Can a new aquarium be planned around equipment I already own?

Yes. Share the model and dimensions of the equipment you want to keep. We can assess how it affects the sump, plumbing, clearance, and overall scope, then call out anything that may not suit the new system.

Do you build both freshwater and saltwater aquariums?

Yes. Residential projects can be planned for freshwater, fish-only saltwater, or reef use. The livestock plan influences filtration, flow, lighting, access, and the room the system needs behind the display.

Can you help plan the sump, overflow, plumbing, and cabinetry?

Those details can be considered during quoting so the display and support system work together. The exact scope depends on your room, equipment, finish preferences, and the services included in your project.

How are pickup, delivery, and installation handled?

Handoff is planned case by case based on aquarium size, destination, access, and project scope. Tell us the location and any stairs, tight turns, elevators, or scheduling constraints when you request a quote.

Built for real homes and real aquarium routines

A custom aquarium shaped around your home and how you keep fish.

Start fresh or upgrade the system you already know. We help turn the room, livestock plan, equipment, and maintenance routine into a clear build-ready scope.

Request a free residential quote Explore the aquarium designer

Fabricated in our Calgary shop
Freshwater, fish-only, and reef
Plan around equipment you own

A mature planted freshwater aquarium with discus on a custom wood cabinet in a customer home — A mature freshwater system in a real home—not a rendering.

Start where you are

A better plan starts with the project you actually have.

A first serious aquarium and a mature-system upgrade need different conversations. Choose the path that sounds like yours.

A newly started residential reef aquarium installed into built-in cabinetry

Begin with the room and livestock plan

I’m starting a new system

Shape the footprint, water type, filtration, access, and finish together before equipment purchases narrow your options.

Compare tank proportions against the room
Plan the sump, overflow, plumbing, and service access
Leave room for the livestock and equipment you may add later

Plan my new aquarium

A large empty aquarium being prepared as part of a real home upgrade

Keep what works and solve what does not

I’m upgrading an aquarium

Bring the dimensions, photos, and equipment list from your current setup. We can plan around useful gear and the transfer your livestock will need.

Identify equipment worth reusing
Correct noise, access, flow, or filtration pain points
Plan a practical path from the current tank to the new one

Talk through my upgrade

The aquarium comes before the equipment list

Plan the system around what you want to keep.

Water type and livestock affect the tank, filtration, lighting, flow, and maintenance access. Defining them early keeps the system working as one plan.

Freshwater

Plan around planted layouts, hardscape, fish behaviour, and filtration without losing sight of everyday access.

Planted, community, species-focused, and display systems

Fish-only

Balance swimming room, stocking goals, dependable filtration, and service access for a system that is easier to live with.

Freshwater or saltwater systems built around the fish

Reef

Coordinate flow, lighting, overflow placement, sump space, and equipment access around the coral you want to keep.

Mixed reef, soft coral, LPS, SPS, and fish-and-coral systems

Tell us what you want to keep

A person lifting the canopy on a large reef aquarium to reach the lighting and service area — Service access is easier to solve before the system is filled.

Build the support system into the plan

The details behind the glass decide how the aquarium feels every day.

We make the practical choices visible before fabrication: what stays, what needs access, and how the aquarium should fit the room.

Your current equipment

What should move to the new system
What is limiting the aquarium today
What may need room for a future upgrade

Daily use and service

Doors, lids, sump access, and working clearance
Pump and overflow choices that consider noise
Plumbing routes that remain reachable

Fit and finish

Dimensions and viewing panels for the room
Overflow and return locations
Cabinetry, lids, and handoff scope

Bring a rough equipment list and room photos. We will help identify the decisions that matter.

Talk through my setup

Verified customer perspective

Real aquariums. Real homes. Real feedback.

These customer photos and excerpts link to the original five-star reviews on Google.

Jason IronSide

Google reviewer

“The aquarium itself turned out beautifully. The workmanship is incredible.”

Read the original review

Gord Braun

Google reviewer

“Benjamin and his team at Concept Aquariums provided the solution and built me a custom designed glass lid made to my exact specifications.”

Read the original review

Have a room photo, tank size, or equipment list ready? That is enough to start a useful conversation.

Start my residential quote

From idea to fabrication

A clear process before glass is cut.

You do not need a finished specification to contact us. The quote process is where the system becomes concrete.

Step 01

Share the room and the goal

Send photos, rough dimensions, inspiration, livestock plans, and any equipment you hope to reuse.

Step 02

Define the system

We work through tank proportions, water type, overflow, sump, plumbing, access, and the scope you want quoted.

Step 03

Review the quote

You receive a project-specific scope to review before fabrication begins, with open questions made clear.

Step 04

Build and plan the handoff

The aquarium is fabricated in our Calgary shop, then pickup, delivery, and available handoff options are coordinated for the project.

See how the fabrication work comes together.

Explore the decisions and shop work behind a custom aquarium before you request a project quote.

See our manufacturing process

Residential aquarium FAQs

Questions worth answering before the quote.

A useful first conversation can begin with rough information. We will help turn it into the decisions your project needs.

Start with photos of the room, approximate dimensions, your freshwater, fish-only, or reef goal, and a list of any equipment you want to reuse. Rough information is enough to begin; we can identify the missing decisions together.

Your room, your livestock, your way of keeping fish

Start with the aquarium you want to live with.

Send the room, the rough size, and the goal. We will help define the next decisions and prepare a project-specific quote.

Get my free quote Shop livestock and equipment