Can You Put A Fish Tank On Top Of A Mini Fridge? (Don’t Do It - Here’s Why)

You could contemplate putting your fish tank on the mini fridge for two likely reasons.

Firstly, you probably don’t have much space left in your tiny living space so the only available space is the top of your fridge.
Secondly, you’ve probably convinced yourself that putting the aquarium there would somehow keep it cool as a result of the normal day to say cooling operation of the mini fridge.

However, before even acting based on any of these reasons, you need to evaluate the effectiveness and whether it’s very necessary to place the aquarium there (of all places).

So, Can You Put A Fish Tank On Top Of A Mini Fridge?

In one word – “No.” Don’t get it wrong – you can technically put your fish tank anywhere you please as long as it gets ample air circulation, good temperature control, and provided it’s going to stay undisturbed the whole time, but the risks of placing it right on top of a working mini fridge far outweigh any benefits. There also can be a question of whether it would be easier to run it while there. Even worse, your fish might find the vibrations from your fridge a bit upsetting.

Two Reasons Why you Should Never Place Your Aquarium On Your Mini Fridge

Understandably, you have run out of space in your dorm or tiny home, so placing the box on top of the fridge is the only option left.

However, installing your aquarium on an operational mini fridge is probably the worst thing you could ever do to your adorable fish. Here is why:

1. Vibrations and sounds

Vibrations and continuous sounds can upset fish.

Whether your aquarium holds fighter fish or more exotic species that have spent a big part of their lives in a natural, they certainly won’t have a lot of fun living on top of vibrations and those wheezing sounds normally produced by fridges.

You are more likely to notice a sudden behavior change – the fish may stop moving around as actively as they used to. If this persists for 2 – 3 days, you can be certain they won’t survive.

If you return the aquarium to a calm place, you will likely see them swing back into activity – swimming all over the place, happily!

Most species of fish would do anything to have a quiet and calm environment – and some good food, of course – just like their natural habitat in the sea.

If the fridge door isn’t a soft close kind, it will vibrate every time you close/open it.

These vibrations, and those that may be produced during the usual running of the fridge may further perplex your fish, something that’s not good for their wellbeing.

Such vibrations may appear negligible to you but can be strong enough to upset small species of fish.

2. The weight and heat factors

Fish boxes can be considerably heavy. The mini fridge might not support the weight for extended periods. In other words, you could ruin your tiny fridge with a box full of water over it.

The heat emitted by the refrigerator itself can be disadvantageous as well. If the unit is left to run for an extended period, the heat may build up to a point of altering the temperature of the water in the tank albeit to a small degree, but large enough to be felt by the fish.

Assuming that the mini fridge is in the living room, which is probably the most utilized room in any house, you’ll need to figure out the specific kind of fish to acquire. Shy fish won’t be the best choice for you.

Here are other places you shouldn’t place your fish box:

1. In direct sunlight/excessive daylight.

New aquarium hobbyists tend to run into algae problems.

One of the top causes of algal growth in fish tanks is the presence of excess lighting.

A long period of exposure to very bright light can bring forth a few other serious problems – like dazzling, for example – but mostly results in algal bloom which creates unnecessary competition for oxygen.

You also risk overheating the box and exposing it to unhealthy temperature fluctuations. All these are lethal to your fish.

2. Proximity to an air conditioner, radiator, or fireplace

Fish don’t fare well when brought close to fridges.

They also end up equally miserable when brought close to air conditioners or a fireplace.

Your fish tank needs to maintain stable temperatures recommended by the supplier.

Being close to an A/C system, fireplace, or an active baseboard heater can easily heat up or cool off the water temperature in a short time. You don’t want your cute fish to boil to death.

3. Near a door or window

As mentioned before, water transmits shockwaves quite stronger than air.

So, if a fish bowl is left to stand near a door or window where it’s frequently shut and opened, your fish can be upset quite often. It’s never good for their wellbeing and could soon take a toll on their health.

4. On the desk with your woofer or boombox

Fish are never comfortable with loud sounds, very much like humans.

More concerning is the fact that even slight bangs and sudden sounds often considered normal by the human ear may not be received too well by the fish.

The problem with woofers is that they tend to vibrate on the desk or any surface they may sit on even at low volumes.

Don’t stress your fish with unwanted vibrations and sounds. Instead, install the aquarium in a calm corner in your room where they won’t be disturbed much.

5. On the floor.

Unless the box can be seen easily from a distance and sits on a padding material, never install the fish box on the floor.

Even if your family or yourself are perfectly okay with observing your fish in top down positions, it is still unrecommendable to have the box on the bare floor and at floor level.

It’s very easy for a walking person to accidentally kick the tank or have an object fall into it. It can also be hard to change the water especially if the box is equipped with a gravel vacuum.

If you put the box on a bare concrete floor, there is a chance the cold floor will reduce the temperature of the water to unhealthy levels.

5. Above A Power Strip Or Electrical Outlet

Better keep your fish safe than feel sorry afterward. Some aquariums can hold so much water.

The last thing you want to see is water getting too close or into your electrical equipment.

Although you will require a constant power supply for the heater, filter, and other electrical equipment, you should keep the wirings away from water establishments in the room.

It would be a great idea to have your fish tank installed at least 1 ft. away from the wall outlet or power strip. Also, these equipment shouldn’t be on the same floor level as the fish tank.

Summary

So, can you put a fish tank on top of a mini fridge? No – it won’t be in the best interests of your pet.

Rather, find a calm and quite place somewhere in the room where temperatures are great for his survival.

There are several reasons why shouldn’t put the fish box on the mini fridge.

Firstly, the vibrations and continuous sounds produced by the mini fridge can upset fish.

Whether you own fighter fish or more exotic species that have spent a big part of their lives in a natural, they certainly won’t have a nice time on top of vibrations and the wheezing sounds normally produced by fridges
Secondly, there are weight and heat factors – the mini fridge might not support the weight for extended periods. The heat emitted by the refrigerator itself can be disadvantageous as well
If the unit is left to run for an extended period, the heat may build up to a point of altering the temperature of the water in the tank albeit to a small degree, but large enough to be felt by the fish.

There are other places you shouldn’t place your fish box

Never place your fish box in a direct sunlight/excessive daylight
A long period of exposure to very bright light can bring forth a few other serious problems – like dazzling, for example – but mostly results in algal bloom which creates unnecessary competition for oxygen

There is also risk of overheating the box and exposing it to unhealthy temperature fluctuations
Proximity to an air conditioner, radiator, or fireplace can be just as bad
If a fish tank is left to stand near a door or window where it’s frequently shut and opened, your fish can be upset quite often.

Don’t stress your fish with unwanted vibrations and sounds by bringing the fish close to sound systems such as woofers and TV. Instead, install the aquarium in a calm corner in your room where they won’t be disturbed much.
Unless the aquarium can be seen easily from a distance and sits on a padding material, never place iton the floor
Also, never install the tank close to electrical components where leaks may be catastrophic.