Aquarium science is becoming an increasingly popular hobby every year in different countries of the world. The fishes are very beautiful, watching them wonderfully calms the psyche and sets them up in a positive, creative way. The only problem is that the cost of the aquarium can be very high. And this is not only about some branded models!
Many fans have a question about how to make an
aquarium with your own hands. In principle, there is nothing extraordinary in this. And you can verify this by reading our article.
Why engage in "amateur activity"?
There are several reasons for this, in addition to dissatisfaction with the price of factory copies. Let's list them:
- Firstly, an experienced aquarium lover may not be satisfied with the quality, shape and other characteristics of what is being sold in stores.
- Secondly, you may just want to do something useful with your own hands.
- Thirdly, you want to “fill your hand” and subsequently engage in the sale of independently made aquariums.
In general, we figured out the reasons. So how to make an aquarium yourself? The thing to start with choosing the right material.
Materials and stuff
Glass should be given special attention. If you are thinking about how to make an aquarium with your own hands for dolls (or for some similar decorative purposes), all this is not necessary to read: just take a more or less suitable glass and start gluing, using the tips in the corresponding part of the article. In case you need a house for fish, continue to read further.
It is generally accepted that the best grades of glass are M1 or M8. The best choice would be a variety of M1, but this material also costs a little more. Experts say that when choosing a grade, you should choose glass no worse than M3, since taking risks in such a case is too dangerous: flooded neighbors are unlikely to be happy with your hobby.
Before you make an aquarium yourself for the first time, do not particularly experiment. Ordinary display glass is perfect for you. When buying, be sure to ensure that there are no cracks, chips, bubbles, or other defects on the material.
Do not forget that even before the purchase does not hurt to determine in advance the thickness of the material. Let us give an example of a table by which it will be possible to "estimate" these parameters. At the junction of the values you will see the required glass thickness.
Height, centimeters | The length of the aquarium, centimeters |
55 | 65 | 75 | 85 | 95 | 105 | 115 | 125 |
thirty | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
35 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
40 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
45 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
fifty | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
55 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
60 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | eleven | eleven | eleven |
65 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | eleven | eleven | eleven | eleven |
70 | 9 | 9 | eleven | eleven | eleven | eleven | eleven | eleven |
75 | 9 | eleven | eleven | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen |
80 | 9 | eleven | eleven | eleven | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen |
85 | eleven | eleven | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | 16 | 16 | 16 |
90 | eleven | eleven | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | 16 | 16 | 16 |
95 | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | thirteen | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
We calculate the required volume
In general, before making an aquarium with your own hands, it is advisable to at least roughly imagine its volume. To calculate it, you need a simple mathematical formula:
V = l * a * h
l is the desired vessel length.
a is its estimated width.
h - accordingly, its required height.
Just multiplying all these parameters, you will get the volume of the aquarium that you need. As you can see, you will not need anything more complicated than a calculator to determine these values.
Stiffening rib
What is it and what are they for? Stiffening ribs are strips of the same glass that will protect your vessel from bending outward. Their thickness and length should be the same as that of the aquarium glasses. The width of the stiffeners can be up to five centimeters. If your aquarium will be more than half a meter in length, we strongly recommend that you take care of the presence of a special structural element that should be mounted at right angles to the front and side windows.
In addition to increasing the strength of the vessel, the ribs make it possible to lay heavy coverslips on top, as well as transfer an aquarium with them. If the length of the structure is equal to one and a half meters (or more), it is highly desirable to install screeds. In principle, these are the same strips of glass, but they should be glued to the bottom of the stiffeners themselves.
To cut or not to cut?
With the basic parameters, everything is clear. That's just how to cut the material and is it worth it to do it yourself? If you were born with a glass cutter in your hands - no questions, go for it. But if you have even a drop of indecision in you, it’s better not to touch it. Firstly, it is really difficult and dreary. Secondly, the cost of cutting is most often included in the price of the material. Even better, when you find a decent workshop where glass is cut not with a manual glass cutter, but with a special machine, with which you can make perfectly even cuts.
The latter not only directly affects the appearance of the aquarium, but also on the quality of its gluing, which is already much more important. If you are satisfied with a small vessel, then you will probably be able to agree with the master to make parts for it from scraps: the cost of this option will surely surprise you! It is very important that the edges are processed with quality in the workshop, as it will be very disappointing to remain without a finger as a result of caring for the fish. In principle, they can be processed at home, but only such an operation is still fraught with injury.
Before you make an aquarium with your own hands, including cutting glass, practice properly, otherwise the results will surely disappoint you.
Glue question
By the way, and with what glue to combine all this "good"? The answer is unequivocal - silicone sealant and only it. But just before you make an aquarium, we strongly recommend making sure of two important things:
- It is truly 100% silicone.
- It is really suitable for gluing aquariums. It is advisable to read the information on the packaging two times. Important! Today in the markets you can often see antifungal sealants that are as if suitable for an aquarium. That's just in fact those fungicides that are contained in such glue have an extremely negative effect on the state of the flora and fauna of your aquarium! Among professionals, the Dow Corning 911 brand is considered the standard. You will probably have no problems with this sealant.
Before making an aquarium at home, you must also choose the right color for the sealant. Today there are compositions of all colors of the rainbow: which one to choose?
You should know that black sealants look best in aquariums, the volume of which is more than a hundred liters. Colorless sealants are universal. If you want to make a marine aquarium with your own hands, it is preferable to choose this option. Practice shows that sea water often reacts with dyes, and this often ends sadly.
It should be noted that with colorless sealants, gluing and cutting errors of glass are not so noticeable. White and colored adhesives have to be linked to the design of the room. In addition, a “colorful” small aquarium in most cases will look ridiculous.
