Luxury Homeowners Splurge on Elaborate Aquariums

Pandemic-era demand for lavish, custom-built tanks can cost up to $1 million to install and thousands monthly to maintain.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:09am

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The latest luxury home trend is the installation of elaborate, high-end saltwater aquariums that can cost upwards of $1 million to build and thousands per month to maintain. Wealthy homeowners, particularly those who were stuck at home during the pandemic, have been increasingly seeking out these colorful, custom-designed tanks as status symbols and conversation pieces.

Why it matters

The growing popularity of luxury residential aquariums reflects a broader trend of the ultra-wealthy investing in extravagant home features and amenities. However, the high costs and ongoing maintenance required for these aquariums have led some homeowners to ultimately remove them due to the disruption to their daily lives.

The details

Aquarium professionals report that their high-end projects now routinely start around $25,000 and can reach up to $1 million. One statistic shows a 17% increase from 2023 to 2025 in the number of saltwater fish owners with tanks larger than 126 gallons. Full House creator Jeff Franklin installed five aquariums in his 21,000-square-foot Beverly Hills home, with the fish alone costing an estimated $80,000, and he spends $6,000 each month on tank maintenance. Another family with a single 2,200-gallon aquarium spends $3,000 monthly on upkeep.

  • In 2025, 34% of saltwater fish owners reported having tanks larger than 126 gallons, a 17% increase from 2023.

The players

Jeff Franklin

The creator of the TV show Full House, who installed five aquariums in his 21,000-square-foot Beverly Hills home.

American Pet Products Association

The organization that publishes the Fish & Reptile Report, which noted the increase in large saltwater aquariums among homeowners.

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The takeaway

The rise of luxury residential aquariums highlights the growing demand among the ultra-wealthy for extravagant home features and amenities. However, the high costs and ongoing disruption caused by maintaining these elaborate tanks have led some homeowners to ultimately remove them, underscoring the challenges of sustaining such lavish lifestyle choices.