Category: aquarium homemade products. How to make an aquarium with your own hands Coconut as an aquarium decorative element

Hello dear aquarists! homemade biofilter Today you will learn how to make a homemade aquarium biofilter. I guarantee a lot of impressions and pleasure from his work. So let's go! What is a biofilter and what is it for? Let's start with the fact that in the water, as in the air, a lot of all kinds of rubbish rotate: micro algae, food particles, scales and other suspension that gets from the outside and pollutes the water. AND […]

Hello dear aquarists! bonsai in an aquarium How many of you want their first aquarium to not only work well, but also look amazing? I see, I see: you want everything. Then I will teach you how to make a bonsai in an aquarium with your own hands! Think it's not real? Not at all: if you have imagination, straight hands and some necessary ingredients, then you are guaranteed success! So let's go! What […]

Hello dear aquarists! dropchecker Get straight to the point. First, let's define what a dropchecker is. A dropchecker is a special miniature device that is designed to monitor the CO2 level in your aquariums. This device looks like a test tube filled with a special indicator liquid. So, we have decided on this. Move on. In one of my articles I have already said that CO2 plays a big [...]

Hello dear aquarists! homemade Ph-test What is Ph? This is an indicator of the acidity of the water. In everyday life, rarely does anyone test water for acidity. But every self-respecting aquarist is simply obliged to check the water in the tap, since it is he who will use it as the environment for his fish. How can I do that? At the moment, in specialized stores, special Ph-tests are sold. […]

Hello dear aquarists! Quiet aquarium compressor Every aquarist knows that an aquarium compressor is the artificial lungs of an aquarium, because without aeration, the water in an aquarium very quickly turns into a swamp. But the aquarium compressor has one nasty feature: it hums a lot during operation. And if you turn it on at night, then you are guaranteed a sleepless night! Is it possible to do the job [...]

As a rule, aquarists are very addicted people who are ready to do anything for their silent pets, including creating an exclusive decorative design for a water house. Decorating an aquarium is a creative process that entirely depends on the aesthetic taste of its owner, and every person is especially proud if the unique decorations are made with their own hands.

Wanting to decorate your aquarium by creating a unique environment in it, the aquarist can use individual items and parts sold in stores, as well as natural objects and materials. Decorations can be as simple as complex. For example, it can be models of ancient buildings of ancient times or knightly castles, a simple slide of neatly stacked stones or a bizarre cave with several entrances. It all depends on the person himself. Of course, these or those decorations must necessarily correspond to the nature and habits of the aquarium inhabitants.

DIY background

Coconut as an aquarium decorative element

Wooden decor elements

A rock

Ceramic products as decorations

Some general rules for decorating

No matter how much you want to decorate your aquarium with a variety of crafts, you should not overload the internal space. It must be remembered that more space is needed for its inhabitants to swim.

It is recommended to place homemade decorations in the background or on the sides, since the basis of any aquarium is still its inhabitants, not crafts. In addition, such an arrangement will help hide technical devices for ensuring the vital activity of fish (filter, aerator, thermometer) from the eyes. It is advisable to leave only low decorative elements in the central part of the aquarium composition.

In pet stores, you can easily buy almost everything you need to decorate a fish house. But only well-made decorations can serve as an object of pride for any aquarist and give the interior space a unique look and beauty.

How to make decorations for an aquarium?

If you are looking to create a unique aquascape within the walls of your home aquarium, you need to create your own aquarium decorations. For crafts, you can use both special materials from the store, and improvised, but safe and pre-processed. Homemade decor can be made from natural or artificial raw materials, it can be simple or complex blanks. Simple decorations include the simplest grottoes, caves or wooden decks. Complex ones include “sunken” ships, chests, underwater cities, bizarre underwater reefs.

How to set the background yourself

A background composition in the form of an imitation of a rocky bottom, a coral reef or thickets of dense plants can recreate a colorful perspective on the walls of the aquarium. Proper lighting and decoration of the back wall of the aquarium will attract the attention of caring admirers of marine aesthetics. Of course, it's all a matter of taste, because some prefer a completely darkened background, while others want to see something exciting.



