A great fish tank can easily become the most talked about feature in your restaurant. But over the years, we have seen business owners make the same exact mistakes time and time again.
Most of these headaches are incredibly easy to avoid. It all just comes down to a bit of basic planning before you buy.
1. Choosing the Tank Before Choosing the Location
Nailing your aquarium’s location before buying the tank is the ultimate secret to restaurant design success.
Finding the best spot first ensures guests can see the tank, staff can clean it easily and it fits the room perfectly. Planning the setup early prevents stressful problems and turns your aquarium into a beautiful attraction everyone will enjoy.
2. Assuming Bigger Is Always Better
People think a massive tank is the only way to wow people, but huge does not always mean better. We see smaller tanks steal the show, simply because they fit the layout perfectly. On the other side, a giant tank can easily take over a room and make the whole dining area feel cramped.
So you do not need to go huge to make an impact. The best tank is always the one that actually looks like it belongs in the room.
3. Forgetting About Maintenance
Every tank looks awesome on day one. The real test is how it looks six months later when the glass turns green, filters get dirty and the water needs changing. This work is easy if you plan for it from the start. But, many people forget about maintenance until they are stuck staring at am cloudy tank.
If you want a display that stays beautiful, you have to design the setup around how you are actually going to clean it.
4. Choosing the Wrong Style for the Restaurant
Not every aquarium suits every venue.
A bright reef aquarium packed with colour can look incredible in the right setting. In another restaurant, it might feel completely out of place.
The same applies to freshwater aquariums, planted displays and custom-built feature tanks. The aquarium should complement the overall style of the restaurant rather than compete with it.
When the design feels connected to the space, the result is usually far more successful.
5. Focusing Only on the Installation
Don’t just think about how good the aquarium will look when it’s first installed or how much it will add to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
It’s also worth thinking about how it will look a year down the track. Good filtration, reliable equipment and regular maintenance are what keep an aquarium looking clean and healthy over time. Without them, even a great looking setup can quickly lose its appeal.
The best restaurant aquariums are not necessarily the biggest, most expensive or most complicated.
They are the ones that suit the venue, remain easy to maintain and continue looking great long after the installation is complete.
At atlantisandco.com.au/, we help restaurants across Melbourne design, install and maintain aquariums that are built for the long term, not just for opening day.