Feb. 12, 2015 | By Alec

Aquariums are very fun, but introduce a lot of mess into your home. And I’m not just talking about all the water that can be a bit messy to replace. No, I’m talking about all the extras that come along with an aquarium: the filtration system, the heating elements, the air supply, all parts that awkwardly hang view and have wires going all over the place. That’s exactly why the Norrom Aquarium, which has just launched on Kickstarter, will be jealously looked at by aquarium owners as it cleverly deals with all of that. Instead, it's a gorgeously designed fish tank that can even be customized with 3D printed parts.

Norrom is a English/Swedish company that essentially brings Swedish design to the world of aquariums. They have designed a 40 litre freshwater aquarium that is a perfect addition to any home interior, thanks to its set of interchangeable wooden lids and panels, that ensures it fits in with your present interior.

As the Norrom Team explains, this aquarium is not so much about function, as it is about design. "Our Swedish and British team has spent over two years developing an aquarium that is able to beat even the best aquariums available, hands-down. The result is a perfect aquarium that isn't just designed differently but uses a different way of thinking," they explain. It therefore features an iconically simple design, that can be customized to "suit your mood, a new color scheme or even a new home." To add to this emphasis, all of its electronics and functional parts have been clever hidden in the top and bottom sections.

But perhaps most fun is the inclusion of 3D printable files with the aquarium, in case the supplied wooden panels and lids don't suit your interior. As Charles Tornros, managing director of Norrom explains: "Customers can easily interchange their lid or base with any of our range or their own 3D-print models by slotting them on and off. So, this means you can completely change the look and feel of the aquarium at any time." And of course you can look for cool 3D printed fish tank accessories on Thingiverse to spice up the contents.

All in all, this is both a very beautiful and fun tank, that cleverly deals with every design flaw of normal aquariums. It means less clutter, less noise, allowing you to fully enjoy whatever freshwater fish you’d like to keep in it.

While they will be sold commercially, the Norrom Aquarium is currently only available through their Kickstarter campaign, which hopes to raise a very modest sum to finance it. The Swedish/English team seeks to raise just £3,900 (just below $6000) by 22 March 2015, which seems to be very possible as they’ve already gathered about £1,500 in pledges. That also means that if you’d like to get one for a bargain price, you’ll have to be quick to make a pledge. An early bird aquarium can be yours for a pledge of just £296, though they’re almost all taken by now. And unlike most Kickstarter projects, the entire research, development and prototyping stages are all complete, so shipping is expected to start by as early as May 2015. Check out this beautiful Norrom Aquarium here.

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

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Callie Marie wrote at 6/26/2015 9:19:48 PM:

Sara Killinger makes good point, are the materials used in the 3D printing process really save for fish? I love the idea of creating a custom fish tank, but if it compromises the health of my fish, it isn't worth the risk. Some concern would be if the chemicals in the material might leak out over time, how much water pressure can the aquarium hold, and how will the material affect the temperature of the water? http://aquaticexhibitsintl.com

sara killinger wrote at 6/25/2015 9:07:56 PM:

I've heard of 3d printing for countless applications but never before had considered that I could create my own custom aquarium through 3d printing. The only concern I have is regarding the health of my fish. What materials used in 3d printing are safe for my fish?

sara killinger wrote at 6/25/2015 9:07:52 PM:

I've heard of 3d printing for countless applications but never before had considered that I could create my own custom aquarium through 3d printing. The only concern I have is regarding the health of my fish. What materials used in 3d printing are safe for my fish?

Mark Leach wrote at 2/17/2015 11:59:35 PM:

Not only is that a creative idea, but it is really good looking. My kids have been wanting to get fish for a few weeks, and I could tolerate something that looks like this in my home. I actually look forward to having a custom fish tank.

doubt it wrote at 2/13/2015 10:48:56 PM:

Print the fish also



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