The second option is more appropriate, since it provides an opportunity to dream up. Beautiful ocean-themed patterns can be applied to the back of the tank, with a special self-adhesive printed film. An important aspect is to attach the material well to the glass. To do this, degrease the glass surface with a special solution, then moisten the glass with water from a spray bottle, and carefully glue the sticker. Then align the pattern with a plastic card, removing air bubbles under the cover.

You can make a background using foam. The material is absolutely harmless and easy to use. It is necessary to burn one side of the part until small bubbles appear. When it cools down, a thin layer of cement must be applied to the abrasive surface. The result is a gray relief, like an underwater rocky reef. It is attached with the decorated side to the back of the aquarium with tape. It looks beautiful and natural.

Check out how to make a background for an aquarium.

Coconut decorations

Decorations from wooden driftwood

Stone statues

Clay and ceramic products

Decorations, crafts for the aquarium do it yourself

Psychologists say that the aquarium allows a person to relax and get rid of stress. And if the design of your aquarium is also close to the natural sea or river bottom (this means that there are no artificial ships, skulls, split vases, colored gravel in it), then such a piece of nature helps to relax even more.

To make yourself such a corner of nature, you do not need a lot of expenses. Everything that can be used to decorate the aquarium is at our fingertips. And the very process of creating decorations for the aquarium is quite exciting. Natural and natural decoration of aquariums is very fashionable today. You can buy such jewelry in the store, but why spend money if you can do it yourself?

Grotto

Snag

Volumetric background


Aquariums are a whole universe for such small living creatures of the water element as fish, skates, crustaceans, snails, snakes ... Their number is pleasantly shocking in any artificial reservoir. DIY aquarium crafts are an exclusive creative process that depends on the talent of the owner. Aquarists take great pride in the wonderful creations they create. These masterpieces are beautiful and at the same time convenient for aquatic inhabitants inhabiting aquariums. How many varieties can be embodied in the manufacture of a magnificent brainchild!

Background creation

You can create a mythical tale from any wonderful moment in your life. Someone recalls a vacation in the mountains and uses rock sculptures in the manufacture of decorations. Someone cannot forget scuba diving to the bottom of the Black Sea with numerous outlandish algae from the bottom. Decorations for the aquarium can be created using a black shade. Thanks to this color, the space is visualized. At the same time, the colorfully laid out mosaic of stones with color illumination gives the splendor of the beauty of the water kingdom.

Backdrops for aquariums can be created by painting the surface and applying decorative patterns. You can use self-adhesive tape glued to the plywood sheet. A pattern created by artists is applied to it. It must be firmly attached to the back wall of the artificial reservoir. The glass surface is wiped with glass cleaners and degreased. Otherwise, the film may fall off and scare the aquarium inhabitants. The surface is moistened with settled water, evenly applying a plywood sheet. Air is squeezed out of the film using uniform strokes or punctures of the surface. Plywood is secured with high quality tape.

You can use a Styrofoam sheet to create your aquarium décor. It will serve as a screen that can be replaced with another decor at any time. A rock, a castle, a waterfall are cut out of the material ... The front side is burned with fire until small bubbles appear. Alabaster, gypsum or cement is applied to the hot side. After complete drying, the surface is painted over with gray or gold paint. Attach the artwork with the front side to the aquarium. The decoration for the aquarium will serve as a wonderful background for its inhabitants.

The splendor of the waterfall

Waterfall splendor aquarium decoration is created the mythical fall of the seething stream of water. The powerful effect is achieved by the skillful design of the falling sand jet. This action is created by an air compressor that creates a vacuum. With the help of injection, the sand rises up through the tubes and then smoothly descends, creating a wonderful illusion. With bated breath, with eyes delighted with delight, those watching the life of the water element will appreciate the beauty of the picture. Decorations for the aquarium in the form of a wonderful waterfall can be created by yourself using a compressor. You will need:

  1. A support whose height will serve as a dimension.
  2. Transparent tape.
  3. Hose up to 15 mm in diameter.
  4. Plastic bottle for mineral water.
  5. Silicone glue.
  6. Purchased drip hoses.
  7. Decorative stones.

