Did you know that fish are now the third most popular pet in US households, according to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey? There are many benefits to keeping fish for both your physical and mental health, and an aquarium with a beautiful aquascape is a stunning focal point in any room in your home.
However, whether you have tropical, marine, or coldwater fish, the location of the aquarium is crucial to the health of your fish. And let’s face it, moving an aquarium full of water and fish is a major hassle if you mess up the initial location of the aquarium.
So what is a good place to put your tank? Check out this guide to find out!
Select the right tank
Before you choose a fish tank and take it home, you will need to decide where you are going to keep the aquarium in your home. The location of your tank is of the utmost importance, as where you place your aquarium will have a direct impact on the water quality and overall tank conditions. If you get it wrong, the environment could become a stressful and potentially dangerous place for your fish.
When it comes to aquarium location, there are a few important factors to consider:
tank weight
Where you place your fish tank will largely be determined by its size and weight. As a general rule of thumb, you should never place an aquarium larger than 10 gallons on a desk or common piece of furniture, as the weight is simply too great.
The empty weight of most aquariums will be listed in the manufacturer’s general specification details. However, you need to know how much the tank will weigh when filled with water, substrate, and decorations. Most medium and large aquariums can be purchased with a cabinet that has been built specifically to support the tank when it is full of water.
Never place a fish tank on top of standard household furniture. Normal furniture is not made to support that amount of weight and can collapse under the pressure. Even small desktop tanks can be extremely heavy when fully set up, so it’s crucial that you know how to calculate the total weight of the tank and its contents before you buy.
Full Tank Weight Calculation
- First, you need to know the size of your fish tank in terms of gallons.
- Second, you should check the product specifications to determine the actual weight of the tank when empty.
- Now multiply the gallon capacity by 8.34. That is the weight of water per gallon in pounds.
- Take that figure and add the empty weight of the tank.
The final figure you end up with is the weight of the tank when it is full of water. .
Add the weight of the substrate
Of course, you will add a substrate to the aquarium. Check the weight of each bag of growing medium and add that figure to the weight of the empty tank plus water.
The final number you arrive at is roughly the total weight of the aquarium, plus substrate, plus water.
Now that you know how much your aquarium will weigh when filled with water, decorations, and fish, you can check that where you want to put it will support the weight.
Other considerations
There are many other factors to consider when deciding where to place your tank.
maintenance access
Although it may be tempting to put your new tank in a small alcove or push it against the wall of your living room, don’t forget that you will need access to the aquarium for maintenance. In addition, all fish tanks need ventilation space around them to prevent condensation from forming that could cause mold and mildew to grow on the walls and other adjacent surfaces.
Tropical, marine, and cold water tanks need a power supply for heaters, filtration systems, lighting units, etc. Make sure you have easy access to enough power outlets, and remember you’ll need enough space to access sumps and outside filters for routine maintenance.
You will also need to reach inside the tank to perform water changes, trim your plants, and clean the aquarium glass, so make sure you have enough space above the tank to be able to lift the lid.
Is the floor level?
A fish tank filled with water that is placed on a cabinet or stand will become unstable if you place it on an area of the floor that is not level. An uneven floor under the tank will make it impossible to fill the tank properly, and it could even tip over.
Also, while there is some degree of flex within the aquarium sealer, if the floor beneath the installation is uneven, additional stress will be placed on the gaskets and seals, potentially causing the aquarium to leak.
Health and security
As mentioned above, you’ll need to plug in filters, lighting units, etc. to power points. Ideally these should be to the side or behind the tank cabinet or stand where you can reach them. If possible, avoid trailing cables that could present a tripping hazard, or cover them with a cable mat if necessary.
Power strips should be at least a foot away from the aquarium or placed on the wall above and behind the tank in case of accidents or water leaks.
Remember that you will need to do partial water changes every week or two. So if possible, place the tank as close to a water source as possible.
water temperature
Most tropical fish species are sensitive to extreme high and low water temperatures. For that reason, never place an aquarium next to a radiator, heater, or air conditioning unit. Similarly, drafts can cool parts of the tank, leaving fish vulnerable to temperature shocks, which can cause death. Therefore, do not place your tank where it will be exposed to a breeze blowing through an open window.
Direct sunlight entering a tank can create hot spots that could harm your fish and play havoc with your heater’s thermostat. Also, an excessive amount of natural light will cause algae to bloom, dirtying the decorations and the glass of the tank. Therefore, do not place your tank near a window or directly under a skylight or Velux window.
Visibility vs. Safety
If you are going to spend a lot of time and money creating a tank with a beautiful aquascape filled with a thriving community of brightly colored fish, you need to place it where your family and friends can enjoy it. For example, I have one of my tanks neatly tucked away in a corner of my living room, where it can be seen and enjoyed, but out of the way.
Consider safety and visibility. It’s not a good idea to place the tank in a driveway or high-traffic area where it could be run over by a running child or noisy dog. Also, do not place the tank right behind a door where it could cause an obstruction and be hit every time the door is opened.
Good vibrations?
Did you know that water transmits shock waves much more efficiently than air?
This is why many experienced aquarists agree that the vibrations caused by subwoofers travel through the water in a tank that is placed next to a sound system. Those vibrations stress your fish in the same way someone hitting aquarium glass does. That inconspicuous tap may seem like nothing on the outside of the glass, but inside the tank, the noise is comparable to a muscle car engine at top revs in your living room.
If you have timid fish species in your collection, they will soon disappear every time you turn on your stereo system, leaving you staring at a deserted tank. So the quieter the location you choose for your aquarium, the more your fish will like it.
On the border
If you know that the floor of the room is made of solid concrete or stone, you can choose to have the aquarium in the center of a large room.
However, it is generally best to place the tank near a wall or in a corner of the room. If your floor is built on joists or you want to keep the tank up, the floor is often weakest in the center as it is not as well supported.
Feng Shui Aquariums
Have you ever seen an aquarium in a Chinese restaurant or bank? If you did, it is because a Feng Shui Aquarium is considered a powerful charm for abundance and wealth. As long as the tank is positioned according to feng shui guidelines and is kept in good repair, it will bring the energy of abundance into the space it inhabits.
Furthermore, a fish tank contains the harmonious balance of each of the five feng shui elements:
- Water: The water contained in the tank
- Wood: Represented by live plants and driftwood.
- Metal: Part of the tank structure
- earth: The substrate, rocks and pebbles.
- Fire: The lighting of the tank and brightly colored fish.
A good balance of these elements is believed to attract good feng shui energy to a room.
Feng Shui Fish
Certain species of fish are associated with Feng shui aquariums. The most famous of them is the dragon fish or Arowana, which represents wealth. These fish are aggressive and fast growing, symbolizing abundance and power.
If you don’t have room in your tank for one of these giants, you may prefer to have goldfish instead. You can choose from many bright colors and keep groups of fish, which represent abundance, in relatively small tanks.
Nine is the preferred number of fish to keep in your tank, according to feng shui guidelines. A solitary fish is not considered ideal, as that does not indicate abundance.
Where to place your Feng Shui aquarium
According to feng shui, the best location for your fish tank is in the southeast corner of your room. That is also known as the “feng shui wealth and abundance bagua area”. That part of your space usually carries the best energy that will enhance prosperity and wealth, encompassing wealth-related remedies that can boost feng shui energy.
Alternatively, you can place your feng shui aquarium in the northern part of your space. That area is considered the Bagua Career Area, and there is also the eastern portion of your home space that is known as the Bagua Health and Family Area.
Where Not To Place Your Feng Shui Aquarium
Feng shui principles say that you should not place your fish tank in a bedroom. This is because the vitality and energy of the Aquarius can damage the calming environment you want in a bedroom, potentially disrupting sleep and causing unnecessary stress to the occupant.
You should also avoid placing your feng shui fish tank in the kitchen. The water element is believed to create a direct conflict with the powerful fire element of cooking in the kitchen.
Types of Feng Shui Aquarium
In addition to the location of the feng shui aquarium, it is essential to choose the right type of tank if you want to attract the best energy. That means the tank must work with the feng shui element that is associated with the area you place it in.
So if you want to keep the aquarium in your money space that is governed by the element of wood, you should choose a rectangular tank, which is the shape associated with that element. Alternatively, choose a square tank that is linked to the earth element, which nurtures wood.
If you fancy a round aquarium shaped like a fish tank, choose a small aquarium for your money space. This is because the round shape is linked to the metallic element and the presence of the metallic element can lower the energy of the wood element of the currency area.
In conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed my guide on the best place to put your fish tank.
Essentially, you need to locate your tank where it won’t be exposed to extremes of hot and cold that could be harmful to your fish. In addition, you must ensure that the tank is in a space that is easily accessible for general maintenance and within safe and easy reach of an accessible power source.
If you have any questions or comments about where to store your fish tank, please use the comment box below. And please like and share our article if you find it useful.
