Can You Set Up a Fish Tank in the Kitchen?

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Are you looking forward to having a fish tank in the kitchen and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! We understand how challenging it might be to set up a fish tank in the kitchen. When done correctly, a fish tank in the kitchen makes your décor look stylish and elegant. But, first, you must know the ideal fish tank to place in your kitchen before going to the market. You don’t want water dripping all over your kitchen countertop endlessly!

So, let’s dive straight in…

How To Select the Right Fish Tank for Your Kitchen?

In most kitchens, space is prime, and you must get the right tank for your kitchen. You don’t want anything too big so you will have to squeeze things around in your kitchen to sandwich your fish tank.

We recommend medium sizes or relatively smaller fish tanks. These tiny tanks fit neatly in a dark corner or under a kitchen unit. They should hold around 20 liters, but you may go for a bigger fish tank if you’ve enough space – (about 40 liters can fit on top of a small fridge or a small cupboard).

Fluval SPEC Freshwater Aquarium Kit is our best overall fish tank for your kitchen.

Here is our review.

• SPEC continues to offer a stylish, modern look but boasts a much brighter LED light output of 7000 K, which generates light that is 20% brighter for fish and plants.
• SPEC filters water exceptionally efficiently with a powerful 3-stage system that makes use of oversized biological, chemical, and mechanical media that allow for unrivaled water clarity.
• The tank features a powerful pump with a nozzle that allows users to adjust the amount of water that flows through it easily.
• It has an extensive 3-stage filtration system that offers more than adequate filtration for clean water.
• The aquarium has all the filter media you need – including a helpful foam block with a convenient handle, activated Biomax and carbon, and bio rings for efficient mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. The filtration and pump systems are handily placed in a discrete chamber on the fish tank to make it easier to do routine maintenance.

What We love about SPEC

• Easy to maintain
• It gives your kitchen an elegant look

Where To Put Your Fish Tank in the Kitchen?

If you want to keep your tank clean and friendly, ensure it is away from direct sunlight. It’s very important! If you place it in direct sunlight, expect to have problems with algae.

It’s easy to pick out a dark corner in the kitchen under the kitchen units – even if it’s not necessary to put the tank there! It’s the ideal spot to keep your fish in and will also help brighten up a corner in your kitchen.

It needs to be away from any heat source as this can affect the water in the tank and possibly harm your fish! Please don’t keep it next to a gas cooker!

Can Your Kitchen Counter Sustain the Weight of The Fish Tank?

It is OK to have a small fish tank in your home, but it’s necessary to confirm the weight of your fish tank in order to answer this question safely.

Per gallon, the water weight is 8.3 pounds, so it is crucial to weigh the volume of the fish tank before you decide to put it on top of your kitchen counter.

We don’t recommend putting more than 40 gallons of water on your kitchen counter because that would weigh 332 pounds and be highly cumbersome to store. If your kitchen countertop possesses some stress fractures you do not know about, it will crack and cause damage over time.

What Is the Optimum Weight of Fish Tank That Your Kitchen Countertop Can Sustain?

Nationally, it is recommended that your fish tank should not weigh more than 600 pounds. So, reduce that by half (300 pounds) to ensure you don’t exceed the preferred weight limit. That includes the weight of things like granite and marble, and even less for countertops made from other materials.

It is not allowed for anyone to lean onto the fish tank. Adding more weight to the fish tank could cause it to come loose and cause injury or even death. Don’t place it on countertops extending over the edge of your sink by more than 1.5 inches.

Is It Healthy to Put Fish Tank in the Kitchen?

Well, the chemicals that are added to fish tanks to remove fish toxins, bacteria, and salt must stay away from the area where you prepare food. It would be terrible to let bad things happen to your health. But I am not a medical expert, so you would better ensure high hygiene in your kitchen.

Maintenance Tips for a Fish Tank in the Kitchen

If your tank is close to a kitchen sink, then you can easily do a water change there and back. With smaller fish tanks, you may be required to refill the water every week (you may have to do this frequently if there were problems when you first got the tank running). All the details for the fish tank and how frequently you should do filter cleaning and water changes will be in the instructions in the box that comes with your fish tank. But generally, once a month is sufficient if you use the filter regularly.

Final Thoughts

You might be able to place a fish tank on your kitchen counter, but be careful with it. Anything could happen if you place your fish tank on a huge overhang countertop.