About LavishlyClean Aquatics
Professional freshwater and saltwater aquarium maintenance, built on a genuine love for aquatic life and a medical background in animal care.
LavishlyClean Aquatics is a professional aquarium maintenance service serving Waynesville, North Carolina and the surrounding Western North Carolina communities — including Hendersonville, Canton, Candler, Franklin, Sylva, and Cullowhee. The business exists to take the guesswork and grunt work out of aquarium ownership so hobbyists and businesses alike can enjoy a pristine, healthy tank without the hassle.
We work with both freshwater and saltwater setups of every size, offering water changes, filter cleaning, algae removal, glass cleaning, comprehensive water testing, fish care recommendations, new tank setups, and equipment troubleshooting. Whether you need a single refresh visit or recurring weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly care, every plan is tailored to your tank and your schedule. Visits are available Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and we accept Cash, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Cash App.
LavishlyClean Aquatics is built for aquarium owners who want consistent, knowledgeable care — busy professionals, families, offices, restaurants, and anyone who has invested in a tank and wants it to thrive. It is also for newcomers who want expert guidance setting up and cycling a new aquarium the right way from day one.
The business is owned and operated by a single owner-operator, so every client works directly with the same person on every visit — no rotating crews, no call centers, no handoffs. That owner brings a medical background working with small animals (dogs, cats, and periodically exotics) across wellness care, urgent care, emergency, and sick visits, and applies that same attention to detail and patient, methodical approach to every aquarium serviced. While mainly a cichlid enthusiast, the owner enjoys and cares for all forms of aquatic life — from freshwater community tanks to saltwater reefs. LavishlyClean Aquatics is also currently in the process of becoming ABCCAMP certified, reflecting an ongoing commitment to professional standards and continuing education in aquarium care.
Fresh & salt
All tank types and sizes serviced.
Medical background
Wellness, urgent, emergency & sick visit experience.
ABCCAMP track
Pursuing professional certification.
My Tanks
A look at the kind of natural aquascapes I build and maintain.
Fry Among the Rockwork
Tiny translucent fry darting among porous rock, sand, and a feathery green plant.
Duncan Coral Under Actinic Light
A Duncan coral glows cyan at its center under deep-blue actinic reef lighting.
Community Tank Around the Driftwood
Striped and silver fish schooling around driftwood and rock under warm accent light.
Snails on the Sandy Substrate
Snails grazing on driftwood and sand amid leafy plants — the quiet cleanup crew at work.
Driftwood Aquascape Under LED Light
A driftwood-and-plant aquascape lit by dual LED arms against a dark backdrop.
Blue-Finned Betta by the Driftwood
A dark-bodied betta with vivid blue fins drifting past gnarled driftwood and live plants.
Iridescent Reef Fish
An iridescent blue-green fish gliding over purple-tinted reef rockwork in a saltwater tank.
Driftwood & Duckweed
Gnarled driftwood rising from a sand-and-pebble bed, framed by broad leaves and floating duckweed.
Floating Duckweed Canopy
A dense carpet of floating duckweed with driftwood breaking the surface, lit by warm red highlights.
Aquarium Tank View
A snapshot from the LavishlyClean Aquatics collection
Anemone in the Blue
A sea anemone with yellow-and-purple tentacles glowing against a deep blue reef backdrop.
Anemone
A delicate anemone with cool blue-green tentacles nestled in porous rock.
watermelon Crab on Driftwood
A bright orange crab perched on mossy driftwood in a detailed aquascape. hidden
Juvenile Fish Schooling
Young striped fish exploring a rugged natural rock and driftwood layout.
75 Gallon Driftwood Aquascape
A large centerpiece aquascape built around gnarled driftwood, stone, and a natural sand bed.
Cichlid Tank Under Blue Light
A community of African cichlids — rainbows, peacocks, and zebras — in a moody blue-lit setup.
Orange Shrimp Close-Up
A vivid orange shrimp resting on dark driftwood — a macro look at the cleanup crew.
