Sand for waterfall
The choice of sand in this case plays a very important role. In order for the illusion of a waterfall to be as complete as possible, you need to select sand based on several factors.
Firstly, it should not be too small, since under the influence of the air flow it will scatter in different directions (spray).
Secondly, the sand should not be too coarse: large grains of sand can create a traffic jam in the main highway.
Therefore, in order to achieve the desired effect of a falling flow, the sand fraction for each specific product is almost always selected experimentally.
In addition, you can purchase painted artificial sand, which will give the “waterfall” unique beauty and grace.
Perhaps every aquarist who is in love with his business wants his brainchild to stand out with some special decorative element. A self-made underwater waterfall that fits well into the overall interior of the aquarium can become just such an important element.
You can see that the “sandfall” in the aquarium looks as impressive as a real waterfall in the video:
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The choice of a specific extension will directly depend on the browser used. The fact is that each such program, be it Chrome or Mozilla, has its own extension store. Therefore, add-ons that are available in Chrome may not be available in Mozilla.
For Google Chrome, the best extension option is “Download from Instagram”. The add-on adds a video download button on the Instagram page of interest. After clicking the button, the download process begins immediately.
For Mozilla Firefox browser users, we recommend “Download IG Video/Photo”. The button for this fairly well-known utility will always be visible when surfing the web. And in addition to downloading videos from Instagram, it allows you to download videos, including from other services.
Finally, the Helper extension is very popular. It will also add a download button to the page where the video that needs to be downloaded is located.
Of course, these are not all the extensions that are worthy of attention. Therefore, before choosing the most suitable option, it is recommended to study the issue and try several utilities.
Assembling the waterfall structure
When all the components of the structure are ready, you can begin the layout. To assemble a waterfall in an aquarium, you first need to insert the manufactured sand collection container into a rubber hose in the place of the slot that was made earlier, temporarily fix it with tape and glue it with silicone glue.
Next, you need to attach the thin tube of the dropper system to the bottom edge of the rubber hose. It is through this that the air pumped by the compressor will be supplied.
In the upper part of the main rubber hose you need to make a large slot from which sand will pour out. This hole should be located just below the water level in the aquarium. For proper and uniform operation of the device, this slot should be covered with a thin padding polyester, which will function as a filter.
The waterfall for the aquarium is almost ready. It is recommended to ensure that all joints of the structure are well sealed with silicone to avoid loosening of the injection. Next, it remains to show your imagination and decorate the device.
How to make sandfall
You can make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands by first preparing all the components and a work plan.
Necessary materials
In order to make sandfall in an aquarium, you need to prepare the following components:
- air compressor;
- the support on which the fountain will be installed. Most often, a water pipe is used, which is cut and the edges are bent to the sides;
- hose with a cross section of 10 mm. The length of the hose must match the length of the support;
- IV tubes;
- a plastic container that will serve as a collecting bowl (a cut plastic bottle can be used);
- silicone glue;
- scotch;
- decor
The sizes of materials should be selected depending on the size of the container. The larger the waterfall, the stronger the base must be used.
How to choose sand
The fountain built into the aquarium is mounted using sand. In order for the jet to appear as realistic as possible, it is necessary to select the right type of sand. The correct type of sand will allow you to avoid loading the filter for water purification. When choosing, the following criteria are taken into account:
- sand size. It is necessary to use material of the middle fraction. The grains of sand should not get stuck in the tube and should not be too heavy, as the air filter may not cope with the task. Grains of sand that are too small may flutter and not create the necessary flow;
- color of grains of sand. The color of the sand may depend on the color scheme of the container. However, in order to create the most natural conditions, it is necessary to use white sand, or with a light blue color.
Aquarists often mix sand to achieve the desired result to achieve a natural appearance.
Algorithm of actions
In order to understand how to make a waterfall in an aquarium, you must follow the following recommendations:
- all water and decorations are removed from the container;
- Using a plastic pipe, you need to fix it in the aquarium. Damasks and a triangular base can be used as a holder;
- Using silicone glue, attach the hose along the base. The rubber hose should protrude 2cm. above the base level;
- You should retreat 5 cm from the bottom of the hose and make a slot;
- the slot is bent and a plastic storage container is inserted;
- In the place of the slot it is necessary to stick adhesive tape and carefully glue it with glue. This will reduce the risk of sand flow leakage;
- Connect the tubes from the dropper to the bottom of the hoses. The length of the tubes depends on the location of the compressor;
- on the top part you should retreat 2 cm from the water level and make a slot;
- bend the top slot. This is necessary so that the sand can pour out freely.
