August 21, 2024

By: Yuni Min

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Yuni is a Korean- American raised in the South who loves all things designing, DIY-ing, and cooking. On her blog, Love Your Abode, you can find about interior design inspiration, home remodel makeovers, and recipes.

A Note From The Home Depot

Dive under the sea with a fun fish tank Kids Workshop Kit from The Home Depot. Follow along as Yuni Min of Love Your Abode learns about aquatic life with her family, then head to your local Home Depot and grab one of your own!

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Activities for Kids

DIY Workshops

Kids Workshops

Kids Crafts

Kids Indoor Crafts

Kids Outdoor Crafts

Kids Room

How to Build a Fish Tank
Gather Tools and Materials
Step 1: Start the Assembly
Step 2: Attach the Back Piece
Step 3: Add the Stickers
Step 4: String the Fish

How to Build a Fish Tank

Keep your kids engaged with a Home Depot Kids Workshop Kit. You can pick one up from your local store on the first Saturday of the month or purchase one online at HomeDepot.com/kids. The monthly kits encourage your child to build and create really cool projects in less than an hour. This month, we are building a fish tank!

Emmy and I had so much fun building this fish tank together for this month’s kids workshop. We also learned about which sea creatures live in the different zones in the ocean. I assisted her with a few details but gave her freedom to build and create on her own.

Gather Tools and Materials

The supplies laid out: hammer, scissors, paint, paint brushes, and the model pieces.

All of these items can be found at The Home Depot. The great thing is almost everything you need is already included in the workshop kit along with easy-to-follow instructions.

Step 1: Start the Assembly

A child using a hammer to nail the fish tank side pieces together

First, stand both side pieces up with the screw holes facing down and the slots facing in. Make sure the outside edges are even. Nail them together with four nails.

Step 2: Attach the Back Piece

A child using a hammer to nail the fish tank back piece together.

Lay the project down with the slot edge down. Make sure the outside edges are even. Nail them together with four nails.

Step 3: Add the Stickers

A child placing stickers on the inside of the fish tank.

Stand the project up. Carefully add the stickers to the interior of the tank. Make sure not to cover the slots in the side pieces.

A child and a woman placing stickers on the wooden fish.

Add the stickers to both sides of the three fish.

Step 4: String the Fish

A child and a woman attaching string to the wooden fish.

Thread one piece of string through the hole of one fish and tie the end. Repeat for the other two fish

Step 5: Attach Fish String to Slotted Lid

A child and a woman attaching the string and fish to the slotted lid.

Place the slotted lid on top of the project. Take one fish with string and thread the loose end through a lid slot (from the bottom) and then through a stopper. Tie a knot at your desired length. Repeat for the other two fish with string.

Set aside the lid with hanging fish until the final step.

Step 6: Attach the Frame

A child using a hammer to nail the frame to the fish tank.

Lay the project down with the open front facing up. Make sure the outside edges are even. Nail it in place with four nails.

A child painting the exterior of the fish tank.

If you are painting the project, paint only the exterior of the tank. Make sure not to paint the interior of the tank covering the slots. Painting the slots will make it difficult to slide in the clear plastic sheet. Allow the paint to dry completely

Step 7: Install the Lid

A child using a screwdriver to attach the lid to the fish tank.

Peel off the blue protective sheets from both sides of the clear plastic sheet. Slide it into the slots. Place the lid with hanging fish on top of the tank. Using a #2 Philips Screwdriver, attach it with two screws. Feel free to cut the excess string at top if desired

A child using a laptop to research info about the ocean.

The Home Depot Kids Workshop comes with a workshop extension activity. This gives your child the opportunity to learn more and enhance their experience with the project. For this project, we researched the three zones in the ocean using the National Ocean Service's website.

A child and a man observing the fish tank.

When your fish tank is complete, take a moment to share it with your parents (or another important adult in your life) and explain what you’ve created.

A painted wooden fish tank and an unpainted wooden fish tank.

Make sure you give your child the certificate of achievement along with their pin for completing this Kids Workshop! We hope you’ll join us this month to build your own fish tank. We had so much fun with this project and know you will, too. All items can be found at Homedepot.com/kids.

This post was created in partnership with The Home Depot. The author may have received compensation for this article and associated images or video, potentially in the form of products and/or services. All expressed opinions and experiences are the author’s own words.