The aquarium decoration is created using a support. For the necessary stability, it is necessary to attach a rectangular base. Several decorative stones are glued to it, which create the necessary weight and additional stability. A hose is attached to it so that the edge of the top is 1 centimeter higher than the water. At the bottom of the hose, a hole is cut for the sand collection bowl. Such a vessel is made from a plastic bottle. The top of the neck is cut off, which is cut lengthwise, in the form of a scoop. The bowl is inserted into the hose and secured tightly with transparent tape. All joints are sealed with silicone glue. The decoration for the aquarium does not tolerate depressurization of the seams. Otherwise, injection will not work. Dripper tubes are attached to the bottom of the hose. Air is supplied through this device. A hole is cut in the lower part through which all the sand will pour out. The structure can be decorated with small pebbles, plaster, cement. From it you can create a beautiful mesmerizing castle or a mysterious cave. The decoration of the aquarium will be a great addition to its aquatic inhabitants.

Exclusive water architecture

Small-scale architecture can be replaced by knots and tree roots found in the forest. True connoisseurs of exclusive jewelry carve various caves, ships, holes, as well as various inhabitants of the water kingdom from wood. Aquarium decorations in the form of natural trees look great. The viewers are presented with a panorama of the fairy world of the dragon, among the scattered colored treasures near a wooden chest and a sunken ship. Such shelters will become a favorite place for domestic inhabitants.

When making crafts, the material is soaked in salt water for 30 minutes. Then the future workpiece must be boiled and peeled from the bark. On the side, you need to cut a hole that will serve as an entrance. The edges are fired over a fire and cleaned of exfoliated particles. Then the decoration of the aquarium should lie for 7 days in boiled water. Only after all the procedures, the tree is laid out on the bottom of the aquarium, secured with silicone glue or decorative stones. It is forbidden to use rotting wood. Particles of this material will enter the aquarium water and negatively affect the health of the inhabitants. Oak is not recommended. Its substances release organic acids that are harmful to fish. Due to the resin content, aquarium decorations cannot be created from conifers.

Stone treasury

Skilled craftsmen make treasures of sunken ships from ordinary small pebbles. Flat stones of small size and regular rounded shape are in particular love and demand. The decoration for aquariums is made according to the master's idea and imagination. The stones are glued with special silicone according to the artist's drawings. It can be a stone fortress or sheer cliffs, a stone bridge or a mysterious cave.

Decoration for the aquarium in the form of small pebbles go well with a sandy waterfall and wooden crafts. Natural stone is easy to use and has global possibilities for creating unusual figures. You can use smooth pebbles that are well attached with silicone glue. It is forbidden to make decorations for aquariums from alkaline materials. They change the chemical composition of water, creating unsuitable conditions for existence. In such a situation, aquatic inhabitants may die. To test the stones for alkalinity, drip apple cider vinegar onto the surface. When sizzling bubbles appear, it is prohibited to use such stones, as an alkaline reaction has occurred. Such material contains calcareous molecules and is not suitable for use. In case of a neutral reaction, the stones are placed on the bottom of the aquarium or glued with glue.

Pebble aquarium decorations work well with shells and corals. Such material is loved by African cichlids living in such natural conditions. For other types of marine life, it is better to use types of stones:

  • Granite;
  • Pebbles;
  • Quartzite;
  • Amber;
  • Marble;
  • Slate;
  • Porphyry;
  • Gneiss;
  • Mineral stones.

Do not use decorations for aquariums with very sharp edges, as fish can get hurt. Stone figures are indispensable in the design of home and office aquariums. They fill the interior space well, creating a fairy tale world.

Decorations for aquariums are especially appreciated when they are made by hand. All the charm of the water element can be shown in all its glory with the hard work and talent of the master. Only with his imagination and skill can mysterious water crafts be realized and reproduced. They will attract, delight numerous spectators with fabulous fantasies made of wood, stone, foam, beads, ornamental plants, sand. The world inside the aquarium will seem real, mysterious and attracting the eyes of others to it.

The simplest hand-made articles will help you beat your aquarium. By making decorations with your own hands, you will save money and be able to decorate the water space of your favorites in a way that is ideal for you.

How to make pipe decorations for an aquarium?

Homemade foam rubber aquarium decorations

Here's another creative decorating idea. Intricate shapes can be crafted with foam rubber. So, you will need foam rubber, a brush, foam assembly, scissors, toothpicks, tile adhesive, silicone and acrylic paint for outdoor use. From foam rubber you can easily make not only a "pile of stones", but also various grottoes for fish.

