If you imagine an aquarium in an apartment or a house, then installed on a table, it will look very usual, no matter how large the capacity is. A design of this kind will be simple, but there is one plus - you do not need a lot of effort to create such beauty yourself. And a completely different thing - a wall mounted aquarium.
Why you should build an aquarium
Here he will look very unusual, stylish and attractive. The aquarium built into the wall is a truly unique design solution. In addition, such a design can become a functional product that can be used as a lighting fixture. But do not assume that making such an aquarium is difficult. First you need to deal with the technical side of the issue.
Mounting opening
If you want to build an aquarium in the wall, you must decide how it will be installed. Here you can choose one of two options. The first provides a one-way review, the second - a two-way. In the latter case, you can see the structure from different rooms. This prospect is very attractive, but not always feasible.
If you have to work with a wall connecting the bedroom and the living room, then for the first such a decor may not be entirely appropriate. This is especially true when you consider the sounds of the compressor, necessary for the normal life of the fish. You must consider the circumstances in order to choose the right installation location for the aquarium.
Niche for one-sided construction
The most important points in this matter are two nuances. You must create a solid foundation that will take on the load. This is exactly where the aquarium will stand. You can not use GKL or a profile system for this purpose.
However, you can use aerated concrete or brick. Drywall will allow you to form only the upper part, which will not be exerted. The upper part needs to be strengthened. If you will form a niche in a brick wall, you will need insurance for the upper bricks in the form of a crossbar from a metal corner.
Opening recommendations
If you want to build an aquarium in the wall, you can create an opening. It will allow you to install the design, viewed from two sides. The work here will be similar, except for the fact that the bricks will need to be insured from two sides. If the opening is made in the bearing wall, and the width is more than 0.5 m, additional reinforcement will be required. From the same corner, a metal frame is built into the opening. It should be double - that is, grab the wall from two sides. Two halves will form a single whole, connecting with each other through welding.
Before embedding an aquarium in a wall, you should think about what a niche will be. It should be accurate in size and located at all possible levels. Its sides should be oriented vertically, and the lower and upper parts - horizontally. If there are slight deviations, this is not so scary, you can eliminate them with the help of finishing, applying putty, plaster or installing drywall with glue. The base of the niche or opening must be covered with plaster. Under the drywall, the entire space should be filled with glue. There should not be passes.
What you need to know about opening dimensions
If you want to build an aquarium in the wall, you must determine the size of the niche or opening. The height of the niche must be increased by about 100 mm relative to the height of the aquarium. Above the glass container you will need to place a filter, a backlight and an air compressor. All this is connected to the mains. You must provide access for feeding. It is also important to consider the width of the niche.
Finishing will also take up space. If the aperture is cut down clearly in size in a glass container, and after finishing with drywall, the aquarium may not fit in its place. You must provide allowances; a technological clearance of 10 mm should be left on each side. This will facilitate the installation of the tank. Then the gap is blocked by slats, plastic platbands or trims.
Before you build an aquarium into the wall, you must ensure that the flat tank does not protrude beyond the niche. It is more difficult to achieve a result in a situation with a double-sided aquarium, when the tank should be flush with the wall. The most optimal solution would be to make a niche of the right size, and subsequently purchase a glass container. For a one-sided aquarium, this approach would be ideal.
Features of preparation
With your own hands, an aquarium built into the wall can be installed in any room. But more appropriate this design will look in the living room or in the kitchen. Before starting work, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. The wall where the installation is planned must be free of wiring. It should not be a carrier. If the wires were laid for a long time, and it is impossible to find a diagram of its location, then you need to “ring” the wall with a special device. Only after this is the marking carried out. In order for the lines to be even, a plumb line or a building ruler should be used.
To cut holes in the wall, several through holes should be drilled around the perimeter of the outline of the rectangle. Using the same drill, all holes are connected in a continuous cut. If there is reinforcement in the wall, it is cut off with a grinder. The aquarium built into the partition should not be in the way. Therefore, fragments of reinforcement are cut out and extracted. After that, you can remove the remnants of building materials and dust. Ideally, if all this work will be carried out during the repair.
A fairly important step in building an aquarium is to level the slopes. Particular attention should be paid to the horizontal lower plane, as it will be the platform for the structure. Alignment of the walls is usually done with gypsum plaster. After completion of these works, all parties are covered with silicone, which will serve as a waterproofing.
Recommendations for work
A flat base is very important for the installation of the aquarium. An imperfect surface plane may cause the top of the aquarium to protrude on one side and sink into the opening on the other hand after installing the tank. In this case, the load on one face can cause the depressurization of the tank.
After looking at the photos of the aquariums built into the wall, you can begin to think that fixing the structure is not required. At first glance, this is exactly so, because some believe that under its weight the aquarium is reliably standing. But if you think that a person can lean on a construction inaccurately, one can imagine catastrophic consequences. Mount the aquarium in the wall is a must. You should take care of the restrictions that will not allow the capacity to move in one direction or another. It is also important to consider the effect of moisture on the wall or opening. In this regard, you should think about waterproofing.
Around the aquarium often organize high-quality ventilation. It is also necessary to take into account electrical safety rules. Make grounding or use waterproof sockets. If you are thinking about how to make a built-in aquarium in the wall, then you should also pay attention to fixing the hanging structure. You can install the tank exactly in the center of the large opening on the pipe structure. They can be used as a place for laying air supply pipes and filtered water. To make such a design yourself is quite simple from a technical point of view.
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of aquariums built into the wall must be studied by you before you begin work. Among the positive features, it should be noted that the contemplation of the inhabitants of the water element calms and pacifies. A room with an aquarium looks very unusual.
But this interior item has some disadvantages. First of all, caring for your aquarium can be quite tedious. Secondly, the compressor can make noise that is annoying over time. Thirdly, there is a danger of depressurization, which can lead to flooding of neighbors and damage to their own repairs.
Finally
The aquarium in the wall can look very attractive in any room of your house or apartment. But before you start embedding this design, you need to think several times, because it is not always possible to work independently and efficiently. In addition, caring for such an aquarium can be very problematic.