Before you make an aquarium at home, it is better to purchase a colorless glue. Note that it is better to buy it in a tube, to which you can attach the mounting gun. It will be much easier to work with him.
Jewelry
Let's make a small digression. Many are interested in how to make decorations in the aquarium with your own hands at home. It is difficult to answer in two words. However, we will try.
There are two types of jewelry: objects of animate and inanimate nature. The first are driftwood. To prepare them, a complex and multi-stage boiling out is required. In addition, if it was carried out by a layman, no one will guarantee that the snag will not begin to rot soon. Therefore, it is better to buy such jewelry in specialized stores.
So all the same how to make a decor in the aquarium with your own hands? The easiest way is to collect beautiful stones (not limestone) and make a fancy composition from them. In addition, beautiful back frames are often made on the rear wall of the aquarium: a box of the appropriate size is made of glass or wood, in which compositions from branches, dry plants and other things are laid out. Note also that the backside can be painted over corny.
What is useful for work?
Here is a short list of tools and supplies we would like to bring to your attention:
- Soft whetstone.
- Twenty milliliter syringe.
- A good supply of napkins does not hurt.
- A sharp clerical knife for cutting off sealant residues.
- Bottle of degreaser.
Start to glue
Before you make an aquarium with your own hands, you need to clearly imagine two main ways of gluing:
- The walls can be glued directly to the bottom.
- They can be mounted around the bottom.
Numerous sources describe that the second method is more reliable. But practice shows that the first option is no worse, the strength characteristics of such aquariums are very good. Many aquarium lovers say that it is much more convenient to perform. It is on his example that we will tell you about how to make an aquarium with our own hands. Remember that one important circumstance must be taken into account: the side walls are made shorter than the width of the bottom of the aquarium (exactly two glass thicknesses). Do not forget to add a millimeter to the stock.
In general, you have stockpiled everything you need, you learned everything you need. It's time to start gluing. So how to make an aquarium with your own hands at home?
First stage
Work on the edges of the glass immediately if you have not done so before. It is best to do this as follows: collect about ten to fifteen centimeters of water in the bath, put a thick terry towel on the bottom, and carefully place the glass on it. Wetting a soft whetstone with water, gently run it along the edges of the glass. Do not process the cut surfaces themselves! The fact is that silicone holds well on a smooth, and not on a rough surface.
If you want to make an aquarium with your own hands (large), find out in advance whether it is possible to work in the bathroom, whether it is cluttered: one awkward movement - and you do not have glass. After finishing work, wipe the glass properly with a dry cloth. Their ends must be properly degreased using alcohol or acetone (only in a well-ventilated area).
Second phase
We lay the bottom of the future aquarium in the room where you will work. Do not forget that under the glass it is advisable to put a clean and thick rag. In principle, paper is also good. Gently cut the nozzle off the tube with glue, pre-tucking it into the mounting gun. We take the front wall of the future aquarium, apply silicone sealant to its end.
If you glue glass for a small aquarium, it will be more convenient to use not a mounting gun, but a syringe, which we mentioned above. Firstly, a strip of glue will go better. Secondly, surplus sealant will probably appear much less. When applying the substance, make sure that its layer is as uniform as possible.
If you see a cavity formed, immediately fill it. Applied a layer of sealant? Then we take the wall and install it on the bottom of the aquarium. Do not press hard: otherwise, too much glue excess will form. Silicone is characterized in that its layer is stronger, the larger it is.
Try to ensure that excess silicone does not come out on both sides. If something nevertheless "crawled out", it is better not to do anything yet. Let the seam dry out properly, so that later it is easier to cut off the excess. The glued front wall is supported by something and left.
Third stage
We begin to mount the side wall in the same way. The ends of the aquarium are carefully lubricated with sealant, gently glued. It is very important at this moment to prevent the formation of bevels and the like defects. Constantly monitor the state of the silicone layer at the joints.
Fourth stage
As you can understand, all the remaining faces are glued in the same way. You need to press the walls against each other gently, without fanaticism: otherwise you run the risk of simply squeezing out a bunch of silicone, which will almost certainly lead to the formation of leaks. When finished, the aquarium should be left to dry for at least one day. In no case can it be moved or moved.
Fifth stage
We have already mentioned that, but recall once again. Since making an aquarium with your own hands (400 liters or more volumetric vessels in particular) is quite difficult the first time, do not forget to play it safe and stick on stiffeners.
Fasten them should begin one day after the end of gluing the aquarium. First you need to turn the finished product on its side. We stiffen the stiffener carefully with silicone sealant over its entire area. The most important is to process the longest side. We glue the parts and again wait at least a day until the design reaches the required strength.
If you are making a really large aquarium, it’s better not to rush anywhere and wait at least two to three days. So much more reliable. In general, in this case, it is best to once again pick up the instructions for your sealant and carefully study it. As a rule, a lot of interesting things are written there. Often on the market you can buy such a sealant, the official period of complete drying of which is at least four to five days. By the way, there is one little secret: if the room has at least slightly increased humidity, the silicone dries much faster.
Final actions
So, the glue has finally dried. Now it’s time for us to begin liquidating its surpluses. For this purpose, a sharp blade or clerical knife is taken . In principle, inside the aquarium you can not cut it. Water, soil and vegetation will perfectly hide all your flaws.
Finally, we recommend that you must check the tightness of your creation. Transfer (if possible) the aquarium to a place that, if something happens, is not a pity to fill in. Carefully fill it with water and leave it for a couple of days. If not a drop of water protrudes from the seams throughout this period, you can deserve to congratulate yourself.