  1. Cut a single piece of foam to fit the back of your tank. Next, you must turn on your imagination and create the grotto as you want it to be.
  2. When the frame is ready, its elements need to be fixed. Use polyurethane foam and a gun.
  3. When the workpiece is dry, dilute the tile glue to a thick sour cream. With gentle movements of the brush, apply the mixture to the frame in 3-4 layers, while giving each of them time to dry.
  4. The final step is to take a sponge, soak it in an acrylic compound and apply to the decorations. This will give the structure a more attractive look. Since the foam is very light, it is necessary to fix it on a rigid base. It could be a piece of glass.

Place the decoration in water for 3 days to “soak”, then you can move it directly to the aquarium with the fish.

DIY aquarium grotto: some interesting and simple ideas

Anyone, even a novice aquarist, knows how important decorations are for an aquarium. They not only make it more aesthetically pleasing and more harmonious, but are also actively used by the inhabitants for games and recreation. In specialized stores of similar equipment - mountains. However, they do not always correspond to the design idea, they are quite expensive, and sometimes they even raise doubts about their safety: the dominance of Chinese crafts cannot guarantee the non-toxicity of materials and processing sufficient to prevent the pets from getting hurt. Therefore, literate people prefer to make a grotto for an aquarium with their own hands. In this case, it will exactly fit into the underwater landscape and will be absolutely safe for fish.

A few words about the scenery

"Hastily"

In some cases, a grotto for an aquarium with your own hands is needed immediately: for example, you were presented with newcomers, and the "pool" for them turned out to be cramped. In anticipation of an improvement in their living conditions, the fish can interrupt each other. The "instant food" house can save the situation.

A glass bottle of the right size is taken (for example, from under ketchup), washed, boiled and dried. Dry aquarium sand is scattered on the newspaper, the container is coated with silicone and rolled in the ground. An hour later, when the silicone is firmly seized, the pebbles and pebbles you like are glued onto the adhering sand. They add aesthetics and give the bottle stability. A similar grotto for an aquarium with your own hands must dry out overnight so that the silicone gains ultimate strength. In the morning it can be placed in a pool of fighters.

Solid Stone Shelter

How to make a pebble mainsail for an aquarium

Wooden tower

How to make a coconut shell house in an aquarium

Many aquarists are offered ideas for decorating fish housing using various compositions. This topic is constantly open, as the space for imagination is constantly expanding. The aquarium landscape can be diversified with natural materials and plants. What about a coconut?

Coconut in the aquarium is an extremely useful and necessary item that will delight your fish. You can assume that the house for the living creatures is ready, you just need to spend a small amount of money and physical effort. Coconut shells do not rot in water, are easy to process and do not contain harmful impurities. With it, you can make useful crafts with your own hands.

Coconuts have negative buoyancy and look nice, so fish and crustaceans will be happy. As a personal shelter, coconuts for aquariums will be taken by the following aquatic inhabitants:

  • Small cichlids (Apistograms, Etroplus, Liliupi-lamprologus, Trofeus, Ramirezi, Nanochromis, Palvikakhromis and others);
  • Catfish of Loricarida;
  • Crayfish and shrimps;
  • Botia;
  • Plekostomus, panaki and ancistrus.



Coconut shell decorations

How to properly prepare coconuts for finishing

How to make coconut houses

Coconut "boat"

Preparing the coconut for the aquarium

Before putting the sawn coconuts for the aquarium, it should be soaked for several days in water (changing the water every 12 hours), having previously cleaned the inside of the pulp residues with a hard kitchen sponge or steel wool. After lying in water for a few more days, it is perfectly cleaned. If you leave a nut in water or boil it in water for 10 minutes, it will no longer stain the aquarium water, and the material itself will not harm the fish.

It is believed that after placing a coconut in an aquarium, the health of the fish worsens. This may be due to the chemicals used to treat the product before serving it on the counter. But during boiling, some of the microbes and toxins are destroyed, so there are already prerequisites for trust. In addition, few people have come across such low-quality coconuts - merchandise experts are well versed in products.

After all the procedures, the coconuts can be cooled by gently lowering them to the bottom of the aquarium. You can make a house covered with Javanese moss - it will look organic and attractive. But keep in mind that large fish can get stuck in a coconut, so be guided by the size of the aquarium living creatures.



