Gumball Machine Fish Tank

What says 'I love you' better than the gift of a pet goldfish? I know it's not a fuzzy little kitten or a tiny soft puppy but it is a lot easier to take care of. Be unique on Valentine's Day and make a special fish tank that will be remembered for a lifetime.

This old dusty gumball machine I found in the basement needed revival and turned out to be a fantastic home for our new little fish!

You will need the following items to make this fish tank:

-gumball machine
-sheet of glass
-glass cutter
-breaking pliers
-sharpie marker
-glass grinder (or a file)
-safety goggles
-aquarium sealant
-decorative rocks
-aquarium plant
-goldfish!

Step 1 Disassemble Gumball Machine

Remove all inner workings of gumball machine (or what's left of it). All you need to have is the base, bowl and top cap.

Comments

[Pattymouth]

I think this is adorable. I've owned lots of fish that have lived long lives in small bowls. If you're worried about size, move him to a bigger bowl when he gets bigger. I don't mean to be insensitive - really - but it's not like you're keeping a brain surgeon locked in a closet. It's a goldfish. If he has any 'thoughts' at all, they will probably be that he's happy to be away from the nasty tank and tapping, gawking kids at WalMart and in his own cozy apartment.

[jazziejazz]

couldnt agree more.

[Trustthapo]

Because these-

http://goldfishgarage.blogspot.com/2009/10/109-common-goldfish.html
http://www.cngoldfish.net/goldfish/goldfish_common/img/b6.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/puffinbytes/5034672668/

-will do so very well in a bowl.

Goldfish will live for 10-20+ years when you do keep them in good setups.

[Trustthapo]

This is too small to let most species of fish thrive. Goldfish grow to be six inches or longer and require very large aquariums. The high death rate of goldfish in bowls is caused by lack of oxygen, the small amount of space, and dirty water.
Bettas are more comfortable in 5 or 10 gallon tanks; they NEED a heater and filtration to survive. Yes, they can live in bowls, but they will not thrive by any means.
However, there are several species of freshwater shrimp and snails that can be kept in this adorable aquarium design! You might also do well with a trio of Least Killifish, but these are easily stressed little fish that would require dense vegetation(which may be hard to grow in this tank).
Goldfish are inexpensive and cute, but they're not toys- they need as much research, care, and money as just about any other large aquarium fish.

[jazziejazz]

I dont mean to be rude in any way. but at the end of the instructuble they even said this is not a permanent thing. they consulted with the seller of the fish and based on THIS fish it should be fine for up to 6 months before needing to be moved. i think anyone with common sense would know fish get big and need to be moved so all these comment's about it are unnecessary. ALSO gumball machines come in lots of sizes. this was just one example. and its a good idea to have small beta in this. if you have a big tank already, that way new smaller fish have a chance at getting bigger before bigger fish in a tank try and fight and or eat it like some do. again im not being rude but all these comments arnt even recognizing some of these points. even the ones stated in the end.

[Brookibear]

(removed by author or community request)

[Trustthapo]

From my experience with keeping guppies and other livebearers, I would say no. A ten gallon aquarium would be better for guppies, seeing how active these fish are. Plus, it would be a shame to not have such beautiful fish in clean, clear water under light where you can see just how beautiful they are!
As I've said before, this might be okay for shrimp or snails, but most fish won't be comfortable in this aquarium unless you went into some of the more obscure and smaller species, but they tend to be fragile and harder to take care of.

PS- a good rule of thumb with guppies is to keep males in groups of three at the minimum. If you keep only males or only females, you won't end up with 5 billion babies. If you want to keep females, buy one to three females per male in the tank.. if not, the males will chase the female endlessly and harass her to death. Literally. :P

[Trustthapo]

It doesn't matter if it is or is not permanent. This is still unfit to hold a goldfish of any size for any amount of time. Goldfish are *very* messy and produce too much waste to make living in a bowl feasible. Weekly water changes and cleanings won't help this. Plus, the water is stagnant and has no source of oxygen.
Pet stores will always lie to you to get you to purchase unnecessary things.
Even Bettas shouldn't be kept in bowls. These are tropical fish that need heated and filtered water. Most people have never seen where wild Bettas live, and don't understand that they DO live in fresh, open water.