Once the structure is ready, it is necessary to make a canopy that will prevent sand from being sprayed throughout the container. For an aquarium, a cut from a plastic bottle can be used. The visor is attached to the upper part of the support and hoses, so as not to cover the upper cut. Leave the aquarium with the created fountain until completely dry.
Fountain decoration
An underwater fountain made in an aquarium must be carefully checked and all sorts of problems eliminated. Only after this the structure needs to be further decorated. For aquarium decoration it is necessary to use stones and algae. This design will additionally make the structure stronger.
It is necessary to make a slope from stones along which sand will pour. In order for aquariums with waterfalls to become a room decoration, glass or mica particles can also be used. This gives additional shine during sandfall.
Bowl
When building even a small waterfall with your own hands, you will have to move a lot of earth: it all starts with earthworks. It is necessary to dig a pit for a bowl in which water will be collected. Then the container must be sealed. There are two simple methods:
- Use film. If you plan on long-term use, you need a special film for pools and ponds (called butyl rubber membrane). It costs a lot (from $10 for 1 square meter), but it can withstand ultraviolet radiation and frost and will last for years. For a temporary, test waterfall, film that is used for greenhouses is suitable. Just note that it should be all-season with a service life of several years, and not several seasons. This option is cheaper, but the characteristics are much worse.
- Place a plastic liner. They are also positioned as bowls for ponds and swimming pools. They are relatively inexpensive - a container of 120-140 liters costs 1200-1500 rubles. Use a plastic container as a bowl
When using a ready-made bowl, you are limited in the choice of shape and depth: only those that are in stock. In an economical option - for a waterfall in the country - you can use any container available on the farm: an old bathtub or tray. You can even adapt a barrel sawn in half, etc.
Using film, you choose the shape, as well as the depth, arbitrarily. But when working with film you need to be careful: although it is thick, it can be torn.
How to make a waterfall from film: photo report
First, mark the desired shape of the bowl of your waterfall on the ground. The shape depends on the design style of your site. Strict geometric proportions are characteristic of the Art Nouveau style, and can be found in Art Deco. In the rest they try to give more natural, non-linear outlines. Most often, the result is a pond in the form of a bean.
Independent construction of sandfall in an aquarium
Before you begin constructing an underwater waterfall in an aquarium, you should prepare the following tools and components:
- Compressor. Every aquarist has this device.
- Support of a certain rigidity. When calculating the height, the size of the sandfall in the aquarium you want to get is taken into account. To create a support, use a plastic tube, to one end of which a rectangular support is attached.
- A hose made of rubber. The cross-section of the hose is 1 cm. The support and hose must match.
- IV tube.
- A plastic bottle with a volume of 1.5 liters.
- Adhesive silicone mixture suitable for treating tanks.
- Stones and elements that are suitable for decorating an aquarium with a fountain.
- Scotch tape or adhesive tape.
Preparing individual waterfall elements
- A rubber hose is attached to the prepared base. For these purposes, silicone glue is used. Its height goes beyond the water surface. In order to install and attach the bowl with the sand mixture below, the tube is cut.
- Containers are prepared to collect sand. For these purposes, the upper part is separated from the plastic bottle. The prepared element is divided into several parts, into one of which the sand mixture is placed.
Additional recommendations
To prevent sand from getting into the tank, cover the bowl with a lid. After installation, the lid is decorated using decorative pebbles, shells and algae for these purposes. During installation, it is important to ensure that the air cavity is not blocked.
If the waterfall is being prepared for a large tank, then a bottle with a volume of 5 liters is used. The construction process is carried out in the same sequence as a small sand fall. The only difference in the instructions is the use of small stones. Otherwise, the product will turn out to be excessively heavy.
