Reef Aquaria Design
Reef Aquaria Design is a founder-owned Fort Lauderdale firm that designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains custom living coral reef, jellyfish, and freshwater aquariums for luxury residential, commercial/hospitality, and public institution clients across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersFort Lauderdale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Reef Aquaria Design does
Reef Aquaria Design (RAD) is a privately held, founder-owned custom aquarium design, fabrication, and installation firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, founded by Jeff Turner with roots extending back approximately five decades through his family's involvement in the Florida marine aquarium trade. The company designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains custom living coral reef aquariums, proprietary jellyfish aquarium systems, and freshwater aquarium systems ranging from roughly 140-gallon residential builds to multi-thousand-gallon institutional installations, including the 1,200-gallon Indo-Pacific Living Coral Reef at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and a 6,000-gallon centerpiece reef at Center in the Square in Roanoke, Virginia. Core technical capabilities include in-house CAD design with 3D modeling, custom built-to-spec glass fabrication including curved and laminated safety glass panels, proprietary jellyfish life support architecture, and integrated environmental control systems for heat, light, air, and moisture, supported by an in-house team of marine biologists, fish and coral experts, and mechanical specialists.
The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining one-time custom design-and-build project fees (concept through commissioning), recurring maintenance contracts serviced multiple times weekly depending on system complexity, and standalone consultation services. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting high-net-worth residential clients, commercial and hospitality venues (hotels, restaurants), and public institutions (museums, hospitals, schools), with the website, a YouTube channel, Instagram, and referrals as primary top-of-funnel marketing channels. RAD serves clients concentrated in South Florida with a growing project footprint across the broader U.S. (Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky) and accepts international consultation requests. The company has no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, no acquisitions, and operates as a traditional founder-led specialty services business.
Reef Aquaria Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reef Aquaria Design
- Legal name
- Reef Aquaria Design
- Website
- https://reefaquariadesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Reef Aquaria Design is a founder-owned Fort Lauderdale firm that designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains custom living coral reef, jellyfish, and freshwater aquariums for luxury residential, commercial/hospitality, and public institution clients across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reef Aquaria Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Aquarium Design and Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (11251)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ornamental & Aquarium Fish Farming (AFAEAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK), Marine Outfitting & Interior Refurbishment (TLAKAKAL)
Keywords
Where Reef Aquaria Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Lauderdale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Reef Aquaria Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Aquarium Design & Build Projects: One-time project fees for custom aquarium design, fabrication, and installation. Projects range from small residential installations to large commercial and public institution aquariums. Includes concept, design, coordination, fabrication, installation, and commissioning.
- Ongoing Maintenance Services: Recurring maintenance service contracts for installed aquariums. Professional service team picks up where design team finishes, fostering healthy growth and prosperity of marine life. Serviced multiple times weekly depending on system complexity.
- Consultation Services: Expert consulting services for potential projects of all types, providing experience-based consultation for aquarium projects of all shapes, sizes, and scopes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Quote-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Reef Aquaria Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reef Aquaria Design designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains large-scale custom aquariums — primarily coral reef systems, proprietary jellyfish systems, and freshwater setups — for high-end residences, commercial venues, and public institutions. Each project is delivered as a turnkey solution covering consultation, CAD-based design with 3D modeling, custom glass fabrication, on-site installation, and ongoing professional maintenance by in-house marine biologists and technicians.
Product overview
Reef Aquaria Design offers a portfolio of custom aquarium products and services centered around their core custom aquarium design and fabrication capability. The primary offerings include Coral Reef Aquariums, Jellyfish Aquariums, and Fresh Water Aquariums, all custom-designed and built. These are supported by Consultation & Planning and Installation & Maintenance services, with in-house Custom Glass Aquarium Fabrication. The company provides complete turnkey solutions from concept through ongoing maintenance, serving residential, commercial, and public institution clients across North America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Aquarium Design & Build Services Full-service custom aquarium design, fabrication, and installation including consultation, CAD design with 3D modeling, turnkey installation, and ongoing maintenance for residential, commercial, and public institution clients.
- Coral Reef Aquariums Custom saltwater coral reef aquarium systems featuring living coral, tropical fish, and invertebrates, available in in-wall, room divider, and freestanding configurations ranging from 140 to 9,000+ gallons, for residential and institutional settings.
