You enjoy the reef. We take care of the rest.
We build, install and look after your 100 × 50 × 50 cm display reef.
- 100 × 50 × 50 cm
- 12 mm glass
- Open sump
- White aluminium stand
Concept image. Your tank is built on site at 100 × 50 × 50 cm.
A reef tank is beautiful — until something goes wrong.
Most home reef tanks don't fail because of the fish. They fail because of how they were built, protected and looked after.
01A leak you didn't see coming
One weak joint can damage floors, furniture — or the apartment below.
02A power cut while you're away
Pumps and the chiller stop. In a UAE summer, the water can overheat fast.
03Equipment that doesn't match
Buying piece by piece often means parts that don't work together — and paying twice.
04Too many contractors
Glass, welding, electrics, plumbing — managing separate trades takes months of your time.
05Fish added too soon
Stocking before the tank has cycled is the most common reason new tanks lose fish.
06Care that never stops
Testing, water changes, cleaning — a reef needs regular work, every single week.
That's why Blue Reef does it all — as one team.We plan for every one of these before your tank is even built.
See how we do it ↓Three categories, three checkpoints
Your aquarium is delivered in three categories: System Set Up builds and tests the equipment, Ecosystem Set Up brings the tank to life, and Maintenance & Cleaning keeps it healthy after handover. Each category starts only after the checkpoint before it is passed.
Preparation
- Site survey, design
- Permits, declaration
- Deposit, ordering
System Set Up
- 13 modules
- Stand first, then glass
- Stage 1 and Stage 2
Ecosystem Set Up
- Seawater, rock, sand
- Cycling 4–6 weeks
- Stocking in stages
Maintenance & Cleaning
- 2 visits per month
- Quarterly deep clean
- Billed quarterly
Durations are estimates and include time for supplier delivery and natural cycling. Standard size: display tank 100 × 50 × 50 cm (L × W × H). Other sizes are quoted separately, and module prices change with the size.
System Set Up
A complete, running aquarium system. The tank is “Active” once it passes the 48-hour leak test.
Completed within 4–6 months — no more than 180 days from approvalStage periods below are indicative. The remaining time up to 180 days is reserved for supplier delays, contractor rescheduling and client decisions. Only the 180-day completion is binding.
Stage 1 — Build on site
Indicative: about 2–2.5 monthsAluminium stand + side cabinet
Order aluminium profile. Once it arrives, all work is done on site: cut, weld, paint, let the paint cure, level the stand and fit the water-protection tray. The side cabinet holds electrics and RO.
Glass order
Glass spec and sizes sent to the factory. Cut, pre-drilled and edge-polished, delivered while the stand is being made.
Display tank
Assemble the 100 × 50 × 50 cm tank in 12 mm glass on site, directly on the finished stand. Starts only after the stand is ready. Tank and sump body are assembled in the same week.
Sump tank
Assemble the sump body in 10 mm glass, together with the display tank. Once the body has cured, glue in the internal baffles, which then cure as well. The sump is on show (open sump), so it is finished to display standard.
Stage 2 — Systems, testing and finishing
Indicative: about 1 monthSilicone curing
Two rounds: tank and sump body first, then the sump baffles. Glass is covered with a PVC-frame dust tent with clear plastic. No water and no contact during this time.
Electrical system
Supplied and installed by a licensed electrician: sub-distribution board with main isolator, 6 × RCBO 30 mA (one per circuit), surge protection device (SPD), titanium ground probe, supply cable from the main board, splash-proof sockets, earthing and circuit labels. Done during curing.
RO/DI water + ATO
Supplied and installed: 6-stage RO/DI unit, reserve tank, auto top-off (ATO) controller and pump, water inlet connection, drain line and TDS meter. Done during curing.
Plumbing + return pump
Bean Animal overflow, return line, unions at every joint, return pump.
Sump equipment
Roller filter, protein skimmer, reactor, UV sterilizer. Filter media is added in Ecosystem Set Up.
Temperature control
Chiller with its own pump and insulated pipes, heaters, temperature controller.
Monitoring + UPS
Wi-Fi temperature sensor, 3 leak sensors, power-failure alert, UPS with backup battery.
Leak test + electrical check Checkpoint
Run the full system on fresh water for 48 hours, tune the overflow, test a power cut, photo record. The licensed electrician who wired the system returns to inspect it: RCBO trip test, earthing check and connections. Tank is Active.
Finishing
Tidy all pipework and cables for the open-sump display, fit sump covers. Optional Extra: wrap the stand in 3D wall panels to hide the sump. Only after the leak test passes.
Water flow Extra
Two wavemakers for stronger water movement. Optional, chosen by the client.
LED lighting Extra
Lighting in 3 levels (Standard / Premium / Luxury), chosen by the client. Ceiling-hung or tank-mounted, timer, wiring.
Why it matters
Ecosystem Set Up
A stable biological system that is safe for fish and corals. Cycling is a natural process: if water tests have not yet passed, the period is extended and this is not counted as a delay.
