Let's start with the choice of glass, for the aquarium it is necessary to take glass M3 and higher, check the absence of inclusions, scratches. This is the most crucial step if you decide to make your own aquarium.
Now it is necessary to determine the thickness of the glass. Let's calculate the volume of our poor aquarium using the formula: V = a * b * h where a and b are the width and length, and h is the height. After counting, we determine the thickness of the glass: up to 30 liters - you can take 5 mm glass, if the volume is up to 50 liters - then 6 mm, up to 100 liters - 8 mm, 120 liters and above - it is better to take 12 mm glass. For durability in large aquariums, it is better to use screeds.
Now, we need to cut it open. Cutting is usually included in the list of services when buying glass, and when gluing a small aquarium, it is better to look for a workshop in which parts for it will be cut from scraps, its cost will be significantly reduced.
How to glue the aquarium? Of course - silicone glue. There are two ways to glue the aquarium: when the walls are placed on the bottom, and when they are attached around the bottom. Now the assembly order itself.
We collect 10-15 cm of water in the bath. Put a towel on the bottom, put glass on it. Grind the ribs with a moistened grindstone. We dry the ends, and degrease them with acetone or alcohol.
We put the bottom on paper. On the front wall, on the end with which the wall becomes on the bottom, we evenly apply the sealant, then we take it and carefully put it on the bottom. Do not press too hard, otherwise almost all the glue will come out, and the adhesion strength will decrease, this is one of the features of silicone, that the greater its thickness, the stronger the product glued to it.
It is necessary for the glue to come out a little on both sides. We support the wall and wait until it dries up.
We take the side wall. This time, you need to smear the bottom end, which is placed on the bottom, and the side end, which will be glued to the glass, which in turn is already glued to the bottom. We put it in place.
Do not forget to check the quality of the pressed down silicone layer.
We do the same manipulations with the remaining sides of the aquarium, after which we leave our aquarium to dry for about a day. Do not rearrange it under any circumstances.
When it dries, we take the blade and cut off the excess glue at the seams, you can not cut it inside, it will be invisible in water. Pour water into the aquarium, it is better to do this in the bathroom, since there is a chance of leakage, and leave it for a couple of hours. Take a close look at the seams and carefully check the corners. If there are no leaks anywhere, then you were able to make the aquarium correctly. Now you can calmly deal with its population.
