The process
How It Works
Seven clear steps from your first idea to a finished tank at your door. Nothing goes into production until you’ve signed off on the drawings.
01
Preliminaries
We start with the basics: the size you have in mind, where the tank will go, reef or freshwater, how you want it filtered and plumbed, and your budget. We’ll confirm it can be built and point you to our standard size tank pricing so you know where you stand before anything is committed.
02
Deposit
A deposit reserves your build and starts the design work. This is how we keep our design time for customers who are ready to move forward.
03
Design
Now the fun part. Anything you can think of is on the table:
- Rectangular, cube, corner, pentagon, bullnose, racetrack or fully custom shapes
- Center, corner or coast-to-coast overflows, with notch sizes to suit your flow
- Drains and returns drilled exactly where you want them
- Black or colored back panels and overflow boxes
- Matching cabinets and canopies, in-wall and peninsula installs
04
CAD Drawings & Approval
We turn your design into detailed CAD drawings with exact dimensions, panel layout, overflow placement and every drilled hole. We go back and forth with you until everything is exactly where you want it. Nothing goes into production until you approve the final drawings.
05
Production
Your approved tank goes into production. The typical production schedule is 45 to 65 days before it’s ready to ship. We’ll keep you updated along the way.
Please note: because every tank is built specifically for you, once your tank has started production no refund will be offered.
06
Final Payment
The remaining balance is paid in full before your tank ships.
07
Delivery
Your tank is wrapped, crated and shipped to you, backed by our 15-year no-leak warranty from the day it arrives.
Steps 03 & 04 · Design and CAD
What your drawings look like
Every tank gets a full drawing set like these: exact dimensions, panel thickness, overflow placement and every drilled hole. Here’s a real racetrack build, plus examples of other shapes we can build.
Other shapes we build
Finish the build
Turnkey Tanks With Custom Stands & Sumps
Every step above applies to your full system too. Add a custom stand and custom sump, and we design all three together in one set of CAD drawings so everything fits and plumbs perfectly.
- Custom stands and cabinets built to support your tank’s full weight and fit your room
- Custom acrylic sumps sized to your system, with filter sock or roller mat, skimmer and return chambers laid out the way you want
- Overflow and plumbing planned together, so tank, stand and sump line up perfectly
- One builder, one set of CAD drawings for the entire system
Common questions
Is every tank built to order?
Yes. Every HGFC tank is built after your order is placed, including the standard sizes on our price list. Once your order and design details are confirmed, your tank goes into production, which typically takes 45 to 65 days, plus shipping time.
Why don’t you have tanks ready to ship?
Because every tank we build is different. Each one is sized and set up to fit exactly what the customer is looking for, so there’s unfortunately no one-size-fits-all tank we could keep on a shelf. Every build has its own combination of:
- Dimensions to fit a specific wall, corner, cabinet or room
- Overflow style and position (left, middle back, right, corner or coast-to-coast)
- Drain and return holes drilled exactly where the customer’s plumbing needs them
- Panel thickness engineered for the tank’s height and volume
- Back panel color, lids, and the custom stand and sump it’s paired with
A tank from stock would mean settling on fit and features. Building to order means your tank is made for your space and your system, inspected, and backed by our 15-year no-leak warranty.
Why acrylic instead of glass?
Acrylic tanks are chemically bonded: the panels are solvent-welded so each seam fuses into one solid piece. Glass tanks rely on silicone joints that can dry out and break down over time. Acrylic is also clearer than standard glass, letting through up to 92% of light with no green tint, even in thick panels. It’s lighter, far more impact resistant and a better insulator, and it can be built in custom shapes.
How long does it take from deposit to delivery?
Design and CAD revisions depend on how quickly we settle the details together. Once you approve the drawings, production typically takes 45 to 65 days, plus shipping time.
When do I pay?
A deposit starts the design. The balance is due in full before the tank ships.
Can I cancel or get a refund?
Every tank is built specifically for you, so once your tank has started production, no refund will be offered. If you need to make a change, contact us before you approve the final drawings.
Can I make changes after I see the drawings?
Yes. That’s the point of the CAD stage. We revise the drawings with you until you’re happy, and production only starts after your final approval.
What does the warranty cover?
Every custom acrylic tank we build is chemically bonded and backed by a 15-year no-leak warranty. Contact us for the full warranty terms.
Do you build for reef and freshwater?
Yes, both. We design the overflow, plumbing and layout around what will live in the tank.
Ready to start step one?
Look through our standard size tanks first, then send us your project details.
