home · Tool · Make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands. How to install a waterfall in an aquarium. Necessary components for making a waterfall

Make a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands. How to install a waterfall in an aquarium. Necessary components for making a waterfall

We all want to make our aquarium different from everyone else's, so that it has a twist - it stands out as an unusual element. So, a waterfall in an aquarium is something you can surprise your family and friends with. This truly eye-catching element of decor will delight you and everyone around you.

And if you have children, it will be the most exciting craft for them, and they will be proud to show off their work.

For the first time I saw photographs of waterfalls in an aquarium, I was as if mesmerized by this spectacle and decided to create such a miracle for my small 50-liter aquarium. I wanted to create a small piece of natural landscape in it and enliven it with the movement of a waterfall.

Of course, I began to think about making the future waterfall using improvised means, everything that could be found at hand, or would be available for purchase and would not have a high cost.

While going through everything in the closet that was long forgotten and, it seemed, not needed at one time, I found something with which to start making the “frame” and “system” of the waterfall.

Let's get down to business!

So, let's begin!

To begin with, I will show and explain how the waterfall works.

Everything ingenious is simple! Air, sand and water create the illusion of a waterfall. Air is supplied to the tube from a conventional compressor (I have a Champion cx-0088 with a power of 3.5 W).

Sand flows into the existing hole (at the bottom of the tube) from the storage bowl, and air lifts it up the tube to the outlet.

Under its weight, the sand spills out of the tube, again falling into the storage bowl, and the air comes out to the surface. This process is repeated ad infinitum. Most importantly, there must be sand white and small fraction.

The whole process is schematically depicted in Figure 1. And Figure 2 shows the assembled design of the waterfall. Important note - the upper part of the structure must be at least three centimeters above the water level.

Fig. 1 The principle of operation of a waterfall
Fig.2 Waterfall design

Based on this design, I needed:
1. Rubber water hose ( inner diameter 1.2 cm, length based on the height of the waterfall) - 1 pc.;
2. Support. I took a plastic water pipe (calculate the length according to the height of the waterfall) - 1 pc.;
3. Dropper (system) - 1 pc.;
4. Aquarium glue ( silicone sealant TYTAN) - 1 pc.;
5. Narrow tape (for fixing during gluing) – 1 pc.;
6. Plastic eggplant for 1.5 l. (for storage bowl) – 1 pc.;
7. 5 liter plastic bottle. (for three-dimensional waterfall decoration) – 1 pc.;
8. 0.5 liter plastic bottle. (to control sand spillage - visor) - 1 pc.;
9. Stones (for decoration);
10. Sand (for sprinkling visible glue between the stones);
11. The sand is white and always fine (approximate consumption - 1 tea cup);
12. Compressor for air supply;
13. A piece of foam rubber (to cover the air outlet hole).

Now I will list the steps step by step, illustrating them with Figure 3.

Step one - take the hose and make an oval cut 2 by 1 cm, bend it down for ease of securing the storage bowl. Glue it onto the support tube (secure with tape first for convenience) Wait for the glue to dry completely.

Step two - take a 1.5 liter eggplant and cut it off top part(remove the hard part with the thread). We make a cut lengthwise and select the desired size (diameter) for the storage bowl. We insert it (you can secure it with narrow tape for easy gluing) and glue everything thoroughly, without missing a single seam, otherwise the sand will spill out to the bottom of the aquarium. We are waiting for everything to dry.

Step three - cut it out foramen ovale in the upper part of the hose (for sand outlet) measuring 2.5 by 1 cm.

Step four - insert the tip into the bottom of the hose and fill it with glue. We wait until it dries completely.

Step five - put on a tube from a dropper to supply air from the compressor.

We cut the excess support and bend it (we get legs). The base is ready! It is necessary to check its operation in the aquarium.

Fig.3 Assembling a waterfall

Having made sure that the system works, we begin to make a frame for the waterfall from a 5-liter eggplant. We remove the bottom and top, using only the central part (Fig. 4). We glue these sidewalls along the hose; we need them in order to give a convexity to the rock (Fig. 5). In other words, we are creating a shape for the rock.

After gluing the stones to the base, you should get the look shown in Figure 6. The approximate recess is from 3 cm (it can be adjusted by the size of the stones). The position of the stones should also serve as a guide for falling sand. And don’t forget to make protrusions in the recessed part (thresholds).


Fig.6 Stones at the base of the waterfall

In the recessed part of the rock (Fig. 7) we glue a small stone, and on the protruding part - a large one, in this case the difference will be more impressive. If glue is visible in places, simply cover it with sand.

Now we make the top cover-visor to control the spillage of sand (Fig. 8). Take a 0.5 liter eggplant, cut off the desired part and cut it out required size visor We secure it with narrow tape and glue it to the rock.

But! Do not close the outlet of the tube (hose) for air, otherwise bubbles will come with falling sand from under the visor.

We cover it with stones, covering all visible plastic.

Well, now you can test the entire system in action. If everything works perfectly, then you can start installing it in the aquarium (Fig. 10).

It is better to glue the oxygen tube to the bottom and in the corner of the aquarium, so it will be less noticeable and securely fastened.

Install the waterfall system, connect to the tube. In the upper part, cover the air outlet with a piece of foam rubber (to avoid splashes from the escaping air).

Let your imagination run wild. The options can be very diverse!


Fig. 10 Installing a waterfall in an aquarium

After adding water, turn on the compressor and gradually add sand. If it turns out that a lot of sand got in and the air began to come out from below, without lifting the sand, then pass a tube through the upper hole and blow it out. This way you will release the excess and the system will work again.

Do not allow small stones to get into the storage bowl; a blockage may occur and you will have to remove the structure for complete cleaning.

Tip: large-leaved plants against the background of rocks will look more impressive.

This is what I ended up with:


Fig. 11 Working waterfall in an aquarium

In one of the foreign blogs I came across an article explaining how to make a waterfall in an aquarium. The most surprising thing is that it was about underwater waterfall.

As it turns out, such illusions have existed for a long time, and the principle of their operation is based on rising air bubbles. But, air bubbles rise to the top, and the waterfall falls down!?

The explanation turned out to be simple. The illustration demonstrates how a sand waterfall works in an aquarium:

  • Sand is used to create the illusion of falling water. The sand is raised to the falling height by air from a compressor or filter. In the diagram, sand is indicated in blue.
  • To create the illusion of a sandy waterfall, use clean, fine sand.
  • To avoid the formation of a slide of spilled sand at the foot sand waterfall, select the amount of sand, the air supply power and the diameter of the holes through which the sand is poured to the base.

On sand waterfall all currents in the aquarium influence. But the design effect is worth this fuss.

Video of an underwater waterfall

Fans of aquascaping have often seen various underwater illusions, one of which is an underwater waterfall. And aquarium owners have the opportunity to create such a waterfall in their home aquarium. But how to do it?

First, let's understand the nature of this interesting phenomenon. From a physics point of view, the explanation for the illusion of an underwater waterfall is that grains of sand, propelled by air bubbles, fall down due to gravity. Thus, the bubbles, obeying the flow of water in the aquarium, move in a certain direction and create amazing illusions. It is from such “dances” of bubbles that underwater waterfalls can arise. Well, from the outside it just becomes very similar to a small waterfall.

In order to increase the effect produced, sand can be added to the bubbles. By adding sand particles to the movements of the bubbles, there is a chance to get the appearance of falling water. But to add sand to the bubbles, you need a special tube with a small sprayer.

One way or another, at home, every craftsman can create automatic mechanism by dumping a small amount into the aquarium. For this you only need:

  • a tube;
  • a piece of padding polyester;
  • fine sand (large sand can harm the aquarium or simply not give the desired effect);
  • Internet (to see what injection is and apply the knowledge gained in creating an illusion);
  • and some time.

The tube must connect to the aquarium either on one side or both. The one-sided option is not very practical as the aquarium will eventually overflow with sand. But the option with both sides is much more convenient. A piece of synthetic padding is attached to the lower end - it is needed to filter the sand used, and the second end is extended to the surface of the aquarium and the process is started with the help of bubbles.