Coconuts for an aquarium are the perfect decoration to create a tropical water presence indoors. A small underwater world will delight both the inhabitants of the aquarium and everyone who loves to contemplate it.

Aquarium: DIY design (photo)

Today, it is not difficult to implement design solutions for the interior and exterior of turnkey aquariums. Modern studios offer the most unusual variations of artistic design of the hidden depths. However, if you wish, you can create your own author's project by making a truly unique aquarium. The self-made design will make it possible to bring to life any idea, making the created underwater world the main element of the interior of the room.

Aqua design

Aquarium - an element of the interior

Thanks to their unusual beauty, modern aquariums can become a real gem of any interior. The variety of styles and shapes is simply amazing. Aquariums can be suspended, floor-standing, built-in. Diorama aquariums create a stunning effect indoors, their shape as if contributing to immersion in the exciting aquatic world. A personally designed version improves well-being and cheers up. Even a dry aquarium is not uncommon today. The self-made design allows you to present yourself with an unusual creative concept of the seascape. Many solutions can be created with an incredible flight of creativity. It's definitely simple and incredibly fun!

Types of aquariums

Decorations for the subject environment of the underwater world serve as a win-win decoration for the aquarium. But the core component of interior design is its thriving biosystem.

According to their purpose, aquariums are divided into decorative and special (spawning, breeding, rearing, quarantine and others). The most popular of them are species and biotope.

A species aquarium will not only decorate the interior of the house, but will also give a unique opportunity to observe a certain type of fish or their closely related species. Its inhabitants have a significant impact on the design of the aquarium. It is not difficult to arrange it with your own hands, but before embodying the idea, you should seriously familiarize yourself with the habits of the selected fish in their natural habitat.

Biotope aquariums reproduce an imitation of a natural biotope with a characteristic type of fish, plants and certain parameters of their usual habitat.

Styles


For newbies

For beginner naturalists, the collection style will be the best option for decorating an aquarium. This is an ideal option that allows you to "fill your hand." Everything is allowed here. You can mix plants, use their artificial simulations, choose any aquarium. The design, brought to life with your own hands, allows you to create interesting compositions from plants of different textures and decorative elements. There is an opportunity to experiment with different storylines. The choice of plants should depend on the topic. For starters, it is recommended to give preference to unpretentious and hardy plants.

Natural style

Underwater garden

Seawater aquarium

A lot of people today are keen on breeding marine fish. It’s more difficult to prepare a biological environment for them, especially with the use of living corals, which are quite demanding on water parameters. But experienced naturalists are quite capable of creating such an aquarium design with their own hands. 200 liters is the optimal average volume for enjoying the contemplation of the marine underwater world. It should not be overpopulated with living beings, since a limited life support system operates in such a tank.

It is necessary to design the design of a marine aquarium taking into account its type, which not least depends on the inhabitants. This can be predators (sharks, rays, moray eels), non-predatory fish (zebrasoma, angel fish and other species) or corals and invertebrates anemones. Predatory fish are considered the most unpretentious, invertebrates are more difficult to care for, which can die from minor deviations in the chemical parameters of water.

For the life support of such aquariums, it is worth purchasing expensive equipment. It will need to be decoded, it is worth considering when developing the design of the aquarium with your own hands. The photo demonstrates how well you can hide all the wires, hoses and tubes, decorating the background with picturesque coral reefs, stones and shelters for fish in the form of mysterious grottoes and caves.

Aquascape

Aquarium background

A beautiful background for decorating the back wall of the aquarium is easily created using special films on which images of the underwater world are applied. They can also have just a rich blue color, creating the effect of depth and contrast. But it is much more interesting, turning on your imagination, to think over the background, the size and volume of the tank, the decorations used and include everything in the developed design of the aquarium with your own hands: 250 liters, there is a stone background, spectacular driftwood, stones, moss, various plants - all these elements will be perfect by the way.

It is worth noting that the background of the aquarium often gives the entire composition (especially volumetric) a unique charm and naturalness of the aquatic environment. It is not difficult to create it with your own hands, using, for example, styrofoam broken by different pieces, which is glued to the back wall of the aquarium and painted over with special paint with intermittent strokes. It turns out an excellent imitation of a stone background. It can be made in a similar way, using pieces of bark from snags.

