Wall Mounted Fish Tanks
Safe Installation
Safe installation is very important with wall mounted aquariums. Don't even consider mounting a wall aquarium yourself if you don't know what a stud finder is. All kidding aside, the weight of a wall aquarium once it is full can be 75 to 100 pounds once it is full. If you don't want that tank to come crashing down with your fish in it, makes sure it is securely mounted to your wall.
Where to find Installation Instructions Online
- Bizarre Aquariums sends installation instructions along with wall tanks they ship but they also have their installation instructions available online at
- Here's a thread on CaptiveReefing.com, a Reef Aquariums Forum of which Bizarre Aquariums is a sponsor. Find out how Dakar, the administrator, is doing with his own installation of a wall mounted aquarium from Bizarre Aquariums.
- Frame-a-fish has their installation instructions available online in PDF format.
- Living Pictures out of Colorado offers installation help on their installation page. They also offer detailed instructions for setting up a saltwater wall aquarium here
What Fish to Stock in a Wall Mounted Fish Aquarium
Another serious consideration you'll need to think about is what type of fish you can populate your wall mounted aquarium with. Fish enthusiasts will tell you that at a minimum, you'll need to have a tank that is 1.2 to 1.6 times as wide as the fish's length. So for a 4 inch wide wall aquarium, you'll want to keep fish no larger than roughly 2.5 to 3.3 inches long. Here is a short list of fish for you to consider:
- Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish)
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow
- Ghost Shrimp (technically not fish but they're fun to watch)
- Small tetras
- Guppies
Accessories
With wall mounted aquariums, pay special attention to the accessories that you'll need for your wall mounted tank. For example you'll need to find a small filters, small air stones, and small submersible heaters that will work with an enclosed tank. Resting a large power filter off the top isn't going to look that great with a wall mounted aquarium.
Alternative to Wall Mounted Fish Tank
If you really like the look of a wall mounted fish tank but want to keep more fish or larger fish than would be practical with a wall mounted fish tank, consider getting a fish tank that has been designed to be placed into a wall (in wall aquarium). The advantage to an in wall aquarium is that they are normally built deeper so you can hold more fish and they are bigger because you won't have to worry about them falling down due to their weight.
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