It is simple to find the beautiful and qualitatively executed aquariums in specialized shops for every taste. But to pick up the capacity of certain exact sizes, for example, under a niche in a furniture wall, it is represented rather complex business. To order such aquarium not to everyone on a pocket, but most to make it not so difficult.
It is required to you
- - metal corner;
- - sheets of glass;
- - silicone glue-sealant.
Instruction
1. Before beginning production of a frame aquarium, in the beginning be engaged in calculations. Having decided on the sizes, calculate the water volume which will be located in such capacity, proceeding from it, in aquarian reference books (them exists more than enough) determine by tables what sizes you will need a corner, glass thickness. Not to do without these calculations, the more walls and seams are under an aquarium, the bigger pressure of water. So, after you decided on parameters of materials and got them, for simplicity of understanding of working process draw the drawing, make the step-by-step plan of works. When before eyes there is a thought-over instruction – easy to do without mistakes, therefore, and without alterations and accidents.
2. Let's begin with a framework: construction features of an aquarium exclude a svarivaniye of corners among themselves "with an overlap" since differences of the planes will appear from behind thickness of metal, as a result glass will not lay down on all surface of pasting. So, all faces of corners should be cut under 45 °. Such geometry is necessary for welding "end-to-end". To cut corners, and then it is necessary to weld a framework very precisely and accurately, no curvature is allowed here. The welded framework should be processed on external seams a file and an emery paper, inside to clean from scale and drops of metal from welding. After that paint all metal design with waterproof paint, and leave to dry. Now it is possible to be engaged in glass.
3. If you chose glass up to 6 mm thick, then it is better to entrust its cutting to masters in a usual glass workshop, give thicker cloth to specialized firm, it more simply and more safely. In view of the fact that now on sale there are a lot of inexpensive and quality silicone sealants, do not order at all and do not do matting of those places of glass cloths on which glue will be applied. Strangely enough, but silicone grabs one many better on the polished surface! Polish faces in order to avoid emergence of new chips and growth of cracks from them. For a small aquarium, when grinding observe a right angle between a face and the plane if capacity is large, it is possible to grind under a small inclination, the amount of glue and the area of pasting so will increase.
4. Many experienced aquarians advise the following method of assembly: the first the facade and back glass as the biggest (they are given the biggest surface of pasting with a framework), then a bottom, then sidewalls are pasted. Others give preference to the following order: a bottom – a facade and the back – sidewalls. If an aquarium small, with the displacement up to 70 l, there is no special difference.
5. It is necessary to tell several words about glue: when choosing silicone sealant pay attention to the summary to it. If you read a mention of anti-fungal action, or of sanitary effect is not your option. Saw the inscription "it is suitable for pasting of aquariums" – safely buy.
6. But whatever remarkable the glue chosen by you was, after its full drying it is necessary to fill in an aquarium with water for 2-3 weeks, to merge it, to wash with flowing water and again to fill in already for upholding. Only after that it is possible to put soil, to lodge a plant and snails and, in case of normal health of the last, it is possible to start small fishes.