A 12-year-old tank, one week after rescape.
Aquariums don't usually get ugly all at once. Décor fades, plants melt, one rock gets moved during a cleaning, and three years later nobody looks at the tank anymore. An overhaul resets the composition without touching the biology: livestock stay in the system, the filter keeps running, and the interior gets rebuilt around a new focal point. Most overhauls are a single visit. It is the cheapest way to make a room feel renovated, which is why bar and restaurant owners tend to call us for one tank and hand us the rest afterward.
Every visit, on the checklist.
- On-site design review and photo reference
- Hardscape composition and focal point
- Aquatic plant selection and planting
- Driftwood preparation and placement
- Substrate refresh or replacement
- In-tank livestock relocation during work
- Lighting recalibration for the new scape
- 30-day check-in on plant establishment
From first call to finished tank.
Review
We photograph the tank as it stands, agree on a direction, and confirm what stays.
Clear
Old décor out, substrate refreshed, livestock moved within the system rather than out of it.
Rescape
Hardscape set to a focal point, driftwood placed, plants established, lighting retuned.
Settle
A 30-day check-in while plants root and the scape fills in, then back to normal cadence.
What it costs.
Overhauls are quoted per tank based on gallons and how much hardscape and planting the new design needs. For existing maintenance clients it's usually a single added line item; for new accounts it's a common first project before moving onto a cleaning cadence.
Common questions.
Do the fish have to come out?
No. We relocate them within the tank while we work, so the biological filter and the livestock both stay in place.
How long does an overhaul take?
Most are done in a single visit of a few hours. Larger commercial displays occasionally need two.
Will the tank be cloudy afterward?
Briefly, for a day or two while the substrate settles. Filtration clears it and we tune the lights on the follow-up.
Can you keep the tank in service while a business stays open?
Yes — we've rescaped bar tanks on a Saturday without the bar closing. Scheduling around your quiet hours is normal for us.
Real plants or artificial?
Either. Real planting looks better and helps water quality; artificial makes sense in high-traffic rooms with low light. We'll tell you which your room supports.