Vastu Shastra · वास्तु शास्त्र
Fish aquarium Vastu: direction, placement and care
As per Vastu, a fish aquarium is commonly kept in the north-east, north or east of the home, the zones Vastu links with water. The living room is the usual place for it. The south-east, the fire zone, and the heavy south and south-west are traditionally avoided, and an aquarium is usually kept out of the bedroom and the kitchen.
Fish aquarium: the short answer
Best: North-east, North, East. Acceptable: North-west, West. Avoid: South-east, South, South-west. Water belongs to the north-east and the north; an aquarium is kept out of the south-east fire zone and the heavy south-west.
An aquarium brings water and movement into a room, which is why Vastu gives it a place in the water zones. It is also a home for living fish, so the most important advice is about care: clean water, a working filter and fish that are well looked after. A neglected tank does a room no good, whatever its direction.
Which direction suits an aquarium
Water belongs to the north-east, the zone of prayer and clarity, and to the north, the zone of Kubera. The east is acceptable too as a light, open zone. Fire and water are kept apart in Vastu, which is why the south-east is avoided, and the south-west is kept heavy and dry. Practitioners differ here: some advice influenced by Feng Shui puts a tank in the south-east, but most Vastu consultants keep water out of the fire zone.
| Part | Traditional first choice | Acceptable | Traditionally avoided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish aquarium | North-east, north, east | North-west, west | South-east, south, south-west |
Which rooms suit an aquarium
| Room | Commonly given |
|---|---|
| Living room | The usual place, on its north, north-east or east side |
| Reception of an office or shop | North or north-east, where visitors see it |
| Study | A small tank on the north or east side can work; some prefer to keep it out to avoid distraction |
| Bedroom | Commonly avoided |
| Kitchen | Commonly avoided, as fire and water are kept apart |
Number of fish and the kind of fish
You will often read that an aquarium should hold nine fish, eight gold and one black, or that arowana and goldfish are the fish to keep. This custom comes from Feng Shui, the Chinese tradition, rather than from the Vastu texts. Many Indian homes follow it, and it does no harm, but it is a choice, not a rule.
What matters more is that the fish suit the size of the tank and get on with each other. A tank that is too small or too crowded is hard to keep clean.
Care matters most
Vastu treats stale or dirty water as stagnant energy, so a clean tank is the heart of the advice. The water is changed in part on a regular schedule, the filter and pump are kept running, and a fish that dies is removed promptly. If you travel often and cannot look after a tank, a small fountain or a bowl of fresh water in the north-east is a commonly suggested alternative.
Check your own house. Score your home room by room against the traditional Vastu placements.
House Vastu CalculatorDo
- Keep the aquarium in the north-east, north or east of the room.
- Place it in the living room or the reception area.
- Keep the water clean and the filter and pump running.
- Remove a fish that dies promptly.
- Choose a tank size that suits the room and the fish.
- Keep the area around the tank dry and tidy.
Avoid
- Do not keep an aquarium in the south-east, south or south-west.
- Do not keep it in the bedroom or the kitchen.
- Do not let the water turn green or stale.
- Do not overcrowd the tank.
- Do not keep an empty or broken tank in the home.
Adjustments without rebuilding
- An aquarium in the south-east is commonly moved to the north or north-east of the same room.
- A tank in the bedroom is commonly moved to the living room.
- Where a tank cannot be looked after, a small fountain or a bowl of fresh water in the north-east is a commonly suggested alternative.
- An empty tank kept in storage is commonly given away or cleared out.
These are traditional practices that many families follow. They vary between Vastu schools; for your own home, a consultant can say which matter most.
Questions
Which direction is best for an aquarium as per Vastu?
The north-east, north or east, the zones Vastu links with water. The south-east, south and south-west are commonly avoided.
Can I keep an aquarium in the bedroom?
It is commonly avoided. The living room is the usual place, on its north, north-east or east side.
How many fish should an aquarium have?
The custom of nine fish, eight gold and one black, comes from Feng Shui rather than Vastu. You can follow it if you like; what matters more is a tank that suits the fish and stays clean.
What should I do if a fish dies?
Remove it promptly and check the water and the filter. Vastu treats a neglected tank as stagnant energy, so care matters more than the number of fish.
Is an aquarium good for an office?
Many offices keep one in the reception, on the north or north-east side. The same care applies: clean water and a working filter.
Related tools
- Office Vastu calculator: score the layout of your office, room by room.
- Shop Vastu calculator: score the layout of your shop or showroom.
- Property Vastu calculator: check a flat or house before you buy or rent it.
Related Vastu guides
- Living room Vastu: The best direction for the living room, where to sit, sofa and TV placement, and colours.
- Water tank Vastu: Where the borewell, sump, overhead tank and septic tank go, and the directions to avoid.
- Vastu for wealth: The north zone of Kubera, where a locker is commonly kept, water in the north-east and fixing leaks.
- Office Vastu: Where the owner, reception, accounts, staff, pantry and electrical panel traditionally go in an office.
- Tortoise Vastu: A Feng Shui custom often mixed with Vastu: where the tortoise is commonly kept and the kinds people use.
Your personal best directions come from your Kua number. Check your whole home with the house Vastu calculator, see whether your house number suits you, and find your lucky number. More tools: all free calculators.
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