When creating a waterfall in a container with fish and shellfish, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the tank and the characteristics of the phenotypes. Before installing this structure, the fish are moved to a separate tank so that the installation process can be carried out normally. Installation begins after the adhesive mixture has completely hardened.
Very beautiful video about a waterfall in an aquarium
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Sand for aquarium waterfall
Sandfall in the aquarium
The effect of a waterfall depends on the sand, so to ensure its impeccable effect, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- Do not use very fine sand for the structure, because it is very light and will be sprayed heavily by the compressor.
- Avoid sand that is too coarse. This material can create blockages inside the rubber tube.
- To increase the effect, it is recommended to use colored sand, which adds elegance and unusualness.
Before fixing the aquarium in the water space, it is recommended to try each sand species and choose the most suitable one. Different sand can create different visual effects.
The advantages of using such decor
Sandfall in an aquarium creates an unusual design, and has the following advantages over other types of design:
- sand can be used in different colors. This further highlights the desired area of the aquarium;
- sand does not contaminate the container;
- the use of filters is necessary for additional water purification;
- the device can be made independently;
- Sandfall can be used for aquariums of any size.
It should also be noted that sandfall is suitable for all types of aquatic life.
Sandfall Tools and Components
If you choose to create a waterfall yourself, you will need the following things:
- Compressor.
If you already have an aquarium, you probably have such equipment. - Rubber hose.
The diameter is usually about a centimeter. It must also fit the support. - A tube.
Any rubber one will do, even from a dropper. The main thing is that it can be connected to the compressor. - Plastic bottle.
A regular container, from which you only need the bottom. It will act as a bowl for sand. As a rule, a one and a half liter bottle is enough for small and medium aquariums - Decorations to disguise the structure.
- Support.
To create a support, you need to choose the right height and rigidity. Any material that can support a sand hose in an upright position and will not break down in water will do. Usually plastic is used. - Silicone glue.
Choose one that is suitable not only for water, but also for living next to fish. Special adhesives for aquariums can be found at pet stores and even at hardware stores. - Scotch.
Sandfall Tools and Components
Necessary materials
Before you start work, you need to prepare the materials that will be needed along the way. The process is slow, quite thorough, and requires concentration, so you will have to be patient. But the result will not take long to arrive, and the aquarium waterfall will amuse the eye for a long time.
So, first you need to select a compressor. It is he who is responsible for the continuous rise of grains of sand and provides injection. Apart from this, it is worth taking care of a rigid support. It can be used as a plastic tube, which is fixed on a hard surface shaped like a rectangle.
The size is selected according to the size of the finished aquarium waterfall.
A rubber hose will also come in handy. Its cross-section should be from 10 to 15 mm. You will need a drip hose, tape, a 1.5 liter plastic bottle and silicone glue. In addition, it is necessary to prepare not very languid pebbles that will serve for decoration.
What is the principle of operation of such a device?
Obviously, the sand must somehow rise up and then flow down to the foot of the hill. Indeed, this happens with the help of an air compressor, which creates a vacuum in the tube into which sand flows from a special container.
In applied physics this is called injection. A mass of sand grains rises up the tube and, reaching the outlet, flows down. All that remains is to ensure that this process is continuous and the sand does not get stuck in the pipeline.
The business promptly responded to the requests of professionals and aquatic design enthusiasts, and soon “waterfalls” for aquariums of various shapes, sizes, and a wide price range appeared on the shelves of specialized stores. Such decorative aquarium devices come in the form of a sphinx model, in the form of a tower, a rock, or a stalactite.
The kit includes all the main and auxiliary equipment for assembling and connecting the sandfall.
However, many fans get true pleasure precisely when such a device is made with their own hands. In the literature and on special aquarium websites you can find many examples of the manufacture and installation of sandfalls of various configurations, power and varied appearance.
Pump installation
A pump for a waterfall in a country house or on a site near a house is selected according to two parameters: the height to which it can raise water and its performance.
With height, everything is more or less clear: it should be no less than the height difference in your homemade waterfall. The difference is measured from the bottom point of the tank (where the pump will stand) and to the point where it should raise it. In small domestic reservoirs it is rarely more than 1.5-2 meters. But still, keep track of this indicator.
Pump performance shows how much water it can pump per minute. The power of the flow depends on this indicator.