OUR AQUARIUMS

Aquarium Illusions Inc. offers quality built aquariums at competitive prices; manufactured in Canada by Concept Aquarium Systems Inc.
Our tanks carry a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 yrs. (For tanks 300 US gal & up, the manufacturers warranty is 7 years).
All Aquarium Illusions tanks are built with glass thicknesses that meet & exceed the tensile strength requirements. Our bracing design exceeds industry standards. Our tanks only ‘bow’ if they are ‘bow fronts’. For example: A 72 gal tank made by common aquarium manufacturers is built out of 8 mil glass, whereas our custom 72 gal tank is made out of 10 mil. Our 135 gal tank is built out of 12 mil glass; theirs is made out of 10 mil, so on & so on….
Aquarium Illusions stocks & sells custom built standard sized tanks, as well as Oceanic and All Glass Aquarium tanks. We stock a wide selection of customized tanks (i.e.: reef ready). OR you can order a custom tank made to your specific dimensions & shape.

CUSTOM AQUARIUMS

Why purchase something you have to work into your room, when you can design something to fit that nook, cranny, corner or wall unit? Or how about a room dividing tank?
Custom aquariums are not more expensive to buy. You do, however get the versatility and option to build something uniquely your own.

Please click on a picture to see a larger size version:

Aquarium Illusions offers you options NOT available at your large chain stores. Here are some of the options you may not even be aware are available to you…

180 gallon Double Bow Before

Bow fronts & Shapes & Corners Tanks – If rectangular and square tanks aren’t for you, we can custom build bow fronts, and any configuration of shape you desire. Some options are: bow front corner, double bow front, corner hex front, flat back hex front, triangular corner, diamond shape, large triangles, rectangular with angled ends, “L” shaped, “T” shaped, etc. You dream it and we can build it.

180 gallon Double Bow Installed

Starphire Glass - We can construct your tank from Starphire Glass. Starphire glass has higher visual and light transmittance than traditional float glass. This glass gives your aquarium a look like no other. It is visually pristine! It is slightly more expensive than traditional float glass, but well worth it. We can construct the tank completely out of Starphire or just the viewing sides (helping to keep the cost down).Starphire tank bracing & Starphire glass lids will offer the benefit of optimum light penetration.

Tempered Glass - Tempered glass increases the integral strength of the aquarium by 7 times. Reef aquariums requiring overflows are drilled first and then tempered. Tempered glass is necessary in very large or commercial applications. NOTE: If you currently own a tempered aquarium it cannot be drilled. We often get asked to drill existing aquariums to retrofit an overflow chamber; this can only be done if it’s a non-tempered aquarium. Some manufacturers use tempered bottoms only; in these cases we can install external cup overflows instead. There are several other options we can recommend in the event an overflow cannot be used.

Polished Edges - Polished beveled edges give a tank a very professional finished look. If the corners of your tank are going to be exposed to viewing, this option is highly recommended. All exposed edges can be polished for tanks that have no top/bottom trim.

Silicone Choice - All glass aquariums are built with a construction grade silicone. You can choose from clear or black silicone. Black silicone is beneficial for it will not take on dye from medication and if algae collects in the corners it will not be as visible.

Overflow Chambers - Overflow Chambers are used for saltwater as well as freshwater aquariums. Overflows allow you to use the superior sump style filtration and allow for maximum water turnover rates.  Most canister style filters achieve a maximum of 360 gallons per hour, a typical 1 1/2" overflow drain can handle 1100 gallons per hour!

The number of overflows and their position will be determined by the size of your tank and its placement. We offer many different overflow styles, such as: box corner, triangle corner, back panel, cup exterior, centered end panel, and central tank style. Our overflows are constructed out of clear or tinted glass. We also offer a black plexi overlap the completely ‘blacks out’ any view into the inside of the tank. Glass overflow boxes will not warp like plexi glass boxes have been known to do.
The overflow chamber typically encompasses both the tank drain(s) & return(s). The tank returns can be inside the overflow, independent, or both. The overflow holes can be installed also to conceal equipment cords and aeration accessories (this is especially beneficial with tanks viewed from all 4 sides).

Closed Loops – When running a ‘closed system’ we can drill holes in the bottom or sides of your tank. These holes can be used for closed filtration systems or for obtaining more water flow without the use of unsightly submersible pumps.
 

CUSTOM STANDS

Aquarium Illusions sell a variety of stands in metal or wood. We also specialize in custom stands.

Metal Stands - Tube steel powder coated stands offer the best price points as well as weight bearing support. They can be disguised with cabinetry skirts. You get the best of both worlds, the best weight support & the beauty of cabinetry finishing.

Custom Cabinets - Aquarium Illusions can build you the cabinetry that will match your household or office d�cor. Match wood profiles, styles and colors. You get better quality at prices equal to or just slightly more than mass produced aquarium stands.

Full Canopies - Enclose the top of your aquarium with a full canopy. The tops are hinged for access. A hinged feeding opening can be disguised on the side of the canopy for even more convenient access. This opening is visually blended into the side of the canopy.

Valances - If you don’t want a full canopy top, we can make a valance that gives the appearance of a full top but it is open on the top. This is handy for access and also provides extra ventilation for the lighting.

Fans – We can install ventilation fans in your canopy for the cooling of light fixtures. We use quiet 3” – 4” fans with guard covers.

Custom Skirts – Custom carpentry skirts are used to enclose tanks supported by metal stands. You would never be able to tell that the wood work was not holding the weight of the tank.

Standard Stands & Canopies – Aquarium Illusions Inc. also stocks cabinetry & canopies made by Oceanic & All Glass Aquariums.


BRACING STYLE

Bracing is necessary 99% of the time for the integral strength of your aquarium. We offer a number of bracing styles to meet your particular needs, such as:

Standard Bracing - Small tanks are braced sufficiently by the acrylic extruded top & bottom moulds. Large tanks require glass bracing for strength. Standard glass bracing is characterized by a narrow glass strip that runs around the top entire top perimeter of the tank, as well as a center glass brace the runs front to back.

Staggered Bracing - This bracing style is beneficial when trying to optimize light penetration from your lighting. The bracing & metal halide bulbs are off set from each other. For example: a 6’ tank will have the narrow perimeter bracing as well as 2 or 3 ‘front to back’ braces.

Euro Bracing – Euro bracing is an approx. 3” wide strip of glass that runs all around the perimeter of the tank. It gives you complete & free access to the inside of your tank without any cross braces. This is also a favored option for those optimizing on the light penetration into their tank. This bracing can also be polished for a very refined look. In very large tank applications, euro bracing is tempered.

No Bracing At All - Depending on the tank size and configuration, we can construct tanks with no bracing at all. These tanks will be made with thicker glass and possibly tempered depending on the situation.

Return Lines in Bracing – For independent return lines that are up and out of the way, we can drill holes in the braces. This is also a great way to get more flow in the tank without a lot of messy looking power head pumps.

Starphire Bracing – For no hindrance of light penetration, there is the option of using starphire glass for the tank cross bracing.

Glass Lids - Aquarium Illusions offers hinged style glass lids. Simply lift the front panel by the convenient handle to access for feeding. They are also the easiest to remove & replace when cleaning (no little track to slide into). Glass lids are also available in Starphire glass.

CUSTOM LIGHTING Proper lighting is a very important factor in salt water aquariums. Find out more about our custom lighting. CLICK HERE