Over 24 years ago the ATL team delivered a new SEALIFE project in Konstanz, Germany. After welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to the aquarium since then, it was decided to revamp the facility to provide an upgraded visit. The site closed for several months to allow for the Sealife Konstanz aquarium refurbishment to take place. ATL secured the contract to provide the specialist waterproofing, sealing and theming work scope for this amazing project.

As with most public aquaria the main exhibit is the deep ocean display. The ocean tank was drained down to enable significant remedial works to be undertaken to the concrete structure.

Demolition of the original ocean tank theming in progress

These essential works provided us the opportunity to remove all of the old window seals and once the tank resurfacing was completed, our team applied a new two colour GRP lining system to protect the tank structure. Within the floor lining we incorporated a special texture to provide enhanced lighting effects from above. We then set about injecting new seals for all of the acrylic viewing panels including the vertical cylinder panorama view and the 180 degree walk through tunnels.

Removing the acrylic panorama viewing panel in Sealife Konstanz

Inevitably after years of successful operation many of the aquariums windows were showing signs of surface scratches and abrasions, so all of the acrylic viewing panels were cosmetically polished to bring them back up to ‘as new’ condition.

ATL polished hemisphere viewing panel

ATLs team of artists and creatives then went about their usual magic making, creating the sea at night ocean tank scenery as well as shipwreck ribs and panels, UV enhanced artificial corals, pinnacles, atolls, underwater archways whilst incorporating a turtle haul out ramp and nest box!

Theming in progress in Konstanz ocean tank

The resealed and cosmetically polished tunnel

The refurbished panorama view provides an excellent across tank viewing opportunity

Opening night in the ATL refurbished ocean tunnel

In parallel to the works in the main ocean tank, it was decided to refurbish some of the other major displays. The penguin exhibit land area was recoated and the acrylic windows polished returning it all back to tip top condition.

New epoxy coating for the penguins

The refurbished penguin exhibit

The penguins enjoying their refurbished home

We also took the opportunity to replace the original glass viewing panels with stunning new acrylic windows and re theming tanks to complement the rest of the site.

Before – glass panels

After – glass replaced with acrylic

All other tank windows were polished during the refurbishment

The ray tank was next to be fully refurbished ensuring it fitted seamlessly alongside the rest of the sea at night themed visitor walk through.
We were tasked to design and fabricate an upgraded self supporting acrylic anti touch screen to the top of the ray tank
This proved a great success and replaced the unsightly installed support structure with shiny new marine grade stainless steel brackets and curved acrylics.

New self supporting ray tank screens were formed and installed by ATL

Another major part of the Sealife Konstanz aquarium refurbishment project was the redevelopment of the rock pool zone which meant the old style rock pools needed to be removed.

The old style rock pool exhibit was removed as part of the revamp

We then set about designing and manufacturing a bespoke series of rock pool displays. Working closely with the clients husbandry and branding teams was key to delivering a new approach to the ever popular rock pool displays.

The rockpools nearing completion

Being able to provide realistic habitats for the creatures, whilst bringing the visitors up close enough to immerse them in the fascinating world of the rockpools typically found around coastal regions was of prime importance.

ATL rockpools displays in Konstanz

All of the tanks were seamlessly themed with the theming extended to the surrounding walls incorporating state of the art interpretation and interactive screens. These new generation rock pool tanks tick all of the boxes and we are very pleased with all of the positive feedback.

The new style rockpools include interactive screens

Enjoying ATLs rockpools in Konstanz

SEALIFE Konstanz new interactives proving to be popular

Undoubtedly an aquarium refurbishment of this scale is operationally disruptive but with plenty of forward planning, co ordination and coupled with a flexible and adaptable team approach the end results speak for themselves. Working closely alongside the clients operational and creative teams brought demonstrable benefits and success to this project. We have no doubt that SEALIFE Konstanz will continue to be a success and welcoming visitors for the next 20+ years. The ATL team is proud to have played a major part in this project. For more details visit

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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

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Working with world renowned zoo operators such as Chester Zoo is always a privilege for ATL. As a leading provider of specialist water proofing and under water viewing panels, ATL was chosen as the zoos nominated contractor for supplying these services to Chester zoos penguin island refurbishment.

The original pool was last refurbished back in the mid 1990’s. At that time ATL stepped in at the last minute to provide the flat acrylic glazing panels to the project. After 20+ years of service the pool was in need of an upgrade. Chester zoos penguin island exhibit like all modern zoo exhibits provides a fantastic insight into the lives of the inhabitants. Humboldt penguins spend lots of their time in the water as well on land so it was decided to upgrade the entire exhibit to provide a really spectacular habitat.

Chester Zoos original penguin viewing

Following months of forward planning, demolition and reconstruction works commenced last Autumn. Rapidly approaching a UK winter it was recognised that to complete external works of this magnitude required specialist weather protection to be erected over the pool.

