Aquarium refurbishment
ATL has successfully completed a major aquarium refurbishment project in Kotka, Finland
ATL are pleased to finally announce that the aquarium refurbishment of the Baltic Sea tank in the Kotka Maretarium is now complete. We were entrusted with this amazing aquarium refurbishment project after a successful tender bid to Kotka City. However despite a timely start our repair work scope suffered a series of major delays due to the global pandemic which denied us the opportunity of overseas travel.
It was way back in 2002 when the ATL team completed the original aquarium installation works. After nearly 20 years of successful operation the main exhibit the Baltic Sea tank was in need of our expert attention again. Operating an open air aquarium tank in Finland presents some significant operational conditions. Imagine the extremes of weather seen in a typical Finnish year! This harsh environment takes its toll on literally everything so the tank needed to undergo a full aquarium refurbishment process. The tank was drained down and the precious livestock rehoused. The biological filter bed was removed and all the original in tank decor was demolished and removed from the tank.
Demolition in progress
Literally everything needed to be lifted in and out of the tank in bags!
The tank is 10 meters diameter and 6 meters deep and a tank of this size is logistically challenging requiring everything to be lifted in and out of the workspace with a crane. This included the installation of a temporary roof over the tank to provide much needed weather protection allowing the ATL team to undertake removal of the ageing sealant around each of the acrylic windows.
ATL raising the roof!
The opportunity was taken to use this once in 20 year drain down to remove the original lining system and replace it with a new GRP composite waterproofing system. This provides an added layer of future proofing for the aquarium for at least the next 20 + years of service.
GRP lining of the Baltic Sea tank in Kotka
ATL GRP lining with a couple of our team used for scale
Post hydrotest -a quite unique view of the Baltic tank in Kotka
Once the new window seals had been injected the acrylic windows were polished returning them to near new condition. Our technician team did all of this work in preparation for the in tank decor teams arrival on site. As part of the aquarium refurbishment upgrade we were asked to furnish the aquarium using local reference stylized rock work for the aquarium back drop.
Local style tank decor
In addition we provided a historic timber ships bow wreck tank feature embedded in the rock to add further interest.
Carved Shipwreck feature decor Kotka
The decor teams completed the new decor and finally a new filter bed was installed, allowing the tank to be refilled and restocked. Back in May the aquarium could finally reopen with its full compliment of displays which coincided nicely with the lifting of major COVID restrictions.
Elsewhere around the aquarium we designed and installed some new feature displays to enhance the original tank population. A new kids head up dome display gives amazing views of eels and some new jewel tanks add interest to some forgotten corners of the aquarium. The opportunity was also used to upgrade some décor to enhance a few of the other original displays.
We are really proud of our team in diligently completing these aquarium refurbishment works under unpresented and extremely challenging conditions. We are so pleased with it how it went the results of which can be viewed here We would like to thank our friends at the Kotka Maretarium for their patience throughout this aquarium refurbishment project and wish them continued success for the next 20 years!
Tank back in action
