Aquarium Lid DIY

Aquarium Lid DIY

Aquarium lids reduce water evaporation greatly and can be used for other purposes.

Interestingly, even lids for standard aquariums available commercially often need some customization. 

I use plexiglass for making lids to cover different shapes aquariums.

This lid also serves as a planter for growing plants with roots in water.

Here is another example of a such planter or lid.

Let's make it together!

It all starts with choosing the aquarium of the size and the shape suitable for your project.

Here I have round shaped 8 inch diameter, 4 inch deep candy vase.

Flip the vase upside-down and place it on a piece of plexiglass. 

Use a permanent marker to trace the vase.

I use a sharp blade to score the plexiglass along the marked lines.

Now we can brake it.

Braking larger pieces is easier using edge of the desk or something like that.

I use flat pliers to brake away small pieces.

 File rough edges to make them smooth and fit nicely.

Congratulations! We have made the lid.

Now I am going to use a plastic bottle for making a planter.

Cut off the bottle neck.

Trim off the edges nicely.

I like to use heat for treating the edges - it melts and makes it really nice.

Very smooth!

Unscrew the bottle cap.

Put the bottle neck on the lid in the spot where you want to make the hole.

Trace it with a marker.

In this example I use a hot soldering gun to melt the hole.

First I work inside the marked line on one side of the lid.

Than I flip the lid and work the other side.

Also, we can drill and melt smaller holes in lids as you may remember from my previous videos.

Whichever way it works better for you.

File edges of the hole.

Screw the bottle neck in the hole and secure it with the cap.

I use a sharp blade to cut the hole in the bottle cap.

Congrats! We have made the planter.

Here you can see the vase aquarium already set with fish, snails and scuds.

The lid on the top prevents water evaporation and holds the plants growing with roots in water.

You can see water droplets accumulated on the lid - it works great!

More about setting up this vase aquarium in the future video.

Have fun and happy aquariums :)