That's all. The work done will only delight and delight you, and in the end you will need very little effort to create an underwater waterfall in the aquarium.

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But there are other ways to create a waterfall in an aquarium with your own hands. You can see one of these methods in the video below:

And after you make it and install it inside, the waterfall will look something like this:

Waterfall in an aquarium

Have you ever seen an underwater waterfall? It would seem that these are completely incompatible things, but it turns out that you can arrange a waterfall in your aquarium and thereby surprise all your guests.

Many aquarium owners want to make it something special, to add some unique flair to it. Believe me, if you make a waterfall in an aquarium, it will attract the attention of everyone around you. The spectacle is incredibly beautiful, as if live picture wild, untouched nature in your aquarium. But it still remains a mystery how the falling water from the waterfall can be seen underwater. In fact, everything is explained by the fact that it is not water that flows in the waterfall, but very fine sand. If you look closely, you can see small grains of sand up close.

Observing what is happening in the aquarium calms you down, allows you to take your mind off current problems, in short, it is an excellent antidepressant. You can make an aquarium waterfall yourself from scrap materials; the cost of such beauty will not be high at all, but the result will surpass all expectations. The pump pumps water along with grains of sand up a special pipe, and then the grains of sand fall down - this is the circulation.

DIY waterfall in an aquarium

Can be seen completely various options interior design aquarium, even the most unusual ones. Aquascape - exciting activity, and his fans sometimes use unexpected techniques to design space. One such technique is to install an aquarium waterfall.

What it is?

At first glance, the phrase itself “ aquarium waterfall" seems absurd. And indeed: how, where and where can water fall if the aquarium is already filled with it? Of course, if the “can” is filled with water, for example, up to half, then such a device can be placed in such a way that the top of the waterfall is higher than the level of the water. However, will this fully simulate a cascade of water flowing from top to bottom? Of course not.

But in a terrarium, a waterfall installed near the side wall looks quite appropriate, and a similar design of terrariums is often found in practice.

However, aquascapers have found a way out of the situation, and waterfalls decorate many home and office aquariums. Only in this case will it be appropriate to talk about sandfall, since it is sand that falls down from a height. However, outwardly a beautiful illusion of a real waterfall is created.

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 was continuous and sand did not get stuck in the line.

The business quickly responded to requests from professionals and aquatic design enthusiasts, and soon “waterfalls” for aquariums appeared on the shelves of specialized stores various shapes, sizes, wide price range. Such decorative aquarium devices come in the form of a sphinx model, in the form of a tower, a rock, or a stalactite.

However, many fans of aquascaping 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 various configurations, power and varied appearance.

How to make your own aquarium waterfall

First of all, you need to determine what to use to create the injection effect. An ordinary aquarium compressor, which is a necessary accessory for almost every aquarium, is suitable for this. The air it blows should capture the grains of sand and carry them up the tube. Thus, to make a “waterfall” you will need:

  • rigid support for the structure, the height of which is calculated based on the size of the entire sandfall;
  • a rubber hose of small cross-section (from 10 to 15 mm), its length also corresponds to the height of the future structure;
  • hoses from the drip system;
  • empty plastic bottle (1.5 liter capacity, for example);
  • scotch;
  • silicone aquarium glue;
  • light stones for finishing the structure to look like a natural grotto or rock.

Any plastic pipe can be used as a support. To make it stable, you can glue a rectangular base to it. Having placed this support in the aquarium, you can then place several stones on the base; this will give the structure stability.

Technical part. It is necessary to attach a rubber hose to the support with silicone so that its top is 1–2 cm above the water level in the aquarium (for air to escape). A slot is made in the lower part of the rubber tube (5–6 cm from the bottom edge). The lower edge of the slot must be bent. A collection bowl will then be inserted into this slot, where falling sand will be collected.

Collection bowl sand is made from trimmings plastic bottle. First, the tapering part is cut off and the threaded neck is removed. Then the top trimmed part of the bottle is cut in half lengthwise. It turns out to be some kind of scoop, which will play the role of a collecting bowl. This “scoop” is inserted into the main hose (or pipe) at the slot, fixed with tape (temporarily) and glued with silicone.