The composition can be created from dead coral, stones from the sea reef. In the marine aquarium, small invertebrates, polyps and other inhabitants will find refuge here.

The design of the aquarium, developed and executed with your own hands, allows you to implement a considerable number of excellent ideas for plot aquariums using exotic plants, shells, sea stones. An incredible number of them can be realized by creating your own "rock gardens". And then with pleasure to watch bright fishes with unusual colors flickering against their background.

The main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, plants and inhabitants of the aquarium. Everything should be harmoniously combined, please its creator and not harm the fish.

Most of us love animals. Someone prefers a cat or a dog as a pet, someone loves exotic and acquires raccoons, chameleons or skunks. Some want the peace that comes with watching fish. It is just for the latter that information on how to make an aquarium with your own hands will be useful.

Glue plays the main role, because it is thanks to it that the fixation and further retention of the entire structure are carried out. There are many types of substances with which you can connect pieces of glass to each other. But with regard to glue for an aquarium, such requirements are put forward:

  • non-toxicity;
  • high strength;
  • elasticity;
  • presentable appearance;
  • relatively quick setting;
  • ease of application;
  • long service life;
  • high degree of adhesion.

All these properties have silicone sealant. But when buying, you should pay attention to the fact that it is 100%, free of impurities and not antibacterial, otherwise the living creatures will simply die. Today there are three main colors available: white, transparent, black. If you use the first, then the aquarium will look like a certain incompleteness. The second is well suited for items up to 100 liters. Anything more is better to glue with black. Small designs look very cumbersome with it, but in large ones, on the contrary, it emphasizes lines and gives elegance. Those who have been building aquariums for a while often choose the Dow Corning 911, KNAUF 881 or Kleiberit Suprasil 590E.

Typically, manufacturers themselves indicate that a particular type of sealant is intended for the manufacture of aquariums. But be sure to watch the composition.

If you decide to assemble your aquarium yourself, then now is not the time to save money. There are many variations of tables and calculators that promise to produce the perfect result. But rarely is the need to install transverse or longitudinal struts indicated. Before proceeding with the choice of glass thickness, you need to determine the desired dimensions. If you are doing such an operation for the first time, then it is better not to take risks with non-standard shapes and bends. Next, we calculate the volume of our structure. To do this, we multiply the length, width and height. Roughly speaking, the standards will be as follows:

  • up to 30 l - 4 mm;
  • up to 80 l - 5 mm;
  • up to 150 l - 6 mm;
  • up to 220 l - 8 mm.

Below is a table that covers the main points. It will allow you not to make a stock, which will slightly reduce costs.

You should not use glass that has long been in the basement, garage, standing in a window or in another place. The fact is that in a certain sense, this type of material also has its own service life. It interacts with the environment resulting in the loss of sodium ions. They will be replaced by other particles that weaken the strength. You need to buy a new one and consider the following:

  • Normal silicate glass will do. Silicone sealant perfectly interacts with it, which forms a molecular bond, which allows it to withstand a pressure of 200 kg per 1 cm of seam.
  • Better if it is M1.
  • There should be no sagging or unevenness.
  • Choose where there are no bubbles. On the one hand, they will violate the aesthetics, and on the other, weaken the strength.
  • If the edges are already polished, then they should be perfectly even, because the sealant interacts with these surfaces better.

If you have never cut glass, then it is better to order it in a workshop. This is a very crucial moment, because the edges after dissection must be perfectly even, otherwise you will not be able to glue them securely. Prepare two copies of the drawing. Leave one to the glazier, and leave the second to yourself so that later there will be no questions in case of non-compliance.

Instruments

After the main expenses are completed, you can start preparing the necessary tool, and you will need the following elements:

  • a gun for silicone (also called a skeleton);
  • metal corners;
  • small clamps;
  • masking tape of small width;
  • stationery knife with a retractable blade;
  • small spatulas;
  • substrates to create a gap.

Metal corners and clamps can be replaced with corner clamps. But if you do not use them in the future, then there is no point in spending money on their purchase.

For assembly, it is better to choose a flat surface, it must be stable, and its size should allow free placement of all constituent elements.

Depending on which configuration is selected, the angles may be:

  • straight;
  • sharp;
  • stupid.

