THE BUILD
I build these small aquariums a bit like LEGO: Finish sections, which
later can be replaces individual, or pulled up for cutting.
The background is the first I make.
Either a piece of bark or some interesting branches. They might have to
be screwed together, but in a way they can twist, to get through the
opening. If they float, you have to boil them. One trick might be to take them from the boiling water to cold,
a few times. Then they suck a lot of water. Let them cool / heat through
each time.
I came up with a great idea for the background: It is attached by a
magnet, sitting outside. A screw in the bark make it magnetic. Another
way is to screw some branches on, to act as "legs". That way, you can
open-up the centre.
These two photos are of the same bark and branches, but without
and with water.
The plants are treated
in several ways. I might drill some 1,5mm holes in the bark and
branches, and tie plants to them. That way, the string will be (almost)
invisible.
Make sure you find the right place for the plants, with water in a round
aquarium! It change appearance so much! At the same time, be aware some
plants do need more light than others.
Single plants are attached to a small stone with string as well. Some
plants will appreciate a bit of sphagnum as well.
Ground covering plants are placed in 1-1,5 cm deep, transparent p ots
with their favourite soil; Gravel or sphagnum. You might have to add a
few stones to weight it down.
The bottom might no be covered, but you can't see it anyway, in a round
bowl or glass. And now, you can "vacuum-clean" it, while changing water.
The light is sitting on a
wire, attached to a washer on some. The washer sit on a strong magnet, glued to
the back of the aquarium. Else, the LED light might be hard to keep in
place over a wine glass! The bonus is, the light can be twisted to the
side, when you want to get into the water, and you don't loose the
light.
The wire doubles as core, and another thin one is glued on to it. I use
5V units, fitting any USB charger.
Others are sharing the light: The inside of a LED light-tube is mounted
in a curtain-glider. That make it stiff, and direct the light straight
down.
The lit is 1 mm glass. For the
4,3 L bowl, I have glued some small pieces of glass along the edge, to
let some air in. The lit on the wine glasses have one flat side, letting
air in. Four dots of transparent glue on the lit, hold it in position. Se my gear
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