Assembly. TO bottom edge the main tube is connected to the system hose (dropper); it is through it that air from the compressor will be supplied. A large slot is also made in the upper part of the pipe, slightly below the water level; Sand will spill out from there.

In principle, the sandfall is ready. All that remains is to “turn on” your imagination and decorate it according to the general plan.

When the structure has dried, it is installed in the selected location of the aquarium and put into operation. Naturally, sand must be poured into the storage bowl.

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 air flow 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.

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 general interior an aquarium can become such an important element.

You can see that the “sandfall” in the aquarium looks as impressive as a real waterfall in the video:

The article was written based on materials from the sites: proaquariummir.ru, stopvideo.net, aquariumguide.ru.

When you decide to start your own aquarium, you will definitely be faced with the question of how to build it. When creating any artificial reservoir, everyone strives to make it original and comfortable

for underwater inhabitants. Modern aquarium hobby has become quite a popular science and its boundaries are expanding every day. Of course, huge opportunities in aquadesign directly depend on new technologies. Thanks to them, you can decorate an aquarium in a style of any complexity, and bring the most daring ideas into reality. design ideas. The variety of styles in the world of pond design is now very large. It will probably be quite difficult to find two identical aquariums. But aquadesign is evolving and there is always something completely new that can surprise and delight. One of the most advanced ideas that was reproduced in artificial reservoir, is the construction of an underwater waterfall.

The result was a very beautiful and impressive picture - a waterfall under water. Is it difficult to create such a waterfall yourself at home and what is required for this? We'll look into it further.

Technical features of creating a waterfall in an aquarium

Seeing such an aquarium, probably everyone will have one single question: how is this possible? Indeed, a real waterfall in a fully functioning reservoir looks very impressive. If earlier air bubbles were used to create a waterfall, which could not give a full picture of it, then a completely different technology was used here. The waterfall looks like it is quite real. So what's the secret? In fact, creating such a miracle in your pond is not very difficult, the main thing is to follow all the rules and strictly follow the instructions.

This technology involves using very fine sand as water for the waterfall, and not just air bubbles. A special sprayer and air supply tube are installed behind the decorative stonework near back wall aquarium Below, near the wall, a reservoir is attached into which a mixture of water and sand will be sent. To achieve the effect of a natural waterfall, air is supplied under pressure at the bottom of a special tank where the sand itself is collected. It lifts small grains of sand up the column with it. Then the sand is mixed with water at the top, and under the force of gravity this mixture falls down, heading again to the sand collector. Thus, visually we see a stream of water with sand, which looks like a waterfall.

The spectacle is very beautiful and will attract attention. With such an aquarium, any room will become much more interesting and original. In addition to all the benefits, you may encounter a number of problems when creating an underwater waterfall. The sand used for the waterfall must be very fine so that the air flow can lift it up. In addition, when sand falls into the reservoir, it comes into contact with it, and part of the sand grains, because of this, changing direction, will end up not in it, but in the reservoir. This puts additional strain on the filter. To achieve the right effect, it is necessary to precisely adjust the entire mechanism, otherwise, instead of a waterfall, you can get a mud volcano.

Using a waterfall in an aquarium continuously is unlikely to be practical or advisable, because then you will have to clean the pond and its parts much more often.

Decorating an aquarium with an underwater waterfall

If with technical part We have figured out this method of arranging an artificial reservoir, how can it be designed and decorated? Let's start with the fact that using a waterfall as the main attribute of your aquarium already involves the use of plants and elements in decoration that will recreate the landscape of natural waterfalls. It will look best this way. To do this you need to use stones different sizes, from which steep mountain peaks and slopes will be built, densely overgrown with various vegetation. Also between these slopes below from the same shallow white sand it looks like a foaming river is created into which waters flow from a waterfall. For such aquadesign they use different plants, which complement the effect of the present natural waterfall. If everything is done correctly, the result can be a stunning artificial pond with an underwater waterfall. For such an idea, it is better to use aquariums with a medium or large volume, then the picture will be more realistic.

