Wall mounted aquariums have become increasingly popular as more of us want to give our lounges, home offices, or dens the ‘wow’ factor. But how do you choose the best wall mounted fish tank?
Many wall mounted fish tanks are actually small 1 gallon ‘bubble bowls’ that don’t really have the capacity to keep even small nano fish for long periods. That is unless you do water changes two or more times a week.
Instead, we’ve used our combined knowledge and spent many hours researching and validating some of the best wall mounted fish tanks from Aussie Aquariums.
While they are nano tanks they are also complete aquarium kits. They range from the smaller Porthole Wall Mounted Aquarium suitable for one or two nano fish, to the larger Wall Mounted Panoramic Aquarium suitable for a small community.
So let’s go ahead and find the best wall mounted fish tank for your home and your fish!
- Best Nano Wall Tank: Aussie Aquariums 2.0 Wall Mounted Aquarium – View
- Best 5 Gallon Wall Tank: Aussie Aquariums Wall Mounted Aquarium – Skyline
- Best Porthole Wall Tank: Aussie Aquariums 2.0 Wall Mounted Aquarium – Porthole
- Best Panoramic Wall Tank: Aussie Aquariums Wall Mounted Aquarium – Panoramic
Best Wall Mounted Fish Tank Picks Reviewed
Aussie Aquariums produce wall mounted fish tanks that are complete nano aquarium kits, rather than just small fish bowls. We reviewed each of them taking into account capacity, filtration, and lighting to bring you our top picks.
1. Aussie Aquariums 2.0 Wall Mounted Aquarium – View
Photo: Amazon.com
- Shape and Capacity: Rectangular, 2 US gallons
- Dimensions and Weight: 23.2 (l) x 4.5 (d) x 12.8 (h) inches, 20 pounds
- Material: Glass
- Equipment Included: 2 stage 79 gallon per hour (GPH) internal filter with bio-media and charcoal filtration included, grabber tongs, siphon, fish net, energy efficient LED light, mounting brackets and fixings
- Best for: Nano Wall Tank
Aussie Aquarium’s ‘View’ is a beautiful 2 gallon nano tank with a stylish frame in either brushed steel or matt white that looks stunning in any room. While the tank is slightly smaller than the frame, at around 21 x 11 x 4.5 inches, it still offers great swimming space for 2 or 3 nano fish.
The viewing window is a good size too, and given the tank is only 4.5 inches deep to the wall, you’ll have a perfect view of your fish. Access to the top is easy for feeding and maintenance, and the View comes with a clear plastic lid to prevent any jumping!
You also get a specialized grabber and siphon which are great for getting to the bottom for cleaning and water changes. And the 2 stage adjustable internal nano filter has a flow rate of 79 GPH, which is more than enough to keep a 2 gallon tank crystal clear!
2. Aussie Aquariums Wall Mounted Aquarium – Skyline
Photo: Amazon.com
- Shape and Capacity: Rectangular, 5 US gallons
- Dimensions and Weight: 35.4 (l) x 4.5 (d) x 17.5 (h) inches, 34 pounds
- Material: Glass
- Equipment Included: 2 stage 79 gallon per hour (GPH) internal filter with bio-media and charcoal filtration included, grabber tongs, siphon, fish net, energy efficient LED light, mounting brackets and fixings
- Best for: 5 Gallon Wall Tank
The Skyline is a larger capacity version of the ‘View’ wall mounted fish tank, with a total volume of 5 gallons. It comes in brushed black, gold, or silver, matt white, or silver satin – so you have plenty of options to suit your decor.
With a viewing panel size of 26.8 x 9.25 inches, you get a great view of your fish from anywhere in your room, especially when mounted high on the wall. And as it’s wider, your fish get about 143 square inches of surface area to keep the water well oxygenated.
This is a great option for 5 or 6 nano fish or a single male betta as the 79 GPH internal filter can be adjusted down and also has a ‘rain tube’ to reduce the flow to a gentle trickle.
Some owners have reported damage when receiving this particular model, but it is backed by a one-year guarantee and the manufacturer has been quick to issue replacements. Overall feedback is this is a beautiful aquarium that’s a stylish feature for any room.
3. Aussie Aquariums 2.0 Wall Mounted Aquarium – Porthole
Photo: Amazon.com
- Shape and Capacity: Porthole (square), 2 to 3 US gallons
- Dimensions and Weight: 22.0 inch diameter x 4.5 inch depth, 21.0 pounds
- Material: Glass
- Equipment Included: 2 stage 52 gallon per hour (GPH) internal filter with bio-media and charcoal filtration included, grabber tongs, siphon, fish net, energy efficient LED light, mounting brackets and fixings
- Best for: Porthole Wall Tank
Aussie Aquarium’s Porthole wall mounted aquarium is a fantastic option if you want a smaller, decorative tank. The circular 22 inch diameter porthole frame comes in an attractive brushed silver, brushed black, or matte white to fit with your room.
