Aquarium is an easy way out for those who want to have pets but cannot afford a dog, cat or rodents for one reason or another. Fish are very comfortable pets: aquarium care is minimal: water change once a month, feeding five times a week. If the owner is often not at home, then the animals themselves will solve the problem with food by eating the plant, or the so-called "weekend" tablet - slowly dissolving compressed food. However, in order for the created aquatic ecosystem to function successfully, it is necessary to purchase high-quality equipment. And it's not just the container itself. It is necessary to take into account filtration, aeration and lighting of water. In addition, any aquarium needs a lid.
What the lid is for
Limiting the top surface in an aquarium is important for several reasons. First, it prevents the rapid evaporation of water. If the happy owner of the aquarium does not want to add water to the tank every few days, fluid loss should be limited. With a cover, less dust and debris enters the artificial reservoir. Many fish and other aquatic life (such as shrimp) are quitecan jump high out of the water. Naturally, such a release to the shore will not end in anything good for them. In addition, the splashes that animals create when somersaulting can have a bad effect on aquarium lighting. The lid can carry a utilitarian function - holes for wires, automatic feeders, lamps are built into it, that is, they create the cleanest and most aesthetic appearance of the aquarium.
Aquarium can be purchased with a lid. If it is lost for some reason, it can be replaced by yourself or by contacting an aquarium workshop.
What material to make the cover from
If you decide to rely on your own strength, making a cover for an aquarium with your own hands is not so difficult.
Glass is a very durable and comfortable material for a lid. It transmits light well (which means you can install an overhead lamp). Glass is easy to clean - algae may appear on the lid, food particles remain, dust accumulates. If the aquarium is simple in shape, simply cut or cut glass slightly larger than the bottom of the aquarium. A small piece of plastic can be glued onto silicone glue - an impromptu handle to open and close the container.
PVC aquarium cover is a simple and affordable option. It is enough to contact a hardware store - there panels of this material are presented in assortment. If the house has just been renovated, plasterboard surfaces, ceiling material or other residues may remainpolyvinyl chloride. Its advantage is that it is easily glued. To make the lid, you will need to make blanks: sides (from 15 cm wide) and the lid itself. Inside the cover we will build in the fasteners for the fluorescent lamp. Glue the box, which is designed for the aquarium. When fastening parts, do not use toxic substances. Silicone glue will be optimal - it is inert in relation to water and does not harm its inhabitants.
If desired, the lid can be made of both plexiglass and plastic. These are inexpensive materials, but they will be more difficult to clean than glass and PVC.
Backlight
Illuminated aquarium lid is a very convenient design. Lighting can be of two types - built into the lid and top. Both of these options have pros and cons. If we use an overhead lamp, we can use only transparent material for the manufacture of the cover - glass is preferable (organic glass is less cleanable, less transparent, especially over time - due to scratches). But such lamps do not heat water, you can not worry that water will get on the contacts and they will burn out.
Built-in lighting in a do-it-yourself aquarium cover looks more aesthetically pleasing, gives potentially more light, as the lamps are located closer to the water. Contacts in such covers must be securely covered and moisture should not get inside. There must be a gap between the lighting fixture and the water - so that strong heating does not occurwater. This design is more cumbersome and harder to clean.
Wire outlet
If you do not provide technological holes for the output of wires immediately in the lid for the aquarium with your own hands, then you will have to face a serious problem. Filter, aerator, water heater, lamp - an artificial ecosystem needs this technique. It is better to organize the output of wires and tubes at the back wall - this way it will be possible to place the sockets with the connection as discreetly as possible. If the shape of the aquarium allows, you can tint the back wall with a background image, then the equipment will be masked.
Features of aquariums of different shapes
Making a lid for an aquarium with your own hands is not difficult if the shape of the container resembles a parallelepiped. However, if the aquarium has a panoramic view, then the task becomes more complicated. Panoramic aquariums have a beveled or rounded front wall. In this case, you can make your own complex shape from plastic or plexiglass. If you decide to use more dense or fragile materials (glass), you will have to contact the workshop.
The lid for a round aquarium may sometimes not be used - to prevent evaporation, the hole is made as small as possible. But, nevertheless, with a lid it will be much more convenient. The only thing is that due to the small size of the cover, you will have to use overhead lighting. This means that the material for the manufacture of this part of the aquarium is only glass (or organic glass).
What you needconsider
- If the aquarium is covered with a lid, you need to provide oxygen to the water. An aerator or a filter with aerating functions will help to cope with this.
- Before you make a cover for the aquarium, you need to take into account the dimensions as accurately as possible. Too large a design is inconvenient - it can be accidentally touched, knocked over. The small one will not fulfill its function. We are guided by the principle “Measure seven times - cut one.”
- The lid should be cleaned regularly to remove dust, food residue and algae.
In the manufacture of any design for the aquarium, toxic compounds should not be used. Use silicone glue.
