Unique Saltwater Aquarium Design That Fits the Local Home’s Architecture in New Jersey, USA

In New Jersey, homes are more than just living spaces; they’re a statement about history, personality, and lifestyle. From quaint Victorian homes in Cape May to contemporary spaces overlooking the shore, New Jersey’s residential architecture is as varied as its terrain. 

Creating a saltwater reef aquarium to coincide with such a diverse scale of styles demands craftsmanship, technical skills, and vision. With Reefco Aquariums, you’re guaranteed a custom-designed system to house the marine life that is not only vibrant but also complements your home, even if you live in a small and outdated apartment.

Whether you prefer symmetrical, stately lines or minimalist modern lines, we customize our aquarium designs to complement the full spectrum of New Jersey’s architectural styles. 

Designing for Architectural Harmony

Your aquarium should feel like a seamless extension of your home, not a slapdash afterthought. At Reefco Aquariums, we take great care in working together with homeowners, interior designers, and architects to integrate custom saltwater systems seamlessly with the character and flow of any space.

Victorian Homes: With a Dash of Ornate Elegance

Besides, New Jersey is brimming with beautifully preserved Victorian architecture, particularly in towns like Montclair, Cape May, and Morristown.

The homes in these blocks are famous for their ornate woodwork, bay windows, and joyful paint colors. In creating aquariums for Victorian-style homes, our design sensibility boldly highlights the craftsmanship and decorative nature of the period.

Attractive custom cabinetry with wood features and classic trim work can make the aquarium fit with the old-world look of a room. We’re also thinking about it in terms of dramatic lighting and curving glass fronts that reflect the sweeping lines and the fancy of the Victorian period. The result is a saltwater feature with the feel of a glassed-in display in a 19th-century parlour - only all the more vivid with the movement of corals, clams, and clownfish.

Colonial Homes: Symmetry and Tradition

Colonials are another New Jersey architectural standard, with their stately exteriors, well-proportioned lines, and traditional, cozy interiors. For these houses, aquarium design trends lend toward classic undertones and balance.

We might put a built-in reef tank into a central wall or fireplace surround that follows the tank’s proportions with the rhythm of the architecture of the room. You can choose rich wood finishes to complement classic furniture and millwork. The focus is on balance and quality, with the aquarium serving as a living centerpiece for a classic design that doesn’t dominate it.

Shingle Style: By the Sea Textures and Comforts

Shingle-style houses are a common sight along New Jersey’s shorelines, with a rustic-yet-elegant coastal aesthetic. They include rustic materials, open-plan living, and a natural integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Aquarium designs in such homes can include driftwood-like tones, natural stone, and subtle blues and greens that imitate the sea. We could incorporate the tank into a custom kitchen island or the living room wall that leads into a sunroom. Open system sumps can be discreetly concealed in basements or closets with a clean visual appearance. Soft lighting, domed aquascapes, and indigenous-looking reef formations make it look like the ocean is lapping through your house.

Contemporary and Modern Homes

Modern and contemporary homes are increasingly popular further afield in the New York City region or on the coast. These homes tend to offer open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling glass, understated design, and smart home systems.

For these environments, we craft our ultra-sleek style aquariums with clean lines and as much of an “integrated” look as possible. Modern MEGA Matrix rimless or frameless glass tanks with lower iron content panels to provide a crystal clear, uninterrupted view of the reef. Cabinets and support systems are custom-made to coordinate with modern kitchen or media wall finishes - typically in matte black, high-gloss white, or natural wood veneers.

We incorporate automated lighting systems, app-controlled monitoring, and quiet filtration in many of our systems, with which we have a healthy working knowledge. The result? A saltwater aquarium that is a piece of living sculpture - mesmerizing, refined, and totally in step with the modern world.

At Reefco Aquariums, we don’t only do the beautiful - we also design the logistical and technical install! From brownstone basements to third-floor great rooms in beachside homes, we’ve done it all. Our experienced team takes care of the entire aquarium design and installation, professionally and with care.

Challenging Access? We Have a Solution.

Homes in New Jersey often come with layout challenges: narrow stairwells, tight hallways, and older construction may make aquarium installation feel impossible. But with over 15 years of experience and special aquarium equipment, we’re able to safely transport, raise, and put into place custom tanks in almost any type of setting.

Custom Sump and Filtration Design

All saltwater reef aquariums require a well-designed life support system - and we know how to hide it. Whether you need to design a sump for your basement or under-cabinet filtration for your living room, we're here to help bring your dream aquarium to life. 

We also customize the features to suit the needs of each homeowner. Want a low-maintenance system? We’re going to add auto top-off systems, dosing pumps, and Wi-Fi-connected water monitoring. 

Prefer to be hands-on? We’re going to make sure you have access to manual water testing, coral fragging, coral placement, and aquascaping.

A Collaborative Design Process

We think each aquarium in the world should be as individual as the man (or woman) and their home. And that’s why our design process is a partnership from the first sketch to ongoing maintenance.

• Expert Aquarium Consultation: First, we meet with you on-site to understand your dream, lifestyle, and home's architecture.

• Design Concept Development: Our team will develop a comprehensive design concept for your space, encompassing tank size, aquascaping style, cabinetry finish, lighting options, how to seal bulkheads, add special features, and all other relevant design elements.

• Engineering and Logistics: We assess weight balances and your building’s structural support to ensure our tank can be safely installed and maintained.

• Fabricate: Our team will assemble the tank, stand, and custom cabinetry. After that, our technicians take care of plumbing, wiring, and life support system setup.

• Aquascaping & Livestock: We work WITH you to choose reef-safe fish (and what marine fish and invertebrates to avoid!) and coral arrangements that meet your aesthetic, as well as maintenance requirements.

• Continued Support: With service and maintenance, system upgrades, and livestock sourcing, Reefco Aquariums will keep your tank healthy and beautiful for the time to come.

Ready to plan your dream saltwater tank?

A saltwater reef aquarium isn’t just a hobby - it’s a living, breathing work of art that serves as the centerpiece of your home. When done well, an innovative design can reflect your personality, add to your decor, and, most importantly, add a bit of the ocean’s peacefulness into your day-to-day.

At Reefco Aquariums, we believe that design leaves an impression; it is influenced by, and rooted in, its environment. That’s why we approach all of our work with a proper understanding and respect for the architectural details that make New Jersey homes, well, homes. 

We’ll walk you through how to develop your ideal saltwater aquarium, designed to exceed your visions and expectations, whether you are a beginner hobbyist or an aquarium expert… And whether you are living in a large historical home, or a simple waterfront shack!

Contact Reefco Aquariums today to set up an aquarium consultation and see how we can bring a custom underwater beauty to your home.