The tank is actually a square shape sitting behind the frame of about 14 x 14 x 4.5 inches, and holds around 2 to 3 gallons, making it great for one or two nano fish. And the rectangular opening with custom fit lid makes for easy feeding, but ensures no jumping out!
It comes with the same useful accessories as the other Aussie aquariums, including a siphon, grabber, a 2 stage internal filter which can be adjusted down to run quietly, and attractive LED backlight. If you want a small, eye-catching wall tank for shrimp or nano fish look no further!
4. Aussie Aquariums Wall Mounted Aquarium – Panoramic
Photo: Amazon.com
- Shape and Capacity: Rectangular, 11.5 US gallons
- Dimensions and Weight: 68.0 (l) x 4.5 (d) x 17.5 (h) inches, 68.2 pounds
- Material: Glass
- Equipment Included: 2 stage 79 gallon per hour (GPH) internal filter with bio-media and charcoal filtration included, grabber tongs, siphon, fish net, energy efficient LED light, mounting brackets and fixings
- Best for: Panoramic Wall Tank
Finally we come on to Aussie Aquarium’s Panoramic wall mounted fish tank. At 11.5 gallons it’s the largest featured but also the most expensive. That said, if you have the wall space you have more scope to keep a small community of fish in this tank like guppies, mollies, or danios.
It has the same 2 stage 79 GPH adjustable filter as the previous models, which will cycle all the water around 7 times an hour – just over the recommended 6 times – to keep it clear and toxin free. And it comes with the same accessories as the other tanks, including the custom lid.
The energy efficient LED light strip allows you to customize your tank colors from white, to red, green, and blue. Overall a premium priced, but stylish and elegant wall mounted aquarium that will allow you to keep a small community of fish whilst being the focal point of your room!
What to Consider When Choosing A Wall Mounted Fish Tank
Wall mounted fish tanks are becoming very popular with those who want to make a design statement as well as provide a healthy home for their fish. But there are several things you should consider before buying one of these specialized aquariums.
What Is A Wall Mounted Fish Tank And Who Is It For?
Wall mounted fish tanks are small aquariums or bubble bowls with specialized features so they can be hung on your wall. These include safety glass or acrylic for the main viewing panel, a substantial frame for safety and decoration, and specialist fixings to support the weight.
They are fantastic if you have limited floor space, or want to make an eye-catching statement as part of your decor. They are also great as a small tank you can keep out of reach of children or pets. Because of their small size they are usually only suitable for a few freshwater fish.
Intended Use
A number of wall mounted fish tanks have become available in recent years, but many of them are very small 1 gallon bubble bowls. They are ok to use as a plant-only tank, but we’ve excluded them as they don’t offer enough space to keep one or two fish for even a short period.
Even the 2 gallon and larger tanks we have featured need to be stocked carefully, which I’ll come on to. But a good alternative for small wall mounted aquariums can be to set up a shrimp tank. Cherry or Dwarf shrimp, for example, can do well in very small aquariums.
Safety And Location
When locating your aquarium choose an area on your wall where you can easily access it for cleaning. You should make sure not to mount it above areas with electrical equipment, such as above workstation monitors. Also, mount it high enough away from kids so it can’t get knocked.
Each tank will come with specific installation instructions, but in general ensure you are mounting into a solid wall or stud to properly support the weight. And you’ll also need to use the correct fixings supplied and those suitable for the type of wall, whether stud or brick.
What Fish Can You Stock In A Wall Mounted Fish Tank?
As well as their volume being smaller, wall mounted fish tanks have different dimensions than standard aquariums so they don’t protrude too far from the wall. A 5 gallon tank, for example, may be around 25 x 10 inches in width and height, but only 5 inches deep.
You need to stock fish that are happy with the narrow swimming space as well as volume. Luckily there are several suitable species including:
- Neon or Cardinal Tetras: Growing to between 1 and 1.5 inches, these are peaceful schooling fish. You can keep 3 to 4 in a 3 gallon wall tank.
- Betta splendens: A single betta can be kept in a wall mounted aquarium as long as it is properly heated and filtered, and is a minimum size of 5 gallons.
- Chili Rasboras: These small but vibrant fish only grow to around 0.8 of an inch. You can keep them in a group of 6 in a 3 gallon wall mounted fish tank.
- Fancy Guppies: For a wall mounted aquarium of 10 or 11 gallons you can keep around 10 to 12 guppies. They are prolific breeders so an all-male tank is recommended!
- Ghost Shrimp: These bottom feeders are great for cleaning your tank by eating leftover food. You can easily keep up to 10 in a 3 gallon wall mounted aquarium.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of A Wall Mounted Fish Tank
Wall mounted fish tanks can be a striking addition to your home, but they come with their own unique benefits and drawbacks!
Benefits
- Design feature: If you are looking for a cool design feature for a home office or den, a wall mounted fish tank is definitely it! Even the frames come in stylish materials, such as brushed steel, to make an eye-catching feature almost like a piece of wall art.
- Save space: Wall mounted fish tanks are an awesome alternative to a standard aquarium if you don’t have the floor space. You can also mount them at a safe height away from kids and pets where everyone can get a perfect view of your fish.
