Building an aquarium lid at home

 While others consider fish tank top covers indispensable tank accessories, these are some hobbyists who forgo them. Aquarium lids help in preventing fish from jumping out of tanks as well as in maintaining thermal stability inside and also slows the rate of evaporation. Aquarium lids are easily available commercially, but a lot of aquarium hobbyists build their own. By using an acrylic sheet, rather than glass, you can allow much light to penetrate into the tank.


Step 1

Use a measuring tape to measure the rim of your aquarium. Be careful while measuring the outside dimensions, as the lid covers the rim on all sides.

Step 2

Draw a clear outline of the aquarium rim on the acrylic using a permanent marker or a felt-tip pen, making the straightedge as a guide. In practice, the markings should prisicely be made on the protective film covering the acrylic so that it comes off when you are done. If the film is not there, use a masking tape for covering the general area where the lines go, then draw the lines on top of the tape.

Step 3

Make use of a jigsaw fitted with a plastic-cutting blade and cut alongside the marked lines. Take someone’s help in providing a support to the plastic while you are making the cut.

Step 4

While you are making your polycarbonate sheet aquarium lid, gently sand the edges of the sheet with medium-grit sandpaper to get smooth edges. Don’t forget to put on your eye protection while smoothening.

Step 5

Place the lid on the aquarium top and ensure that the size is perfect and your corners are square.

Step 6

With the lid is still on top of the aquarium, use a pen to mark the inside border of your custom aquarium lid and the size, location, and shape of any equipments that must pass through the lid. These can be electric cords for heaters, pumps or filters, as well as on-tank filters or air tubes.

Step 7

Now remove the lid from the aquarium, and use a jigsaw to crop out necessary sections so that all devices and cords can pass through the lid.

Step 8

Cut these acrylic dowels so that they fit inside the black lines you drew. These will keep the lid stable and will prevent it from sliding off the aquarium.

Step 9

Flip your lid upside down and use the silicon for attaching the acrylic rods to your lid. Place them inside the drawn black lines that indicate where the insides of the lid will be. Use some clamps for holding them in place, and let them dry completely.

Step 10

Once the rods are fully intact, flip the lid over and make sure that the rods fit inside the inner rim of your aquarium. Make any necessary adjustments necessary for achieving that snug fit.

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