- 1). Decide on the size of your aquarium. This is needed to determine the thickness of the acrylic pieces. Aquariums up to 13 inches tall can be assembled with ¼-inch thick acrylic pieces, aquariums measuring 13 to 19 inches tall can be assembled with 3/8-inch thick pieces, and anything between 19 and 24 inches tall will require ½-inch thick acrylic pieces. These peripherals are required to sustain the water pressure inside of the aquarium once it is filled.
- 2). Lay the acrylic pieces on the sawhorses. Cut the acrylic pieces with a sabre saw. Use the sander to smooth out the edges of the acrylic pieces so they can adhere to each other.
- 3). Assemble the acrylic pieces. Create a flat surface to work on by putting two-by-four pieces of wood under the bottom piece of the aquarium. The bottom piece needs to be elevated from the ground so tape can be applied under it.
- 4). Stand the acrylic pieces that will form the sides of the aquarium on top of the bottom piece. Secure the bottom acrylic piece to the front, back, and side pieces with electrical tape.
- 5). Glue the acrylic pieces together (two sides at a time) with acrylic solvent cement. Wait four hours until the glue is dry. If there are any gaps, apply aquarium-grade silicone along the seams in question.
- 6). If you used silicone, wait an additional 24 hours. Use your electric sander to sand and polish the edges of the acrylic pieces. The aquarium is now ready to be filled with water.
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