- Come as complete kit: Good sized wall mounted aquariums (generally those larger than 1 gallon fish bowls) come with specialized heating or filtration, and lights custom made for the tank. So no need to find your own accessories!
Drawbacks
- Heavy for their size: A 5 gallon wall mounted fish tank can weigh 35 lbs including the weight of the frame. Add 5 gallons of water (around 42 lbs [1]) and accessories, and the total weight can be 100 – 120 lbs. This is the same as a standard 10 gallon fish tank.
- Require strong wall fixing: Given the weight, you must have a suitably strong wall on which to mount the tank, such as a stud or brick rather than drywall.
- Limited fish selection: Although wall mounted aquariums often have a good sized viewing pane, they are still smaller than standard aquariums as they don’t protrude far from the wall. So you can generally only keep nano fish such as rasboras and tetras.
- Can be expensive: As wall mounted aquariums tend to be made as a design feature you can often pay a similar price for a 3 to 5 gallon tank as a standard 20 gallon tank.
How To Choose The Best Wall Mounted Fish Tank
So given these considerations, what should you look for when trying to find the best wall mounted fish tank for you?
Size Of Your Fish Tank
When it comes to choosing the best wall mounted fish tank, there are additional size considerations to that of normal aquariums. As well as choosing the right volume for the fish you want to keep and paying careful attention to the final weight, you need to consider other factors.
Given that wall mounted aquariums don’t protrude far from the wall this makes the water surface area for oxygen exchange smaller. A tank 25 x 10 x 5 inches would have a surface area of 125 square inches. So in a tank like this you should keep no more than 6 or 7 inch long fish.
Material And Design
Some wall mounted tanks come with safety glass viewing panes, but often they are made of acrylic to keep the weight down. Acrylic is up to 17 times stronger than standard glass although can lose some of it’s clarity over time.
To prevent this, you can buff the outer surface with a soft lint-free cloth as part of your cleaning routine. Maintaining your tank in this way will help keep it scratch free too.
Accessories
The great thing about larger wall mounted aquariums (rather than the 1 gallon fish bowls) is they tend to come with many of the essential accessories included. They even come with things like specialized siphons and grabber tongs to reach down to the bottom of the narrow tank.
In a 5 gallon tank, you’ll often get a 70 to 80 gallon per hour internal filter too. This would be able to cycle your water up to 15 times an hour, which is more than the 4 to 6 times needed to keep it clean and toxin free. They are usually adjustable too so you can reduce this flow rate.
How To Install A Wall Mounted Fish Tank
Note: This is a general guide to installing a wall mounted aquarium. For safety and to avoid damage, always follow the mounting instructions contained with your specific fish tank.
Tools You Will Need
- Spirit level
- Stud finder
- Hammer-action drill
- Tape measure
- Pen or pencil
- Heavy duty rawl plugs/ fixing provided with your tank
Installation Steps
- Central bracket install: Firstly, measure the width and height of your tank and find the center point. Use a stud finder to locate studs within your wall where you want your tank to go, and to ensure there are no electric cables. Mark the center point of the tank on the wall and then mark, drill, and fix the central bracket using the supplied fixings.
- Left and right brackets: Measure the required position for the left and right brackets from the central bracket. Use a spirit level to check all three are all leveled up. Then mark, drill, and fix the left and right brackets.
- Position the aquarium: Mount your fish tank onto the brackets and use the clips supplied to hold the top of the aquarium in place.
- Secure and tighten the mounting: Use the locking fixings to secure the bottom of the tank to the bracket. Now your aquarium is ready to be cycled before adding your fish!
Our Verdict
We’ve been careful not to recommend any of the 1 gallon ‘bubble bowl’ wall mounted fish tanks you’ll often find, as they are too small to sustain your fish for even a short period. Instead, we find Aussie Aquariums to be great for your fish while being fantastic decorative pieces too.
So whether you want to set up a shrimp tank with the Aussie Aquariums Porthole Aquarium, or you prefer the Aussie Aquariums Panoramic for a small community, we’re confident you’ll find a stylish and practical wall mounted fish tank!
FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the top questions asked about wall mounted aquariums.
How Heavy Are Wall Mounted Aquariums?
A 5 gallon wall mounted aquarium can weigh around 35 lbs when empty and around 100 to 120 lbs when filled with water and accessories. So they must be mounted to a stud or brick wall.
How Many Fish Can You Keep In A Wall Mounted Fish Tank?
Follow the rule of 1 gallon of water per inch of fish and be careful not to overstock. So a 5 gallon tank can support around 5 or 6 nano fish just under an inch each.
How Easy Is It To Install A Wall Mounted Aquarium?
Mounting is not too difficult, and is similar to installing a bracket for a flat-screen TV. But be careful to use the correct fixings for your wall and follow the instructions included with your tank.
How Easy Is It To Clean A Wall Mounted Fish Tank?
Cleaning a wall mounted aquarium can be slightly tricker given the position. However, they often come with specialized pads and siphons that allow you to clean your tank in situ on the wall.