- Jellyfish Aquariums Proprietary jellyfish aquarium systems designed to allow delicate jellyfish to grow and thrive beyond observed wild lifespans, featuring specialized kreisel and custom flow designs for hospitality, commercial, and institutional venues.
- Fresh Water Aquariums Custom freshwater aquarium systems including koi ponds, planted aquariums, African cichlid tanks, and native species habitats for residential and institutional customers.
- Installation & Maintenance Services Complete aquarium installation services and recurring maintenance including water quality management, coral trimming, and life support system servicing by trained marine biologists and fish experts; visited multiple times weekly depending on system complexity.
- Consultation & Planning Services Professional aquarium project consultation including environmental control planning, site assessment, and full turnkey planning from concept to completion, for projects of all shapes, sizes, and scopes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Second only to the Hope Diamond in popularity among Smithsonian museum visitors for the Indo-Pacific Living Coral Reef exhibit
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Reef Aquaria Design
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reef Aquaria Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Reef Aquaria Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Reef Aquaria Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Living Color Aquariums: Fort Lauderdale-based custom aquarium designer and builder serving museums, hospitals, and luxury residences. Direct regional competitor to RAD with overlapping specialties in large reef installations and architectural aquariums.
- International Concept Management (ICM): Long-standing custom aquarium design and installation firm specializing in large public and commercial aquarium projects. Direct peer given comparable turnkey design/build services and target customers (museums, casinos, commercial venues).
- Aqua Design International: Custom aquarium design, fabrication, and installation firm serving commercial and residential clients. Direct peer with similar one-off project model and maintenance offering.
- Aquatic Design & Engineering: Specialty aquarium systems integrator serving theme parks, resorts, and public attractions. Comparable for large-scale custom aquatic life support and exhibit work targeting similar institutional end customers.
- Ocean Floor Aquariums: Custom aquarium builder serving high-end residential and commercial clients with turnkey design and installation services. Direct peer competing in the same luxury and small-commercial segment.
Emerging players
- Red Sea (custom installation arm): While Red Sea is primarily a reef-keeping equipment brand, its Pro/AIO systems increasingly serve upscale residential installations. Adjacent/emerging competitor at the lower-complexity end of RAD's addressable market.
Broad incumbents
- Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems: Large commercial-scale aquatic systems supplier and integrator with life support equipment for public aquariums, hatcheries, and research facilities. Broad incumbent competing for institutional projects where life support is the critical scope.
Others
- Reynolds Polymer Technology: Acrylic panel manufacturer for large aquarium viewing windows. Adjacent supplier/enabler rather than direct competitor, but a key partner for any custom aquarium integrator targeting large curved or panoramic viewing panels.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Reef Aquaria Design social profiles
Digital presenceReef Aquaria Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reef Aquaria Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Reef Aquaria Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reef Aquaria Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reef Aquaria Design
What does Reef Aquaria Design do?
Reef Aquaria Design designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains large-scale custom aquariums — primarily coral reef systems, proprietary jellyfish systems, and freshwater setups — for high-end residences, commercial venues, and public institutions. Each project is delivered as a turnkey solution covering consultation, CAD-based design with 3D modeling, custom glass fabrication, on-site installation, and ongoing professional maintenance by in-house marine biologists and technicians.
Is Reef Aquaria Design a public or private company?
Reef Aquaria Design is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Reef Aquaria Design founded?
Reef Aquaria Design was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Reef Aquaria Design based?
Reef Aquaria Design is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Reef Aquaria Design make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Aquarium Design & Build Projects are the primary driver. The others are ongoing Maintenance Services and consultation Services.
Who are Reef Aquaria Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Living Color Aquariums, International Concept Management (ICM), Aqua Design International, Aquatic Design & Engineering and Ocean Floor Aquariums. Red Sea (custom installation arm) is listed as an emerging player. Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems is listed as a broad incumbent. Reynolds Polymer Technology is listed as an others.
Does Reef Aquaria Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reef Aquaria Design.
What industry is Reef Aquaria Design in?
Reef Aquaria Design's product category is Custom Aquarium Design and Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAJ, Ornamental & Aquarium Fish Farming, with a secondary code of AFAEAAAK, Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services. Its NAICS code is 11251.