Correct placement is critical to getting a tank right from the start. Where you place it can affect your safety as well as your enjoyment. It can even affect the fish too. Here are a few pointers on aquarium placement.

Choose the right room

A correctly set-up aquarium is a thing of beauty, and should go pride of place in your living room. Place it away from the television, so that it doesn’t compete or distract you, but in a place where you can sit comfortably in your favourite chair, and observe it.

Aquariums can also be placed in kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms, but make sure that the equipment you select is nice and quiet, if placing the tank in a bedroom. 

Hairspray, deodorant, perfume, even air fresheners can be toxic to fish, so consider this when deciding which room to place a tank in.

Conservatories are too bright for fish tanks, even North facing ones, as 18 hours of daylight in summer time will cause unsightly, uncontrollable algae growth. Conservatories can get cold in winter time, and too hot in summer time. Not ideal for any tank. 

Select the right place

Aquariums should be situated near to but not directly over power sockets. Lighting, filtration and heating will all need to be plugged in, but cables should have a drip loop, where any water droplets running down the power cables go below the socket and fall off, before entering it.

The tank should be away from radiators so it doesn’t overheat, and away from windows and direct sources of sunlight, as sunlight will cause algae. 

Doors slamming can startle fish, and tanks placed in walkways aren’t ideal for the same reason. Hi-Fi speakers cause vibrations that travel straight through aquarium water so keep them separate.

Aquariums need a strong floor

Aquariums can be very heavy when filled, and one litre of water weighs one kilogram. Tanks of 500 litres or more should ideally be placed onto level, concrete floors.

Wooden floorboards can also be ok as they are built to hold heavy bookcases and bathtubs full of water, but you may find that they aren’t always level, and that the tank may shake as you walk past. If in doubt about the strength of the floor, consult a qualified professional.

The 13 Do's and don’ts of aquarium placement

  1. Do get lots of help when lifting and placing an aquarium, even when empty.
  2. Do make sure that a large aquarium can fit through the door, and navigate tight turns, hallways and steps. 
  3. Do make sure the tank won’t be in the way of any essentials like light switches, radiator valves, gas and electricity meters.
  4. Do make sure the floor is level.
  5. Do ensure that every cable has a drip loop
  6. Do mop up any drips and spills straight away
  7. Do decorate and lay carpets or flooring before setting up the tank
  8. Do make sure all electricals are plugged into an RCD.
  9. Don’t attempt to lift or move an aquarium when full of water
  10. Don’t touch plugs and sockets with wet hands
  11. Don’t place heavy fish tanks on standard household furniture
  12. Don’t switch fish tank filters and air pumps off at night
  13. Don’t overload sockets