How to make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands

Nowadays, the owners of aquariums prefer waterfalls as a stylish and original element of decor. It looks very nice and spectacular. At first glance, the phrase "waterfall in the aquarium" seems awkward. From where and where does the water fall when the reservoir is already filled with it? To help aquascaupers comes the sand, because it flows exactly from above. Thanks to this, the illusion of the waterfall is created. Is it possible to create such decoration at home? And what will it take to make a waterfall in the aquarium with their own hands?

The principle of the waterfall in the aquarium

Today, specialized stores are ready to offer a large assortment of decorations in the form of a waterfall. Fans of aqua design can purchase such a device by choosing the appropriate shape, size and cost. Waterfalls in shops can have various forms, such as a sphinx, a tower, a stalactite or a rock. The kit contains all the necessary elements that are needed for assembly and connection.

But the real pleasure of aquascaping is obtained when they make this spectacular decor element at home. How to make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands? First of all, it is necessary to understand the principle of its operation. The effect of falling water is achieved by the flow of fine grains of sand. First of all, it is necessary to understand how the sand will rise to the surface, and then sink to the bottom. This is due to an air compressor, which creates a vacuum effect in the tube in which sand is located. Applied physics defines a similar phenomenon as injection. The grains go up the tube, and, reaching the outlet, flow down under the influence of their weight. Consequently, the main tasks in the construction of the waterfall is to provide two points: the continuity of this process and the patency of the tube through which the sand rises.

Required components for making a waterfall

The manufacture of the waterfall will require patience and precision. But if everything is done right, the result will certainly please you with its beauty and originality.

How to make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands? First of all, it is necessary to determine which unit will provide the injection effect. For this purpose, the compressor for the aquarium is excellent , which is a necessary attribute of almost any house for fish. The injected air will grab the grains of sand and lift them up the tube. The compressor is the first and main component for the device being manufactured. You also need the following items:

• Support for the waterfall, made of hard material. Its height corresponds to the size of the entire decor design. For use as a support, any plastic pipe perfectly fits. To ensure stability, you should attach it to a rectangular base.
• A rubber hose with a cross section of 10-15 millimeters. Its length will correspond to the height of the support from the previous point.
• Tube from the dropper system.
• Scotch.
• A bottle of plastic with a capacity of 1.5 liters.
• Silicone adhesive.
• Stones of low weight for decorating the structure.

Manufacturing of waterfall details

How to make a waterfall in an aquarium? To the support made of a plastic pipe, with the help of silicone it is necessary to attach a hose from rubber. Its upper part should rise above the surface of the water in the aquarium by one to two centimeters to ensure air outlet.

At the bottom of the hose, at a distance of five to six centimeters from the edge, a slit should be made. Subsequently, a bowl will be inserted into this hole to collect the falling sand. This capacity is recommended to be made from a plastic bottle. To do this, cut off the upper tapering part, then get rid of the neck and thread and cut the remaining funnel along into two halves. This element, resembling a scoop, will serve as a bowl for collecting sand.

Assembling the structure of the waterfall

When all the components of the structure are ready, you can proceed with the layout. To collect a waterfall in an aquarium, you first need to put the prepared sand container into the rubber hose in place of the slot that was made earlier, temporarily fix it with adhesive tape and glue it with silicone adhesive.

Next, connect the thin tube of the dropper system to the bottom edge of the rubber hose. It is on it will be fed the air, which is pumped by the compressor.

At the top of the main hose of rubber you need to make a large slit, from which the sand will pour. This hole should be located just below the water level in the aquarium. For correct and uniform operation of the device, this slit should be covered with a thin sintepon, which will function as a filter.

Waterfall for the aquarium is almost ready. It is recommended to ensure that all joints of the structure are well sealed with silicone in order to avoid weakening of injection. Then left to show imagination and implement the decoration of the device.

Decoration

When installing a waterfall, it is recommended to put several stones on top of a rectangular base. They will serve both as design objects and as elements that give the device stability. To decorate the structure, you should use a sheet of waterproof material in order to hide the support and rubber hose and leave in sight only the falling sand. For additional decor, you can place a composition of stones, snags and plants next to the waterfall.

If you place the structure in the center of the aquarium, the tank will be divided into two parts. This looks unaesthetic. Therefore, you should install a waterfall near the walls or in the corner of the house for fish.

Recommendations for choosing sand

The completeness of the illusion of the waterfall is influenced by the sand used in the design. It should be chosen, guided by such principles:

• Do not use too fine sand, because the air flow can spray it in different directions.
• It is not recommended that the bulk fraction of the bulk material is too large, since large grains of sand can create a blockage inside the rubber hose.

Waterfall in the aquarium will look more impressive, elegant and unique, if you use colored artificial sand.

Before you finally install the design in the tank, you should conduct several experiments using the bulk material of different fractions and select the suitable one, which will create the necessary flowing effect.

Waterfall in the aquarium is a fashionable and unusual element of modern art for creating an underwater landscape. Each breeder of fish dreams that the house of his pets stand out as a special, original element of the decor. It is the waterfall, created by their own hands, and will be such a zest, successfully blended into the overall interior of the aquarium. Moreover, it is not too difficult to make such a device.