[jazziejazz]

touche sir. touche.... lol im not a professional but its cute and its not permanent. again i wasn't being rude or anything was just stating that it was said in the instructable it wasn't permanent and no one even took that into account. or at least it didn't seem like it. and i know how messy they are lol i've had lots of fish. but my solution to this bowl being to small and not acceptable. bigger gumball machine and add some heater and filters. i mean if you can make this i think adding maybe a simple hook to the inside of the top should be a piece of cake. omg!!! you know those GIANT gumball machines outside of stores???? that would be epic for fish.... id be the talk of all my friends if they walked in my room and saw that.... NO ONE STEAL THIS IDEA!

[grannyjones]

A wonderful setting for a single betta.
They live very well in small bowls--just don't put TWO in the same container!

[mr monoply33]

I might have to do this. I have the same machine, but the mechanism is jammed with some shards of metal I can't pull loose. Mines on a four foot iron stand.

[Pattymouth]

Well, world630, your amazing instructable has proven quite enlightening! Personally, I love it, but i guess you now need to get busy and make something bigger for us to argue about:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/7heylrb

Keep the 'ibles coming!

[thevoid]

Insert quarter recive sushi!

[annahowardshaw]

Very cute project, but I hope that anyone thinking of using it for fish will research how to properly care for them.  One goldfish should have a 20 gallon tank and 10 more gallons per buddy (and goldfish are social animals).

More info:  Animal Welfare Act 2006, hotodothings.com, aquariumguys.

[Pattymouth]

So, seriously, a 30 gallon tank for 2 goldfish? I'm speechless.

[annahowardshaw]

I was surprised too! But the more I've read, the more I think we should reevaluate the common view of goldfish care (and suggest people research more themselves before buying them). 

If you want to see something really crazy, check out these trained goldfish!  They do remember some things after all...

[Trustthapo]

Common and Comet goldfish- the cute little guys you see at Wal-Mart being sold for a quarter apiece- grow to an average of six inches long, sometimes up to a foot in length, and produce massive amounts of waste.
When you don't keep them in bowls they won't die from burning up in ammonia from their own waste(see also- dying from breathing your own urine), won't die from eating each other, and won't die from asphyxiation.

[Nasubi77]

I have to chime in on the "THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA" camp because goldfish need sooo much more room than this, but that is only a fraction of the issue.

Any tank or container should be cycled before you add fish and after it is cycled, you have to keep checking the water for Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates to make sure they are all within the correct parameters. The smaller the tank, the harder it is to keep within these parameters, ESPECIALLY with goldies since they are so messy.

And comets do not average 6 inches...more like 12" or more.

Please people, do your research BEFORE you ever get your first fish. It is not as easy as putting them in a bowl with some water. These are not disposable pets.

[stickboybenafer]

Just a comment to the recomendation of the fishstore "expert," most fishstore employees are simply that....employees. They generally don't know much about what they are doing, and what they do know is hearsay that is also false. Trust the fish ENTHUSIASTS.....don't put a fish in this bowl.

[inkfzz]

A lot has been said about size and temporary housing etc. but in the end it is still wrong. you are putting an innocent creature in prison. alone. Gold fish live in groups. fish live in the wild. And a bowl is just bad for the fish. if anything, they need places to hide, corners etc. a bowl provides none of that. I do like the look of the gum ball bowl, don't get me wrong and it's a good instructable. but just leave the fish out of the equation. Plants alone will look cool as well.

[oldboy2003]

This. Is. Awesome. If you do this with one of those full size machines where the gum balls spiral down, I will worship you(and so will all those people complaining about the size of the tank).
Of course, anyone like me who can't keep fish alive in proper tanks shouldn't attempt this, but it has given me an idea for a cool terrarium. (I have the exact same gumball machine)

[vinsslaurie]

Nice concept, I've always liked original aquarium/vivarium ideas, especially when it involves recycling.

Having worked with fish and exotic animals for two years now, I will support everyone who's told you this aquarium is unfit for a goldfish though. Switch your fish for a betta fish instead, they don't require filtered water and can manage to live in a smaller area than a goldfish.

[a1t2h9y1]

I think this is a cute way to give fish as a present, but not as a permanent home for the fish.

[todell1]

this is a very bad idea, for fish. there is no means of a filter, and it cannot be more than 10 litres in volume. completely inadequate for goldfish. it may work for shrimp

[ashbegash]

This is such a great idea!! Oh, and I like your fish! :)

[stellamerteuil]

I really like this idea, but I worry it's too small for a goldfish. I'd recommend a betta.

[Trustthapo]

This. I'd say it's even too small for a Betta. I hate the goldfish-in-a-bowl stereotype so much...

[Biggsy]

I love this , welldone

A special Biggsy high five for you