DIMENSIONS

How much do I add on for the Standard Style Cabinet length?
If you work on the cabinet being 2" longer  than the aquarium you will have a good estimate.

How much do I add on for the Standard Style Cabinet width?
If you work on the cabinet being 1" wider than the aquarium you will have a good estimate.

What is the Interior Height of a Steel Frame / Steel Framed Cabinet?
The interior cabinet height is standard at 700mm. This can be customised to suit your requirements.

What is the Overall Height of a Steel Framed Cabinet?
The overall height of the Standard Style Steel frame is approx. 875mm (retracted adjustable feet) from the floor to the underside of the tank. The cabinet doors are approx. 880mm(H) from the floor to the top of the doors.

What is the Overall Height of a Pelmet / Hood?
The height of a standard pelmet is 175mm (60mm overlaps the tank to hide your waterline). On the Eco range the pelmets are more in the region of 150mm high. Customisations can be made.
If you can see your water line below the pelmet / hood line, you need to add more water to the tank (or your pelmet may be on upside down? :))

How far up the weir comb do I fill my tank?
A good rule of thumb is to fill the tank approximately 50mm from the top of the glass. This will vary with Braceless / Rimless tanks, AIO tanks and Titan builds.

My weir is noisy?
If the weir seems noisy please give us a ring. Bu check these things first. You do need to ensure that your main drain (the shorter one) is taking around 95% of the water. The emergency drain (the taller one) should be at your water level and taking around 5% of the water.
The water in the weir should be the same level as the water in the tank. There should be no difference between the two.
Often it may take a couple of weeks for the pipework to 'bed in' and become silent. You can also add a 45 degree elbow to the top of your emergency to quieten the flow.





What are the tolerances?
The tolerances are +/- 5mm. Please see the website for further information on the steel frame.

How much does the Steel Bracing add to the dimensions of the tank?
The steel base / top bracing will add around 12mm overall to the length and width.

Are there gaps in the bracing for pipework from my canister filters?
There are gaps in the back corners for pipework. Usually these are 75mm(L) x 60mm(W). If you require anything specific please let us know.

Do I need a sump tank?
The sumps, without doubt, add a great deal of volume to your system for filtration. They are a great addition and good for the health of your fish.
In general, most Marine Tanks run a sump. With regards to tropical tanks, the larger the tank the more likely you are to benefit from a sump. Please do your research. We are more than happy to assist you in any way regards your set up.


DELIVERY

How much is Delivery?
Delivery rates can vary Depending upon your location and the style of build. Please contact us for details. Please see our Delivery Page for further information.

How much do you charge to deliver an aquarium with cabinet?
Delivery rates do vary. E.g. For £195, (excluding Highlands & Islands where different rates apply), we will supply a member of our team to assist you, with the use of trolleys and glass suckers, to get the builds into your home. They will also level the aquarium cabinet once it is in situ.

Will Aquariums4Life Help get my build into place?
At Aquariums4Life we certainly do go that little bit further in helping you to locate your build.  We can arrange for personnel to attend on the day of delivery to help to get your build into place with the use of trolleys and glass suckers. They will also level the aquarium cabinet once it is in situ. The complexity of your access will influence the additional assistance required. Additional personnel can be included. Where access severely  impedes delivery we can offer on site assemblies.

Will Aquariums4Life Fit my Pipework?
At Aquariums4Life we will dry fit your pipework for an additional cost. This means that all the parts will be assembled for you but will be untested. Once your system is up and running  it will become your responsibility to check the pipework system and apply adhesive (supplied by Aquariums4Life) to any seals which may require it. Aquariums4Life will only dry-fit pipework when a full system (including cabinet/steel frame) has been purchased.  Aquariums4Life will not fit non-standard pipework kits or any equipment to the pipework.

What are your Lead Times?
The lead times will vary dependent upon the style of build you opt for. Please ask for a lead time at point of order. 


