SEALIFE Great Yarmouth first opened its doors to the public in 1990. During that time the aquarium has seen many changes including various thematic changes to the site including the major ocean tank display. The ocean tank included a viewing theatre with large laminated glass panels. After nearly 35 years of trouble free service it was decided the ocean tank windows needed to be replaced so the opportunity presented itself to rethink the viewing area and replace the glass windows with acrylic. The original glass panels were supported on heavy glass mullions which were typical of tanks of this era. Despite being glass the original mullions were bulky and attempts to disguise them with replica stone columns in combination did nothing to add to the visual clarity of the area.

The original glass viewing panels in SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

Glass viewing panels and mullions

ATL were appointed to provide specialist advice on how the ocean tank viewing area could be modified enabling the use of acrylic panels. Firstly a bespoke lifting beam was designed by the clients structural engineer and installed over the tank. This beam was to be used to suspend the specialist vacuum lifting equipment required to provide support for the heavy glasses as they were being cut out from the rebate. The same system was used to safely manoeuvre and lower the panels out of the tank for disposal.

Our team removing the 35 year old silicone seals

ATL removing the glass mullions from the ocean tank

Harry steadying the glass

Working as intended- failed glass leaf held on the interlayer

All the old glass removed

Various glazing combinations were considered including installing a single span acrylic panel. However a single viewing panel was not considered to be practical as it would involve literally removing the roof of the building with all of the consequential disruption that would bring. So it was decided that the ocean viewing area would be reconfigured using multiple acrylic panels and refined steel support elements. We went about designing and fabricating steel mullions and the existing tank frame was then modified to accept the new mullion supports being welded in on site. Once the structural work on site was complete, ATL’s GRP composite water proofing was applied to the new frame integrating it with the existing tank lining. Full height acrylic viewing panels were then delivered onto site and safely lifted back into the tank, installed and sealed into the prepared tank frames.

Ocean tank viewing panels with mullions

Hydrotesting the new viewing panel installation at SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

The behind the scenes organisation needed to safely rehome all of the fish and other inhabitants are considerable and requires months of planning so the chance to drain the major ocean display doesn’t come along too often. When it does the opportunity is seized to provide new theming features for the tank. ATL typically provide high quality tank decor as part of their package however in this instance the theming work was entrusted to a local specialist. They have recreated the wreck of the HMS Gloucester which sunk off Great Yarmouth in 1682 for more details see HMS Gloucester . Meanwhile the ATL team provided a replacement composite filter bed and pipework at the same time as installing a bespoke composite anti splash screen to the top of the tank.

Our team added a GRP anti splash upstand to the tank perimeter

Further works completed by our multi skilled team included replacing and upgrading various items of life support system equipment including adding an additional full flow ultra violet disinfection unit.

Media filter upgrades at SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

Additional full flow UV disinfection unit was added to enhance the LSS

Finally we designed and built some new aquarium displays to replace some end of life displays in another part of the aquarium exhibition. Using ATL’s prefabricated system of production meant that these replacement tanks could be prefabricated offsite and fast track delivered fully themed and ready to add water and fish.

Winding the clock on 35 years – it was great for the ATL team to be back on site and entrusted with such a technically challenging project and successfully delivering the SEALIFE Great Yarmouth ocean tank refurbishment.

Visitors enjoying the views through the new acrylic windows

The new acrylic viewing panels

The new windows allow close up viewing of the friendly inhabitants.

The fish enjoying their newly refurbished home in SEALIFE Great Yarmouth

More details about SEALIFE Great Yarmouth can be viewed here

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Last year ATL’s technical teams completed works on the new American dream aquarium. Located in the American Dream edutainment mall in Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey this is the latest SEALIFE project. ATL were entrusted to deliver the entire aquarium displays package. This package involved many new exciting aquarium tank designs as well as some of the more staple family friendly favorites.

the kids coral kingdom tunnel tank in progress

the mangrove tunnel display

All of our displays were designed and manufactured in house at ATL. Where possoible the tanks were manufactured as complete unit but where size did others in sections due their overall size.

loading the American Dream aquarium shoaling tank

All of the tanks and components were then loaded into shipping containers and delivered into the American Dream aquarium site. Our technicians worked closely with a team of local representatives to ensure the safe installation and assembly of our tanks into final location.

Once of ATL’s sectional tank in position

As well as the stand alone aquarium displays ATL also manufactured installed and sealed the large ocean tank viewing panels for the American dream aquarium project.

180 degree tunnels for american dream aquarium

The acrylic viewing panels for the sites largest tank, the ocean display, included a 270 degree walk through acrylic tunnel, 180 degree walk through acrylic tunnels, large blown acrylic domes and large flat acrylic theatre windows. Acrylic deliveries into an under construction mall requires very careful planning and co ordination with local contractors and product handling specialists.

A significant part of this project was the production of the in tank decor and theming. This was a quite unique brief and nothing quite like any other SEALIFE project to date for us.

Theming produced by ATL creative team

Working closely with the clients own creative teams, ATL’s team of creatives rose to the challenge and delivered a stunning set of results. Throughout the exhibition area the exhibits include quirky features incorporated into the typical tank back drops. Such was the unique content that we had to undertake significant R & D and evaluate different production techniques.

