Milestones.
Every tank, a story.
Behind every aquarium we install is a design brief, a challenge and a solution. These case studies share the detail behind our work — equipment choices, aquascaping decisions and species selection.
Discus Planted — Living Room Feature
A warm-water planted system built around a group of high-grade Discus, combining stable water chemistry with a lush Amazon-style aquascape.
Maintaining stable pH 6.4 and 29°C in a hard-water area required a dedicated RO unit and mineral supplementation.
Fluval FX4 canister, Twinstar 900E LED, ADA Amazonia substrate, UP Aqua CO₂ system
Amazon swords, Vallisneria spiralis, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Java fern
Blue diamond discus ×6, cardinal tetras ×30, corydoras sterbai ×8
Iwagumi Rockscape — Office Reception
A dramatic Iwagumi-style hardscape using premium Seiryu stone, installed in a solicitors' office reception. Clean, minimal and commanding.
Seiryu stone raises pH and hardness over time — we countered with weekly small water changes and soft water top-ups.
Eheim Classic 600, Chihiros WRGB II Slim LED, JBL ProScape substrate, Tropica CO₂ Kit
Eleocharis parvula (hairgrass carpet), Anubias nana petite on stone
Celestial pearl danios ×20, Otocinclus ×6
Planted Community — Family Living Room
A natural-style planted aquarium for a family with young children — colourful, lush and designed to be low-maintenance with our monthly Standard plan.
Balancing plant growth with a curious family wanting to see lots of fish — we selected fast-growing, forgiving plants and a good mix of schooling species.
Fluval 307 canister, Fluval Plant 3.0 LED, Tropica Aquarium Soil, JBL ProFlora CO₂ Duo
Rotala rotundifolia, Hygrophila polysperma, Monte Carlo carpet, Anubias barteri
Neon tetras ×20, rummy-nose tetras ×15, corydoras paleatus ×8, bristlenose pleco ×2
Lake Malawi Biotope — Cichlid Display
A faithful Lake Malawi biotope for an experienced fishkeeper, densely stocked with mbuna and peacock cichlids over a structured limestone rock formation.
Managing aggression in a heavily stocked mbuna tank — we used a carefully planned rock layout with multiple caves and line-of-sight breaks to spread territorial behaviour.
Fluval FX6 canister (×2), Aquael Leddy Slim LED, coral sand substrate, limestone rock
None (biotope-accurate)
Metriaclima estherae ×6, Labidochromis caeruleus ×4, Aulonocara stuartgranti ×3, Synodontis multipunctatus ×4
General Community — First Aquarium
A first aquarium for a couple new to fishkeeping — clean, well-planted and stocked with a friendly mix of community fish. Now on our Starter maintenance plan.
Building confidence with the owners — we provided a detailed care guide and check-in calls during the first month alongside our standard maintenance visits.
Oase BioMaster 250, Aquael Leddy Slim LED, JBL Manado substrate
Vallisneria, Java fern, Amazon sword, floating frogbit
Guppies ×8, platies ×6, corydoras trilineatus ×6, pearl gourami ×2
Nano Aquascape — Setup Style
Our newest setup style: detailed, tightly-composed aquascaping in a compact 20-60 litre footprint, ideal for a desk or shelf. Available now from £550.
Example shown for style reference (Chris Penny, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) — not a specific completed AD Aquatics installation.
In a small footprint, every element has to earn its place — hardscape proportion, plant choice and stocking density matter more than in a large tank. We design each nano aquascape around one clear layout style rather than mixing everything in.
Compact filter sized for low flow, full-spectrum LED lighting, heater sized to volume
Anubias, mosses, carpeting plants or a single focal stem plant, chosen by style
Chili rasboras, ember tetras, celestial pearl danios, dwarf shrimp or nerite snails — lightly stocked
Biotope & Blackwater — Setup Style
Our newest setup style: a naturalistic biotope replicating a specific wild habitat, such as an Amazon blackwater stream, rather than a general community aquascape. Available now from £750.
Example shown for style reference (Ewkaa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) — not a specific completed AD Aquatics installation.
Water chemistry, hardscape and species are all matched to one real habitat rather than a general community mix — tannins from driftwood, leaf litter and botanicals stain and soften the water naturally.
Filter sized for light stocking, subdued lighting, dark fine substrate, botanicals for tannin staining
Biotope-appropriate species only, where the habitat supports plant growth
Wild-type tetras, apistogramma, corydoras, or Amazon-origin angelfish — species matched to the chosen habitat
Want a setup like these?
Every installation is custom-designed for your space, species preferences and budget. Let's talk.