A commercial display, one week after install.
A display aquarium is architecture with a filter attached. Get the size, siting, and stocking right and it holds a room together for a decade; get them wrong and it becomes a maintenance complaint with a light on it. We start with the space: where people stand, what the light does across the day, what the floor can carry, where power and a water source are, and who is responsible for it once we leave. Then we specify the tank, build the hardscape, cycle the system, stock it with Florida-farmed livestock, and hand it over on a maintenance cadence so it looks like opening day in year three.
Every visit, on the checklist.
- On-site space, sightline, and load review
- Tank and stand specification
- Filtration, lighting, and heating design
- Hardscape, driftwood, and planting plan
- Plumbing and electrical coordination
- Full cycle before livestock goes in
- Staged stocking with Florida-farmed fish
- Staff walkthrough and maintenance plan
From first call to finished tank.
Design review
We measure the room, check the floor and power, and propose a size and style that fits the sightlines rather than the catalog.
Build
Stand, tank, filtration, and lighting installed and pressure-checked. Hardscape and plants go in dry-set first so the composition is right.
Cycle
The system runs and cycles before any fish arrive. This is the step skipped by installers whose tanks crash in month two.
Stock and hand off
Livestock added in stages, staff walked through the basics, and the tank rolls onto a scheduled maintenance cadence.
What it costs.
Installations are quoted as a design-and-build project. The variables are gallons, cabinetry, whether plumbing and power already exist at the wall, and stocking level. Commercial clients usually bundle the first year of maintenance into the install so there is one predictable number.
Common questions.
What size aquarium should I get?
Bigger is genuinely easier — a larger volume forgives mistakes and swings less. For most lobbies and dining rooms we land between 90 and 300 gallons; for homes, 40 to 125.
How long before there are fish in it?
Three to five weeks from install to a stocked, stable tank. The cycle can't be rushed without paying for it later.
Can you work with our contractor or designer?
Yes. We prefer being in the conversation before the wall is closed, so power, water, and drainage land where the tank needs them.
Freshwater only — why?
Because it's what we can guarantee. A planted freshwater display costs a fraction of a reef to run, survives a missed week, and looks intentional in a commercial room.
Do you install in senior living and healthcare settings?
Frequently — it's a large share of our commercial work, with tamper-resistant equipment and documented visits. See our senior care page for that specification.