In tank theming ATL

For example in addition to more conventional geological rock forms the ocean tank includes a series of scaled versions of famous New York skyline building features, all with a subtle twist of added quirkiness. The Empire Skate building, Whaledorf Astoria, Coraliser, Fishlife Building, Brooklyn Bridge and even a statue of Liberty all provide a very stylized view of New Yorks most iconic landmarks.

Waldorf Astoria building

American dream aquarium theming

ATL theming

Themed feature in progress

ATL building features

This was a really enjoyable project and presented our team with many new challenges.

ATL octopus tank

As ever we delivered another amazing SEALIFE project often referred to as the American dream aquarium. The planned aquarium opening was delayed until earlier this summer due to the effects of the global pandemic. More details can be viewed online or by clicking this

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For over 30 years architects, pool designers and contractors have relied on us to design, supply and install underwater viewing panels into their luxury swimming pools and spas. Our experience of specialist underwater glazing is more normally associated with deep aquarium construction. This unrivalled experience has enabled ATL to position itself as the go to, industry trusted installer of underwater viewing windows. The demand for incorporating underwater viewing panels into swimming pools and spas has grown dramatically over recent years with more and more ambitious projects now being conceived. ATL are able to design swimming pool windows in flat glass or acrylic or curved or hemispherical shapes in acrylic.

ATL glass swimming pool viewing panel

Whilst theres been a recent trend towards using acrylic for submerged viewing panels there are also many examples where glass viewing panels are still preferred by some designers. Ultimately its really down to personal choice. For every designer wanting acrylic theres another specifying a glass product. Understandably an acrylic producer will only ever specify acrylic products and a glass producer their glass products but thats where ATL differs. We are equally comfortable designing and correctly specifying either medium in submerged scenarios. Low iron glass is increasingly popular option for some designers as it provides improved transparency and less of the ‘green tinge’ typically associated with multi layer laminated float glass.

ATL central London pool view in glass

When considering swimming pool windows in glass or acrylic, ATL is the genuine ‘one stop shop’ from initial design including rebate support detailing, manufacture, installation and sealing. Traditionally pool viewing panels are installed in vertical attitude either as a 4 edge supported fully submerged view or a 3 edge supported view such as an infinity edge panels. 3 edge supported panels are used extensively to create seemingly endless pool views.

Central London pool window sealing by ATL

ATL 3 edge support acrylic pool panel- central London

Acrylic weir edge glazing

Horizontally installed windows are becoming popular. Recently our team installed a large acrylic viewing panel into the pool base of a London penthouse. This required a crane to lift the panel from the transport up onto roof level before lowering it into the rebate, ready for our technicians to seal.

Craning ATL’s acrylic viewing panel into the London penthouse pool

ATL acrylic pool base viewing panel installed

Looking up from underneath the ATL pool base panel

We have extensive worldwide underwater viewing panel project experience. Whether its a single view or multiple swimming pool windows in acrylic or glass, please contact ATL for reliable friendly advice, a competitive quote and of course our ability to deliver the quality end product your project deserves.

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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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ATL has once again beaten off stiff competition to secure a tank supply contract for a major public aquarium project in mainland China. Aquarium displays of all shapes and sizes have been designed and built at ATL’s headquarters here in the UK. Using ATL’s prefabricated display tank system we have been able to produce exhibits to the highest possible quality and in record time.

This latest batch of ATL tanks for China has now safely arrived on site. The aquarium consignments include small jewel tanks with acrylic viewing panels, full size cylinders with thermoformed 360 degree acrylic viewing, large blown acrylic hemisphere displays and stunning jellyfish exhibits.

ATL GRP composite and acrylic tanks

ATL’s aquarium tanks are well known for their quality and reliability. Our in house team of specialists have been building high quality displays for many years and this has established ATL as the leaders in aquarium technology. Working closely with the client teams we constantly strive to create innovation with new display designs and R & D projects which in turn improves our manufacturing processes. We continue to produce a series of plug and play’favourites’. Tanks such as the kids only tunnel tanks are always a popular display in any public aquarium.

ATL kids tunnel display

With every new project the expectations for the quality of the theming and tank décor rises. ATL is able to achieve tank theming of the highest possible quality. As well as an array of themed artefacts we cater for all of the normal aquarium backdrops including coral reefs, shipwrecks, fresh water banks, mangroves, roots and even impressive tree trunks. We recently hosted a delegation of overseas customers here at ATL. They could not believe the quality of our theming and that our tree trunks were not real. They were so impressed they placed additional orders for their project there on the spot it must be good!

ATL realistic artificial theming

Once the tanks are finished we routinely inspect before we hydrotest each unit for functionality. This ensures that everything that leaves our factory is of the expected quality. Once passed our tanks are meticulously wrapped and protected.

ATL tanks are prebuilt

The ATL team carefully load each display into shipping containers and arrange export. This gives our clients the ability to receive tanks on site of the quality they expect, at an affordable price and within a timescale that’s difficult for other to match.

ATL tanks made to fit

We are rightly proud of our team and their efforts that have ensured the continued use of ATL tanks for China aquarium projects. More details about this project can be viewed atOur success in the region continues and more news will follow soon.

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