An aquarium allows each person to create a relaxation corner in their home. The beauty of underwater life is fascinating and calming. That is why people are happy to buy aquarium fish and organize comfortable conditions for them in their home. The organization and maintenance of an aquarium home corner is not cheap for hobbyists. In addition to the aquarium itself and its inhabitants, it is necessary to spend money on many additional items for caring for the fish and feeding them. But all these concerns initially fade into the background, because first you need to arrange the habitat - by placing the aquarium on a stand.
The choice of a stand is not so much about aesthetics, although this is also important, but about functionality. The stand for the aquarium should have the right dimensions, withstand the necessary loads, be easy to use and moisture-resistant.
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Why do you need a stand for an aquarium?
Not every aquarium enthusiast understands why they spend money on a bulky structure in the form of a stand for an aquarium. It takes up a lot of space, and, let's just say, it's not cheap. In addition, not all manufacturers can vouch for the strength and durability of this structure. So is it worth buying?
Experienced aquarium keepers will definitely answer in the affirmative. There are exceptions to the rule - aquariums with a capacity of up to 50 liters can be placed on any piece of furniture. A table, bedside table or sturdy shelves can be used for small containers. All glass structures exceeding the specified volume require specialized stands - pedestals. This factor is due not to the desire of furniture manufacturers to sell an additional product, but to the safety of the aquarium itself and the surrounding space. The slightest crack in the glass can lead to the destruction of the aquarium, the death of fish, damage to property, which will be flooded with water from a broken flask.
Making a cabinet with your own hands is not only cost-effective. Making a homemade structure can solve a lot of problems.
- Individualization of the product.
- Harmonization with the interior.
- Accurate strength calculation.
- Quality.
Having made a stand for an aquarium with your own hands, you can be sure that it will serve for a long time and will not bring any unpleasant surprises to the owner.
We are making a project
The basic foundation of any work in the manufacture of furniture is the creation of a drawing. The scheme of the future stand is based on the dimensions of the existing aquarium. It is recommended to create a design in which the tabletop will coincide with the parameters of the glass flask or slightly exceed them. The increase in the stand should be insignificant, do not leave extra centimeters on the sides.
The main purpose of the stand is to support the weight of the aquarium, meaning the total weight of the aquarium itself, the water in it and additional elements. Therefore, when creating a project, it is necessary to take this value into account and create a drawing that will cope with this task.
The height of the furniture is also of great importance. Here it is necessary to consider in what position the person will watch the fish - sitting or standing. If it is assumed that this is a rest room where people usually sit, then the height of the nightstand together with the legs should be limited to 70 centimeters and not higher. The location of the aquarium in the bedroom allows you to reduce the height.
The drawing should take into account the further functionality of the use of this furniture item. It can provide shelves not only for special aquarium devices, but also for books, newspapers or decorative ornaments.
Deciding on the materials
When selecting materials for work, it is necessary to remember that the very purpose of the cabinet implies contact of the furniture surface with water. Therefore, it is recommended to use only waterproof materials. In this case, laminated MDF or chipboard are perfect. It is better not to use wood, because it is difficult to make it waterproof, and solid wood will also increase the weight of the already large structure.
When calculating the required amount of materials, it is necessary to take into account that, unlike bedside tables or chests of drawers, a cabinet for an aquarium requires a strong back wall. It is on it that most of the load will fall. The thickness of the MDF or chipboard for the back wall should be at least 22 mm. It is recommended to make it not solid, but to build it in between the side and internal partitions. This increases the strength of the structure.
It is better to make the frame of the stand for the aquarium metal. If this is not possible, and the frame of the structure will be made of wooden beams, then you should choose strong and not thin elements. Partitions inside the stand are better planned with the calculation every 40 centimeters. This design allows you to avoid deflections of the tabletop.
The aquarium countertop is made of high-strength material. When fixing it, it is important to check the level along the perimeter of the entire surface. The countertop should be ideal in level and not have even the slightest discrepancies. The thicker the countertop material, the better.
The legs for the cabinet are selected based on their strength. You should pay attention to metal legs with a large surface or wooden stable stands.
Everything that concerns decorative finishing in the form of doors on the nightstand or handles on the drawers, here everything depends on the taste of the master and the desired final effect. You can visually lighten the structure a little by introducing carving elements to the external facade. If you have a serious metal frame, you can also use glass to decorate the doors in the nightstand.
Let's get to work
Having a ready-made drawing of the future design, and having decided on the materials for work, you can safely proceed to further implementation of the project. To make a cabinet with your own hands, you need to step by step complete the following steps.
- Cut the chipboard or other selected material. You can do this yourself, if you have the space and the necessary tools. Sawing can also be ordered at any furniture workshop or store, purchasing chipboard sheets. For an additional fee, you can also order tape gluing along the cut edges there. This service will significantly save time during future assembly and reduce the amount of waste in the room.
- The assembly of the product begins with the frame part. Bars or metal slats are assembled. Correct fastening of the frame parts will ensure the strength of the future product. All angles are verified and should not deviate from the drawing. Even a one-degree tilt can lead to skewing and deformation of the product, and accordingly, the aquarium itself. External walls and internal partitions are attached to the frame. Fastening is done using Euro screws and a screwdriver. Confirmats are not self-tapping screws and require pre-drilled holes in the materials. When choosing a drill for a drill, you should proceed from the size of the selected confirmats minus 1 mm.
- It is better to fix the tabletop in several stages. First, make two holes at its diametrically opposite corners. After fixing the tabletop, check the level and, if there are no flaws, screw it in place. For this reason, it is better not to make preliminary holes over the entire surface of the table, but to drill holes after preliminary level measurement.
- Next, horizontal shelves are mounted, drawers are assembled, and doors are hung. It is very important to properly secure the guides for drawers, which will allow them to be used without hindrance. Hinged doors are attached to furniture hinges. When fixing them, it is better to use closers, which will allow the doors to open and close correctly and smoothly.
- After complete assembly, the product is laid on its side, after which the legs are attached. They should be attached strictly along the edges of the frame structure to prevent subsidence and deflection. Heel pads should be placed on the attached legs to avoid scratching the floor surfaces.
Assembling the product yourself allows the craftsman to foresee any details. Therefore, the final stage will be drilling the back wall to pass electrical cables and water or air vent hoses. Holes should be made only after clearly defining the purpose of each hole and its functionality.
The final touches
The final touches after assembling the furniture item are the correct installation of the cabinet. The floor surface must be perfectly flat, otherwise it will reduce all the efforts of the master to nothing. Considering the weight of the cabinet itself, plus the aquarium with all its contents, one should be aware of the impossibility of moving this monumental composition. Therefore, one should pre-select a convenient place for installation. Not only spatial possibility, aesthetic affiliation, but also technical equipment are taken into account. The aquarium is connected to the power supply, so it is necessary to provide for the presence of electrical outlets within walking distance.
It is recommended to place a substrate under the aquarium tank. This can be the material used for laying laminate.
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