Completed within 60 days of the tank becoming ActiveChoose your layout
The bacteria grow on the bio media in the sump, so every option cycles in the same way. The livestock list is matched to the layout: for example, some wrasses need sand to sleep in, and most reef fish need rock for shelter.
Seawater + system start-up
Fill the display tank and sump with seawater, run the full system, set salinity and temperature, and tune the protein skimmer.
Filter media
Filter wool, bio blocks, carbon, Seachem Purigen and Seachem PhosGuard in the sump. This first set is included; replacements are part of Maintenance & Cleaning.
Bacteria + cycling
Add live bacteria and an ammonia source so bacteria grow on the bio media in the sump. Water is tested every week until ammonia and nitrite read zero.
Clean-up crew (CUC)
Snails and hermit crabs that control algae and leftover food, added once the tank has cycled. Species are matched to the tank layout (with or without sand).
Live rock + aquascape Option
Rock is glued into sections with reef epoxy putty, cured and matured in our shop system during the System Set Up. Sections are moved in seawater and placed directly on the glass bottom.
Fish + corals Extra
Chosen by the client from our livestock list. Added in small groups over the first year, as the system is ready. Corals only after lighting is installed.
Why it matters
Maintenance & Cleaning
Keep the reef healthy and the system running safely, with two scheduled visits every month. A 1-year agreement, signed separately and billed quarterly in advance. After the first year, you may renew or take over maintenance.
2 visits per month · Quarterly deep cleanRoutine service visit
Clean glass, water change, water tests, check all equipment and alerts, feed and check livestock health.
Consumables
Roller filter fleece, filter wool, carbon, PhosGuard, Purigen regeneration, DI resin, salt and test reagents, replaced as needed. Included in the quarterly fee, based on livestock stocked to our plan. Extra livestock added by the client, overfeeding, or emergencies (disease, system failure) are charged separately.
Deep clean
Strip-clean the skimmer, pumps and chiller.
Emergency call-out Extra
Unscheduled visit for an alert or problem between regular visits.
Year-2 upgrade: LPS + dosing Extra
Add LPS corals once calcium and alkalinity are proven stable. Add a dosing pump, calibrate it and test Ca/Alk at each visit. From about month 15.
Why it matters
Price summary
Standard prices for a 100 × 50 × 50 cm display tank, shown per module so you can see exactly what you pay for. Your final package is agreed with you after the site survey.
| Item | Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| Category 1 — System Set Up (Modules 1–11) — total | 27,500 |
| Extra: 3D wall panels | On request |
| Extra: wavemakers ×2 | On request |
| Extra: LED lighting — Standard | On request |
| Extra: LED lighting — Premium | On request |
| Extra: LED lighting — Luxury | On request |
| Category 2 — Ecosystem Set Up (Modules 1–4) — total | On request |
| Option: live rock + aquascape | On request |
| Option: sand | On request |
| Extra: fish and corals | Per livestock list |
| Category 3 — Maintenance & Cleaning (per quarter, 1-year term) | On request |
| Extra: emergency call-out | Per visit |
| Extra: Year-2 upgrade, LPS + dosing | Quoted on renewal |
- Final prices are confirmed after the site survey.
- All prices exclude VAT (5%). Permit and approval fees are not included.
- Sizes other than standard are quoted separately.
What we need from you
Our work is small on-site construction: welding, spray painting, glass assembly, electrical and plumbing. A few things on your side keep the project safe and on schedule.
Handover date depends on water test results. We will not add livestock before the system is ready.
Your reef, planned and built properly.
Book a site survey and we will check your space, power and water points, and give you a final quote.
Request a site surveyFrequently asked questions
Why does System Set Up take up to 180 days?
Several specialist trades work in sequence — welding, painting, glass, electrical and plumbing. The stand and glass are made to order, and paint and silicone must cure. The 180 days includes time for supplier and contractor delays, so the date we give you is one we can keep.
Why do I need permits?
The work includes small construction at your property. Your Municipality, community or developer may require approval. Arranging it before we start avoids a stop-work order halfway through the project.
Why can't fish go in sooner?
New water has no bacteria to break down fish waste. Cycling grows those bacteria over 4–6 weeks. Adding fish before cycling is complete is the most common cause of losses in new tanks.
Why are fish added a few at a time?
Each group adds waste to the system. Small groups let the bacteria catch up, so every fish arrives into stable water.
What happens if the power goes out?
Life support runs on the UPS battery, and an alert is sent to your phone and to us.
What if something leaks?
The system passes a 48-hour leak test before seawater goes in. Leak sensors under the tank send an alert if water is ever detected.
Can I look after the tank myself?
Yes. Maintenance & Cleaning is a 1-year agreement. After the first year, you can renew or take over maintenance yourself.
Can the tank be a different size?
Yes. Our standard is 100 × 50 × 50 cm. Other sizes are quoted separately.
Request a site survey
Tell us about your space and what you have in mind. When you press Send, WhatsApp opens with your details ready — just tap send and our team will reply to arrange a site survey.