How to Build an Acrylic Aquarium

If you have that can-do spirit, you can surely save a few dollars on a fish or reptile aquarium by building your own. Building a small acrylic tank can easily be done in a day, and larger projects can be completed comfortably in a weekend. It requires only basic carpentry knowledge and relatively common tools and supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper Pencil Ruler Acrylic panels Acrylic solvent Solvent application bottle Non-toxic glass cleaner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the size and shape of your aquarium, then draw detailed plans. Make sure that your plans are geometrically sound and practical, and be sure to include accurate measurements throughout. Once you have determined the dimensions of the solid bottom of the aquarium, add 1/8 inch to the measurements of every side. This will give you room for a little lip on which to affix your vertical pieces, which will make the entire aquarium more reliably water-tight and stable.

    • 2

      Shop for a supplier of acrylic panels. To control costs, it is best to shop for one in your area so that you can save on shipping by picking up the panels yourself. Make sure you choose a seller who offers a competitive price, provides custom cutting services and sells cell-cast acrylic panels.

    • 3

      Order your panels. Be sure to choose cell-cast acrylic and to choose the color or tint that you want. Give the supplier the exact dimensions of each individual panel in your plans. As for the thickness of the acrylic, the best thickness depends on the height of your aquarium walls. For walls under 12 inches, use 1/4 inch thick acrylic. Tanks 12 to 18 inches tall need 3/8 inch thick panels, tanks 18 to 24 inches tall need 1/2 inch panels, and tanks up to 30 inches tall need 3/4 inch thick panels.

    • 4

      Once you have your panels, peel the protective paper off of the back piece of the aquarium and set it on a large, flat work surface. Lay out and account for all of your vertical acrylic pieces.

    • 5

      Fill a small solvent application bottle with a small amount of acrylic solvent. Get the side pieces ready by peeling back the first few inches of paper on the sides that will be affixed to the back panel of the tank.

    • 6

      Squeeze a solid line of solvent along the edge of the back panel that must form a joint with your first side panel. When the solvent is in place, carefully set the connecting edge of the side panel onto the line of solvent. If the panel needs to be moved or adjusted once it is touching the solvent, do it quickly, because you will only have about 30 seconds before it begins to harden. Hold the panel in place for several minutes until the solvent is firm, then set the pieces with the vertical panel against a wall and allow it to dry for four more hours.

    • 7

      Repeat Step 6 to affix the other side panel to the back panel. Again, allow the joint to dry for four hours.

    • 8

      Lay the front panel of the aquarium flat on your work surface. This time, make two lines of solvent on the joint edges of the panel. Set the edges of the side panels of the three-piece construction onto the lines of solvent, and make any minor adjustments quickly. The structure should now be stable enough to be left as is while the solvent hardens over the next four hours. Wait for the solvent to harden completely.

    • 9

      Lay the four-sided, bottomless aquarium on its top. Peel the protective paper from the bottom panel of acrylic. Carefully spread a line of solvent along the exposed top edges of all four sides of the aquarium, then carefully lower the bottom panel onto the wet solvent. Keep in mind as you do this that you added 1/8 inch to the bottom panel all the way around, and make sure that the bottom panel is evenly spaced relative to the side panels on all sides. Allow this solvent bond to harden for four more hours.

    • 10

      Allow the tank to sit for at least one week while the solvent and acrylic finish curing. If possible, wait a month or more before using it. Clean the aquarium inside and out with non-toxic glass cleaner before filling it.