Extent of the weather protection over the pool

Once tented and the pool enclosed and protected, the ATL team were able to apply a hard wearing two colour GRP composite lining system over the entire 400m3 pool area! Additional features such as drains and specialist overflow weir boxes were also treated in GRP to provide a complete impervious coating to the entire internal concrete pool structure.

ATL composite waterproof pool coatings

As part of the pool upgrade it was decided to provide a new and much larger under water viewing area to enable everyone to get a fantastic view of the playful Chester Zoo penguins and ATL did just that. We sourced and thermo formed four large acrylic blocks at our factory here in Weymouth. Once formed and polished the acrylic viewing panels were delivered to site. Together with our trusted crane equipped transport partner the ATL team installed the new viewing panels each weighing 850kg.

Chester Zoo penguins ATL underwater viewing windows

ATL curved acrylic viewing panels

Once safely in place the ATL team sealed and protected them ready for hydro testing once the protective tent was removed earlier this year.

Achieving this project is a result of months of forward planning with ATL working closely with the zoos expert in house design, management and animal teams and ofcourse the main contractor alongside other sub contractor teams. Our installation team is rightly proud of achieving this excellent result for the zoo. Chester zoos penguin island exhibit is now open to the public. For more details take a look at the following

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Recently the Macduff marine aquarium in Scotland underwent a major refurbishment and upgrade. ATL were appointed as specialist works contractor to complete the water proofing, acrylic glazing refurbishment and re theming of the aquariums central feature ocean display. The ATL aquarium refurbishment team completed various stages of the works. The original tank lining needed to be removed and a new GRP composite aquarium lining applied.

ATL GRP tank lining

ATL are specialists in the application of composite tank linings. We have many years of experience and a proven track record of success in projects around the world. ATL offer different colour options for tank walls and floors as standard. In operation fish can move the base substrates around and expose the floor lining. If the base colour is a neutral or natural colour then exposed sections of lining become less obvious to the viewer. A minor point but ATL recognise this issue and offer this as a standard but very effective advantage of a two colour lining system.

ATL offer 2 colour tank lining systems

As part of the ATL aquarium refurbishment in Macduff we undertook the resealing of all of the acrylic viewing panels. This involved carefully cutting away the 20 + year old sealant, cleaning and applying new seals. After 20 years of trouble free service, welcoming many thousands of visitors the underwater viewing windows needed some care and attention. All of the acrylic windows underwent full remedial polishing in situ to remove scratches and marks and restoring them back to a near new condition.

ATL in situ aquarium window refurbishment

New water proof lining and revamped under water windows meant that the tank theming and in tank décor needed to be replaced. The opportunity was also taken to improve the in tank pipework set up to allow more adjustable flows. This will develop natural currents and flows within the tank environment and allows the site team display kelp more effectively than before. The ATL team also produced all of the new rock features creating a stunning new seascape. ATL use only mortars suitable for long term submersion in seawater supported on inert plastic support mesh and ties so there is no chance of corrosion of the support structures. Being a native marine aquarium with a bias for local Scottish species the rock work has been styled to closely resemble the local strata seen around the Macduff coastline. There’s plenty of local reference to base it on!

ATL rockwork in progress

ATL aquarium refurbishment services are widely used in projects around the UK, Europe and across the world. ATL believe in seeing their products in service for the long term. ATL was involved with the original building of Macduff Marine Aquarium back in 1996 so its great to be able to go back in 2017 and continue the success story going forward.

ATL newly refurbished aquarium in Macduff

Macduff marine aquarium is a lovely example of a local aquarium with complete emphasis on showing local native species and is well worth a visit. More information can be viewed at viewed at

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The staggering improvement in display visibility, the overall impression of a much lighter display area and the clean modern look of the polished stainless steel mullions all blend to help create an exciting and memorable visit. Once again ATL’s experience in taking on and delivering challenging refurbishment projects give the owners and operators of existing aquariums and attractions an extremely cost effective route to improvement without major disruption or closure.

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ATL have recently completed the installation of replacement glazing to two large freshwater displays in Bristol Zoo’s acclaimed aquarium. The operation to remove the badly scratched existing laminated glass viewing panels and replace them with new low iron laminated glass panels mounted in polished stainless steel mullions was a logistically challenging job.

With the very limited access that was available inside the operational aquarium ATL had to use a range of specialist materials handling equipment and techniques to remove and replace the large and very heavy glass panels.

The badly scratched laminated glass viewing panels

Remove and replacing the large and very heavy glass panels

The dramatic improvement in display visibility, overall impression of a much lighter display area and clean modern look of the polished stainless steel mullions all blend to help to bring this iconic aquarium bang up to date. ATL’s experience in taking on and delivering challenging refurbishment projects of this nature give owners and operators of existing aquariums a far more cost effective route to improvement than the alternative of closure and complete redevelopment.

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