Before applying sealant, it is very important to degrease the surface. You can use alcohol or acetone for this. The size of the seam is selected according to the load that will be applied to the glass:


The bottom can be installed in two ways:

  • the walls rest on him;
  • built around him.

In the first version, the common frame is first assembled, after which it is turned upside down, degreased, a sealant is applied and glass is laid. In the second embodiment, the gluing of the walls will need to be done together with the gluing of the bottom.

In some cases, another glass can be used to reinforce the bottom edge. In this case, two elements are glued together over the entire area.

If the design implies the presence of stiffeners, it is important to remember what requirements they must meet:

  • the size of the longitudinal should be equal to the length of the larger wall;
  • width should be from 5 cm (for models up to 50 liters, 3 cm is enough);
  • glass of the same thickness must be used;
  • to give greater strength, it should be glued with an overlap, and not on the inside.

Complete drying of the sealant usually takes up to three days. At this time, it is better not to move the structure and not to violate its integrity. If this is not observed, then the seams simply will not withstand the planned load.

Installation

After the aquarium has already survived the required period, it is not worthwhile to install it in the planned place. Better to test it. To do this, it is brought into the bathroom, placed on a flat surface (you can build stands and place it on the bathroom) and is filled with water to the desired level. In this state, it is left for several days. If all is well, then the liquid is removed, and the structure is mounted on its pedestal.

From the aquarium you can make a partition between the rooms. In the event that it will be in re-establishment, care must be taken about the presence of ventilation. Due to this, moisture that evaporates will be removed, which eliminates the formation of fungus. An unpleasant odor will also be discharged. It is better to close the surface above the aquarium with a vapor barrier - foil. If it is simply installed on a separate pedestal, then it is covered with a plastic cover with slots for air circulation.

In any of these cases, it is better to lay a layer of polyethylene foam under the aquarium. This will compensate for some unevenness, which will prevent the risk of chipping.

Internal arrangement

The arrangement of internal elements is, by and large, an expression of the owner’s inner world, but there are some rules that should be taken into account:

  • It is better not to put sand on the bottom. He quickly collects sludge, which leads to the need for frequent cleaning. Better to use small to medium-sized pebbles. Only a large one will not work, since the plants will not be able to catch on the roots.
  • Algae are selected for future inhabitants. They are an important part of the microflora, since to some extent they provide water purification, as well as its saturation with oxygen.
  • Additional decorative elements and driftwood will not easily serve to improve the interior. For some species of fish that like to spend time in solitude, they are a must.
  • Be sure to install a pump and filter. They will provide a flow of water, as well as the removal of accumulated harmful substances that could lead to the death of inhabitants.
  • An aerator will be an integral attribute. It ensures the supply of sufficient oxygen.
  • In order to have enough light, special lamps for aquariums are installed that are capable of emitting ultraviolet light.

Pure water is used for the aquarium. It should not be boiled or mineral. It is necessary to let it settle well. The fish can be launched two weeks after everything has been mounted and installed.

The whole process of caring for the aquarium and its inhabitants boils down to the following:

  • Functional check of all pumps and filters.
  • Clean the filters as they become dirty.
  • The walls can be cleaned with two brushes with magnets embedded in them. They are simply mounted on opposite sides of the glass and move in parallel.
  • In order to determine whether it is necessary to clean the bottom, you need to move the stick on the ground. If air bubbles rise, then there is a need to take action. For this, special mud dispensers are used. It can be made independently. You will need a plastic bottle, a silicone hose and two syringes. We make a sleeve from one syringe, cutting off all unnecessary parts. In the second, we cut off the finger rests, and at the place of the needle connection we cut a hole of 5 mm. We connect them together so that the sleeve is at the bottom. We connect the bottle and syringes with a hose. The process boils down to the fact that syringes are immersed in the ground, and with the help of a bottle, pressure is created that raises all the sludge. Then it's up to the pump and filter. In some cases, a complete water change may be required. During this period, you will have to take care of temporary housing for the fish.

As you can see, if you approach the issue reasonably and do not spare money for basic materials, then the aquarium can be assembled at home with the most positive result. Now you can try making aquariums with a semicircular or conical shape.

Video

On the methods of gluing aquarium glasses in the following video: