What Software Is Used to Professionally Design Custom Aquariums?
Designing a custom aquarium isn’t just about arranging fish and plants, it's about creating a unique, functioning ecosystem that blends aesthetics with engineering. This is where the importance of software comes into play. Whether for large commercial projects or home aquariums, the right software helps turn ideas into reality. By offering precise measurements, realistic visualizations, and tools to handle everything from water filtration to lighting, aquarium design software ensures that your ideas become detailed, actionable plans. Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, these tools make it easier to create aquariums that are not only beautiful but also structurally sound and efficient.
Popular Types of Software Used in Custom Aquarium Design
Let’s explore the most popular types of software used in the aquarium industry.
CAD Software (Computer-Aided Design)
CAD software is widely used in professional design fields, including custom aquarium design. It helps ensure accuracy and allows for advanced customization.
Precise measurements: CAD software allows you to input exact measurements, ensuring everything fits perfectly.
Custom features: Adding curved glass panels or creating custom-built filtration systems becomes a breeze with CAD software.
Popular CAD software:
AutoCAD: A leading choice for detailed technical designs.
SolidWorks: Great for designing mechanical components like filtration and support systems.
3D Modeling Software
While CAD software focuses on precision, 3D modeling software helps bring designs to life with realistic visuals.
Realistic previews: Create life-like renderings of your aquarium.
Easy adjustments: Move things around, swap plants, or change the tank’s dimensions with just a few clicks.
Popular choices:
SketchUp: Known for its user-friendly interface
TinkerCAD: This free, beginner-friendly tool offers easy-to-use 3D modeling.
Why we use 3D design software
3D design software is used to model everything from plumbing routes, tank structures, logistics plans, theming designs, support stands and filtration systems and building layouts. Each of these items needs to be 3D modeled to ensure that things fit seamlessly when installed.
Plumbing design can be modeled in 3D so that we have every part and fitting that is required and we can make sure there are no clashes with walls, floors, or other components in a building or a house. All plumbing routes are pre-planned by also modeling the site that the aquarium will go into
3D designing a tank itself is also a requirement as we can do FEA (finite element analysis) to ensure that the structures are designed soundly and will not bow or blow out or leak whether they are made from all acrylic or FRP/steel containers. Also the shape should fit the area in which it is installed seamlessly.
3D designing the theming is a great way to show clients how the end result will look before we start manufacturing. We can show rockwork colours, shapes, textures and size which can be customised to the clients' needs or wants. We also have off the shelf coral and plant designs which can be added to any aquarium aquascape and moved, or the colour modified or the quantity changed to as much as the client likes.
3D modeling also helps logistics as we can understand the weights of tanks, theming structures, stands, etc for cranage. This also helps us plan routes if we are working in large buildings. Sometimes we will need to take a window out of sites that are on high floors. If a tank is heavy, structures can be designed to help lift them with a crane or on trolleys.
Another benefit of 3D modeling is to do a flow analysis on more complicated shape tanks or on large displays to make sure that there are no dead spots that can cause issues with water temperature or water stagnation. We also design jellyfish tanks that require specifically designed flows inside aquariums to ensure that they are not damaged by high flow rates or being sucked down drainage pipes due to their non- directional swimming.
2D design is also important as diagrams are always used to detail how an aquarium works without full models of every component. A P&ID is a diagram that will tell you everything you need to know about a filtration system from how water is added, where measurements are taken, flow rates and where equipment is used and how it is connected. A P&ID tells the story of how the system works.
How CAD Software Makes Aquarium Design Easier
In custom aquarium design, 3D software like CAD makes planning and building easier. Here's how it works:
Accuracy and Precision
Exact measurements: CAD software lets you input precise dimensions, ensuring that everything fits together perfectly, whether it's the length, width, or depth of the tank.
Proper alignment and spacing: CAD helps you place equipment, filtration systems, and lighting in exactly the right spots.
Easier Customization
Curved glass and unique shapes: Traditional methods can struggle with designing curved glass or unusual shapes. CAD makes these designs simple and accurate.
Advanced filtration systems: CAD lets you plan complex filtration and lighting setups with ease, ensuring they work perfectly with the rest of the design.
Better Collaboration Between Designers and Clients
Cloud collaboration: Many CAD platforms offer cloud-based features, allowing multiple people to work on the same design at once, no matter where they are.
Quick modifications: If a client wants to change the tank dimensions or add a feature, CAD makes it easy to update the design without starting over.
Conclusion
Professional software plays a crucial role in creating custom aquariums, transforming ideas into tangible, functional designs. From CAD to 3D modeling, these tools ensure precision, customization, and collaboration at every stage of the design process. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, choosing the right software can make all the difference in bringing your aquarium vision to life.
