Nowadays, the pet market is very diverse. Therefore, aspiring fish breeders usually purchase a ready-made aquarium. But keen experienced aquarists prefer to glue them on their own. After all, this is how you can achieve the desired size and volume.
Instructions
Step 1
In order to glue the aquarium yourself, you must first prepare the materials. It is better to order glasses for it, because a machine cuts them in the workshop, and the cutting accuracy will be higher. Glasses should be chosen with a thickness of 8-10 mm, since thinner ones may not be strong enough and cannot withstand water pressure. When ordering, specify that you need glasses specifically for the aquarium, so it is more likely that the masters will not make mistakes.
Step 2
Once you've got the glasses, process the edges. To do this, carefully run along the edge with a sharpening bar under running water. At the same time, the edges themselves do not need to be processed, since the sealant with which you will glue the product better grabs smooth surfaces. in the future, you will not get hurt when setting up and cleaning the aquarium.
Step 3
Once you have finished the edges, wash off any dust from the glass and wipe it with a cloth soaked in acetone to degrease the surfaces to be glued. Along the edges of the glasses with an indentation of 3-4 mm, it is necessary to glue masking tape or electrical tape so that the seam from the sealant is even and neat.
Step 4
Next, you need to take the side and back surfaces of the future aquarium. They should be placed at right angles. It is better if you secure the structure with tape. Then carefully apply the sealant to the corner that forms between the glass surfaces. Excess sealant can be removed using a rubber trowel.
Step 5
Similarly, you need to collect the rest of the glass. The second side glass is glued to the back surface, then the outer one, and then the whole structure is placed on the bottom. The main thing is not to rush. It may take you several days to bond. Make sure that the sealant lies flat and dries thoroughly.
Step 6
Once the aquarium is ready, you need to glue the stiffeners. For small aquariums, they are glued arbitrarily, and for products with volumes over 50 liters - along the long walls. This helps to reduce the water pressure on the glass.