Betta & Pothos Planted Tank
A vibrant blue betta in a natural aquascape with driftwood, live plants, and trailing pothos.
Featherfin Catfish in the Rocks
A spotted catfish tucked into natural rockwork — recreating its native crevice habitat.
Community Tank Pair
Two colorful community fish swimming among natural stone and plant life.
Blue Betta in the Planted Aquascape
An iridescent blue betta gliding through wispy live plants and driftwood.
Clownfish on the Reef
A classic clownfish resting near Live rock under actinic lighting.
Haitian Sea Anemone
A Haitian anemone with pale tentacles tipped in vivid purple, anchored on natural rock.
My Aquascaping Philosophy
How I approach every tank I build and care for.
Recreating the wild
When it comes to aquascaping, I like to recreate each fish's environment as closely as possible to how it would be in the wild — natural driftwood, live plants, smooth stone, and substrates that mirror a species' native habitat. The goal is a tank where the fish feel at home and behave naturally.
No hard plastic decor
I'm not a fan of hard plastic decorations. They can be rough and cause fin damage, and fish may accidentally ingest small pieces — which is far from ideal, since there is minimal medical care available for aquatic life. Natural materials are safer and look far better.
Keep spare quarantine tanks
I always recommend having at least one to two spare tanks available so you can separate and quarantine new or sick fish. Quarantine is the single best way to prevent disease outbreaks from spreading through your main display tank.
Cichlid Breeding
A natural byproduct of keeping fish in an environment that feels like home.
Natural breeding, happy fish
Because I keep my tanks set up to mirror each species' wild habitat — natural driftwood, live plants, smooth stone, and the right water parameters — the fish feel comfortable enough to behave and reproduce as they would in nature. I indirectly breed cichlids as a result, and I currently have over 25 keyni cichlids in stock.
If you're curious about adding a cichlid to your own tank, let me know — I'm happy to talk through what's available, compatibility with your current setup, and whether a particular fish would be a good fit for you.
Kenyi Cichlid
Maylandia lombardoi · Lake Malawi
Kenyi Cichlids undergo a dramatic color change as they mature. Juveniles start with a blue or pale blue color, with faint vertical stripes, making them quite attractive. As they age, males transform into a bright yellow with faint vertical bars, while females typically remain blue throughout their lives. This sexual dimorphism in coloration is quite pronounced and adds to the visual appeal of keeping these fish.
In terms of aquarium care, Kenyi Cichlids require a setup that closely mimics the rocky environments of Lake Malawi. Their tank should have plenty of rocks and caves to provide necessary hiding spots and to help diffuse aggression by allowing territorial establishment. The substrate should be sand or fine gravel, suitable for their natural digging behaviors. Due to their territorial and aggressive nature, it is advisable to keep Kenyi Cichlids in a species-specific tank or with other Malawian cichlids that can withstand their aggression.
Water conditions need to be maintained with high quality, reflecting the alkaline nature of their natural lake habitat. The pH should be kept high, and the water should be hard with a stable temperature typical for tropical fish. Regular water changes and robust filtration are crucial to deal with the waste produced by these relatively large and active fish.
Diet-wise, Kenyi Cichlids are omnivorous but require a diet that leans more towards vegetable matter to prevent malawi bloat, a common health issue in cichlids that consume too much protein. Their diet should include high-quality cichlid pellets, spirulina, and vegetable-based foods, with protein offered only in moderation.
Donations & Tank Removals
Giving unused gear a second life and helping you part with tanks you no longer need.
Donate unused supplies
Have supplies, food, medications, or equipment you no longer use? I collect donations and put them to work for other aquarist projects that better serve the community. Just reach out and I'll get back to you to arrange it.
Fish tank removals
Need to get rid of a tank? I offer fish tank removals to help you part with setups you no longer want. For tanks larger than 100 gallons, please let me know in advance — they require more people to move safely.
Ready for a cleaner, healthier aquarium?
Schedule a visit and let me take care of the rest.
Schedule a Visit