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Aquarium design · installation · care

The Calmest Corner of the Room. Custom Aquariums for Homes, Offices and Hotels

We measure, draw, build and install. Then we look after it, and if you like, we send a short report with water readings and photos after every visit.

0 m · Waterline

Built to measure, freshwater and marine

Research

In a study by the universities of Plymouth and Exeter with the National Marine Aquarium, people watching an aquarium showed lower heart rate and blood pressure. Most of the effect came within the first five minutes, and more fish held attention longer and improved mood.

Cracknell et al., Environment and Behavior, 2016 · University of Plymouth

15 m · Process

Six Steps from Survey to First Fish

An aquarium is not ready the day the glass arrives. It is ready when the water has matured biologically, and we plan the schedule around that.

Details →
  1. 01

    Survey

    We measure on site and check the floor, load-bearing walls, power, water and drainage, direct sunlight and service access.

    Outcome Measurements and Notes

  2. 02

    Drawings and Quote

    Dimensioned drawings, glass thickness, equipment list, livestock plan and an itemised price. No hidden extras.

    Outcome Drawings to Approve

  3. 03

    Build

    Low-iron glass cut to size, silicone joints, curing and a flood test. Cabinet and sump are built from the same set of measurements.

    Outcome A Tested Aquarium

  4. 04

    Installation

    Plumbing, filtration, lighting and hardscape installed on site. The first fill and leak check happen in front of you.

    Outcome A Running System

  5. 05

    Cycling

    The water needs a few weeks to complete its nitrogen cycle. We add livestock in stages during that time. Rush this step and fish die.

    Outcome Mature, Stable Water

  6. 06

    Handover and Care

    You get care notes plus feeding and lighting schedules. Regular service visits begin.

    Outcome A Care Plan

25 m · Forms

What Kinds of Aquarium Do We Build?

These drawings are starting points. Every project is redrawn around the room, the floor loading and the service access.

Sheet 01 1:50

Built-in

Viewed from the living room, serviced from the room behind or from above.

At least 40–60 cm service clearance above · ventilation required

Sheet 02 1:50

Two-sided Room Divider

Viewed from both sides. No back panel; equipment sits in the cabinet below.

Two viewing faces · central cable and plumbing run

Sheet 03 1:50

Column

A centrepiece for lobbies and receptions, in acrylic or bent glass.

Cylinder or polygon · serviced from ceiling or floor void

Sheet 04 1:50

Rimless on Cabinet

Frameless low-iron glass, with filter and sump inside the cabinet.

8–19 mm glass depending on height · concealed cable channel

Sheet 05 1:50

Reef System

Overflow, sump, protein skimmer and dosing for corals and marine life.

Overflow + return line · sump at 20–30% of display volume

Sheet 06 1:50

Corner and Panoramic

Glass that turns the corner, visible from two walls at once.

L-shaped or curved front · lighting planned around the joint

35 m · Care

What Happens After Installation?

Most aquariums go wrong in the first months, not on installation day: water changes slip, filters clog, feeding creeps up. That is why we treat care as part of the build.

We base water change volumes and visit frequency on guidance from OATA, Tropica and Bulk Reef Supply: about 25% a week for freshwater, 10% a week for reef.

Aquarium Care

On a service visit

  • Partial water change (about 25% for freshwater, 10% for reef)
  • Siphoning waste from the substrate
  • Cleaning the viewing panels and equipment
  • Filter, sump and pump maintenance
  • Livestock health check, quarantine if needed
  • Optional: water tests and a visit report with readings and photos

How often we recommend

Freshwater and planted
Weekly
Every two weeks if you do the change in between
Marine and reef
Weekly
Every two weeks for mature systems with auto-dosing
Hotels and businesses
Weekly
Twice a week for large reef systems

45 m · Questions

Common Questions

All Questions →

How Much Does a Custom Aquarium Cost?

Price depends mostly on volume, type of glass, freshwater or marine, and filtration. After the survey we send dimensioned drawings with an itemised price, and nothing goes into production until the drawings are approved.

Do Aquariums Smell or Make Noise?

A well-built, regularly serviced aquarium does not smell. Odour usually comes from overfeeding, undersized filtration or missed water changes. Noise comes from pumps and the overflow; we move equipment into a closed cabinet and use a silent overflow so it fades into the background.

How Long Does Installation Take?

It varies a lot with the size, the type of aquarium and the space, so we put the schedule in writing with the quote. The one constant is that after installation the water needs a few weeks to mature biologically, and we add livestock in stages during that time.

Can My Floor Take the Weight?

A litre of water weighs about 1 kg. With glass, sand, rock and the cabinet, a 300-litre aquarium can exceed 400 kg. We check the floor and load-bearing walls during the survey, and for large volumes we ask for a structural engineer’s opinion.

How Often Should an Aquarium Be Serviced?

We recommend a weekly visit for most aquariums. The usual guidance is a water change of about 25% a week for freshwater (OATA) and 10% a week for reef (Bulk Reef Supply). If you do the change in between visits yourself, every two weeks is enough for freshwater. We plan and follow up the care, and if you like, we send a report with readings and photos.

Do You Ship Aquariums Outside Türkiye?

Yes, by project. The aquarium and cabinet are built in Istanbul and ship in wooden crates. A local team installs it; we support them with drawings, installation notes and video calls. Sourcing livestock is the buyer’s responsibility.

Enquiries

Send Us a Measurement and a Photo.

Send the rough dimensions of the space and a photo over WhatsApp. We will reply with a first assessment and the next step.