An aquarium with such an aqua design can decorate a home, cafe or restaurant, office or salon, create a positive impression of its owner and emphasize his taste and style. Among other things, reservoirs with underwater waterfalls are not yet such a common occurrence, so among your friends and acquaintances you can be the first to create one yourself. If you're not sure you can make an underwater waterfall on our own in the form in which you want, you can always contact our experienced specialists, they will do the job quickly and efficiently. Such an aquarium will become your pride and the admiration of your guests.

Creating something new is always interesting and exciting. And when your efforts give the expected result, it’s a pleasure to become double. The same goes for creating your own underwater world behind the glass shores. In the world of aquadesign there is always something to surprise even the most experienced aquarists. New fashion trends and currents in this area contribute to the emergence of new styles and methods of designing aquariums. One of these methods was the ability to recreate pictures of real underwater waterfalls in artificial reservoirs. They fascinate and captivate the eye. Everyone wants to be original and own a unique body of water. This option Perfect for those who want to stand out and emphasize their originality. An aquarium with an underwater waterfall will help you with this. And the professionals of our Blue Barbus company will answer all your questions and help with its further maintenance, if you need it.

You can see completely different options for the internal design of an aquarium, even the most unusual ones. Aquascape is a fascinating activity, and its fans sometimes use unexpected techniques for designing space. One such technique is to install an aquarium waterfall.

At first glance, the very phrase “aquarium waterfall” seems absurd. And indeed: how, where and where can water fall if the aquarium is already filled with it? Of course, if the “can” is filled, for example, to half, then such a device can be placed in such a way that the top of the waterfall is above the water level. However, will this fully simulate a cascade of water flowing from top to bottom? Of course not.

But a waterfall installed against the side wall looks quite appropriate, and a similar design of terrariums is often found in practice.

However, aquascapers have found a way out of the situation, and waterfalls decorate many home and office aquariums. Only in this case will it be appropriate to talk about sandfall, since it is sand that falls down from a height. However, outwardly a beautiful illusion of a real waterfall is created.

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 everything basic and auxiliary equipment for assembling and connecting 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.

How to make your own aquarium waterfall

First of all, you need to determine what to use to create the injection effect. An ordinary one, which is a necessary accessory for almost every aquarium, is suitable for this. The air it blows should capture the grains of sand and carry them up the tube. Thus, to make a “waterfall” you will need:

  • rigid support for the structure, the height of which is calculated based on the size of the entire sandfall;
  • a rubber hose of small cross-section (from 10 to 15 mm), its length also corresponds to the height of the future structure;
  • hoses from the drip system;
  • empty plastic bottle (1.5 liter capacity, for example);
  • scotch;
  • silicone aquarium glue;
  • light stones for finishing the structure to look like a natural grotto or rock.

Any plastic pipe can be used as a support. To make it stable, you can glue a rectangular base to it. Having placed this support in the aquarium, you can then place several stones on the base; this will give the structure stability.

Technical part. It is necessary to attach a rubber hose to the support with silicone so that its top is 1–2 cm above the water level in the aquarium (for air to escape). A slot is made in the lower part of the rubber tube (5–6 cm from the bottom edge). The lower edge of the slot must be bent. A collection bowl will then be inserted into it to collect the falling sand.

Collection bowl sand is made from scraps of a plastic bottle. First, the tapering part is cut off and the threaded neck is removed. Then the top trimmed part of the bottle is cut in half lengthwise. It turns out to be some kind of scoop, which will play the role of a collecting bowl. This “scoop” is inserted into the main hose (or pipe) at the slot, fixed with tape (temporarily) and glued with silicone.

Assembly. The system hose (dropper) is connected to the lower edge of the main tube; it is through it that air from the compressor will be supplied. A large slot is also made in the upper part of the pipe, slightly below the water level; Sand will spill out from there.

Please ensure that all joints are thoroughly sealed with silicone. Otherwise the injection will be weakened.

In principle, the sandfall is ready. All that remains is to “turn on” your imagination and decorate it according to the general plan.

When the structure has dried, it is installed in the selected location of the aquarium and put into operation. Naturally, sand must be poured into the storage bowl.

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: