What TIP would you leave someone about the placement of a new aquarium in their home?

[revhtree]

When considering an aquarium for your home one of the biggest decisions you have to make is the placement of the aquarium. Where will it go? It's important on many levels but here is one tip from me:

TIP: You want to place the aquarium where it can be enjoyed by the family and easily accessible. An aquarium that is placed in an inconspicuous area is often overlooked, unmaintained and usually ends in it being an eye-sore and is promptly decommissioned.

What TIP would you leave someone about the placement of a new aquarium in their home? (write your response as a tip)

image via @Takaki1980

 

[blaxsun]

The only tip/advice that I'd offer is wherever you place your tank, plan for a 2-3x larger footprint for maintenance, ie: cleaning the tank, water changes, equipment removal, acclimating new livestock, feeding, etc.

Where possible, an adjacent closet or room (particularly with a sink for an RO system) that can double as a "fish room" is always advantageous.

 

[BrandonS]

I would ask what the floor structure under the tank is like? not as important with smaller tanks.

Also depends on what there thinking. Do they want something that looks nice? more of a tinkerer? ease of access? ease of maintenance? what are they thinking?

 

[Gtinnel]

Leave it out from the wall enough to have at least a little room behind the tank. I’d love to put some power heads on the back wall of my tank but I can’t get my hand between the tank and the wall to place the magnets.

 

[Paul B]

I think one of the most important tips that I will add is to put the tank someplace where your wife won't see it.
Some day I will tell my wife we have a fish tank.
Mine is in my Man cave and the floor is cement so the hundreds of gallons of salt water I drop, spill, splash etc doesn't harm the oak floors where my wife sees.

 

[Danroo]

I go with Feng shui method I’m not superstitious but I just like the idea for my tank. Hasn’t been any major problems in following this placement method.

 

[Dania]

No tips but that is a gorgeous cat! I grew up with Siamese cats.

 

[X-37B]

I wish I would have turned my standard corner overflow 120 into a peninsula tank.
I probably would not be looking to upgrade now if I did.
Also, on my future upgrade my stand will be 32" tall and the tank 22" tall.
Current stand 36" and tank 24".
Upgrade will be maintained without using something to stand on.

Also you want your system to be visible from your main couch/chair, well at least I do.

I have a nano cube and a frag system in another room and it works out well.

 

[Hoodstream]

I made the stupid decision to put my 10 gallon by a window and all the light made algae go insane. But my 40 gallon is in a flawless spot right across my bed and I couldn’t be happier.

 

[moz71]

I more wish my house was configured differently! lol like the perfect spot had a garage or huge closet on other side of wall to house all a much larger sump and equipment etc.

 

[Peace River]

Be aware that high traffic areas can affect the behavior of fish and sometimes can result in timid behavior.

 

[sfin52]

A place where you will enjoy it and have the space to clean the tank. Make sure its in place where you won't care if water is splashed or dripped on the floor. Its a fish tank you will have some type of water on the floor

 

[Reef Altitude]

Must have somewhere where it is visible in your house otherwise that's a lot of work to not enjoy it. It also keeps the family engaged and appreciating it.

Ours is in between the kitchen and living room (90% of our time we can see the tank).

I do wish we had better storage and a sink closer, but not deal breakers given those are only a couple of hours a week.

 

[stephj03]

Think about where the drains in and around your house are relative to the tank.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Be aware that high traffic areas can affect the behavior of fish and sometimes can result in timid behavior.

In my case that was the initial response, but now even the shy fish like the fourmanoiri tilefish and fathead anthias don't hide at all. They've become accustomed to all the commotion in the living room and dining room (free range parrot, 3 cats, and 2 large hyperactive dogs)

 

[NoahLikesFish]

i have my tanks all in my room. i put mine in a bright sunny window and it looks good

 

[Labridaedicted]

If it's a big tank, put it where you can plumb through the wall.

 

[Sean Clark]

This is not super practical but here is my tip:

Whenever possible, build the house around the tank rather than the other way around.

And a remote/basement sump at a countertop working height will make your maintenance so much easier.

 

[Labridaedicted]

This is not super practical but here is my tip:

Whenever possible, build the house around the tank rather than the other way around.

And a remote/basement sump at a countertop working height will make your maintenance so much easier.

Go ahead and combine our tips. Great minds, Sean.

 

[RedoubtReef]

setup over waterproof flooring