 
 
GLASS

What thickness will my glass be?
Glass thickness will vary depending upon the Aquarium style. (Braceless aquariums require thicker glass than braced aquariums).
In general.... Braced Aquariums up to 24"/610mm high require 10mm thick glass.
In general.... Braced Aquariums up to 30"/750mm high require 12mm thick glass.
In general.... Braced Aquariums up to 33"/830mm high require 15mm thick glass.
In general.... Braced Aquariums up to 36"/910mm high require 19mm thick glass.
In general.... Braced Aquariums over 36" will require laminated glass in order to achieve the glass thickness required for safety.
(This information is guidance only as all  builds are calculated for glass thickness based on their style, size etc.)

What is Opti-White?
Float Glass is made from many ingredients including Iron Oxide. Iron is in nature, green. This green tinge is evident in all standard float glass. Opti-white has a lesser iron content than that of standard float glass, and therefore  has a lesser green tinge., by approximately 5%. Whilst the Opti-White is considered clearer, it is also considered softer due to the lower iron content. 


CABINET FINISHES

Do I have a choice of Cabinet Finish?
Aquariums4Life have a wide variety of finishes available. Please select the following link to see all available finishes. Some finishes do carry a surcharge. Click Here to View Available Finishes.

Are the Panels Waterproof?
The cabinet panels are not waterproof. They are laminated panels as you find in bathrooms and kitchens around the country. As a laminate they are water resistant which means by definition that  they are able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely and not for periods of time. As with all cabinet panels it is advisable to wipe any water from them immediately to avoid any damage which may occur from a lengthy exposure to moisture.
Aquariums4Life as of March 2019, now uses PUR, or polyurethane glue for edge-banding. This is a more water resistant edge-banding option for cabinet building. PUR glue is durable and has high levels of water resistance when compared to PVA glue which is used as standard. The use of PUR glue is recommended in areas with a high moisture environment and as such has been embraced here at Aquariums4Life.

Is there any maintenance on the cabinet?
We would suggest monitoring your aquarium Cabinet to ensure that it remains level. Some floors may alter over time and you may have to re-adjust the feet to counteract any further movement.
Please keep the hinges on your cabinet oiled/greased to avoid any deterioration.

Why do you use PUR adhesive to edge your panels?
When the bonding is particularly demanding, you should certainly be using PUR hotmelt adhesives. The reaction adhesive not only sets physically by solidifying, it reacts chemically with the humidity of the surrounding air as well as the remaining humidity in the workpiece. This cross linking cerates a particularly high heat and water resistance.




WEIRS

How is the weir constructed?
The weir has a glass frame which is covered in an acrylic over layer - generally in Black or Blue.

What size is the weir?
The standard weir is generally approximately 290mm(L) x 140mm(W).

What size holes are drilled in the weir?
The standard weir will contain 2 x 40mm drains (1 main drain, 1 emergency drain) and 1 x Retrun.
PAYMENT & FINANCE

How do I order my Aquarium?
Once you have contacted Aquariums4Life with your specifications the office will raise your invoice for you to check over. Once you are happy that the invoice is correct to your specifications payment of a 50% deposit can be made by Bank Transfer of Card Payment (Instructions will be detailed on your invoice). Payment of the deposit will commence the build procedure.

Do you offer Finance?
Aquariums4Life can now offer Finance. An application will be sent to you for your completion. Once you are approved then the funds will be made available to you to cover the build and any extra's which you are purchasing. The build process will commence on receipt of the funds.

MAINTENANCE

Do I clean my Aquarium after delivery?
As with all aquarium products please rinse and clean your tank before use and introduction of livestock.

Is there anything I need to do after delivery?
We would suggest monitoring your aquarium Cabinet to ensure that it remains level. Some floors may alter over time and you may have to re-adjust the feet to counteract any further movement.
Please keep the hinges on your cabinet oiled/greased to avoid any deterioration.

Call Us if you need any assistance.