Building Your Aquarium Dashboard in Home Assistant

A good dashboard gives you at-a-glance status of every tank: temperature, device states, energy usage, and one-tap scene control. This guide builds the complete Lovelace aquarium dashboard from scratch — optimized for both desktop and mobile.

What You'll Need

Home Assistant with all aquarium devices added (see getting started guide)
Devices to monitor: smart plugs, temperature sensors, scene buttons
About 30 minutes to configure

Dashboard Layout

We'll build a dashboard with these sections:

Status Bar — quick overview: temp, active scene, alerts
Device Control — on/off switches for every device
Temperature — gauge + 24-hour history graph
Energy Monitor — per-device power draw
Scene Buttons — one-tap day/night/feeding/maintenance
Feeding Log — last feed time and schedule
AWC Status — next water change, reservoir status

Step 1: Create the Dashboard

Go to Settings → Dashboards → Add Dashboard
Name it Aquarium
Set icon to mdi:fish
Click Edit Dashboard → switch to YAML mode

Or add directly to your existing dashboard by editing the Lovelace YAML.

Step 2: Status Overview Card

A glance card showing the most important info:

configuration.yaml

type: horizontal-stack
cards:
  - type: entity
    entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
    name: "Temp"
    icon: mdi:thermometer
  - type: entity
    entity: switch.tuya_aquarium_light
    name: "Light"
    icon: mdi:lightbulb
  - type: entity
    entity: switch.shelly_plug_heater
    name: "Heater"
    icon: mdi:fire
  - type: entity
    entity: switch.tuya_canister_filter
    name: "Filter"
    icon: mdi:water-pump

Step 3: Device Control Panel

All switches in one card with friendly names and icons:

configuration.yaml

type: entities
title: "Device Control"
show_header_toggle: false
entities:
  - entity: switch.tuya_aquarium_light
    name: "Aquarium Light"
    icon: mdi:lightbulb
  - entity: switch.shelly_plug_heater
    name: "Primary Heater"
    icon: mdi:fire
  - entity: switch.tuya_backup_heater
    name: "Backup Heater"
    icon: mdi:fire-alert
  - entity: switch.tuya_canister_filter
    name: "Canister Filter"
    icon: mdi:water-pump
  - entity: switch.tuya_air_pump
    name: "Air Pump"
    icon: mdi:air-filter
  - entity: switch.tuya_auto_feeder
    name: "Auto Feeder"
    icon: mdi:fish
  - entity: switch.tuya_uv_sterilizer
    name: "UV Sterilizer"
    icon: mdi:lightbulb-fluorescent-tube
  - type: divider
  - entity: input_boolean.vacation_mode
    name: "Vacation Mode"
    icon: mdi:airplane

Step 4: Temperature Section

configuration.yaml

type: vertical-stack
cards:
  - type: gauge
    entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
    name: "Water Temperature"
    unit: "°F"
    min: 65
    max: 90
    needle: true
    severity:
      green: 75
      yellow: 80
      red: 84
  - type: history-graph
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
        name: "Temperature"
    hours_to_show: 48
    refresh_interval: 300

Step 5: Energy Monitoring Section

configuration.yaml

type: vertical-stack
title: "Energy Monitor"
cards:
  - type: entities
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_heater_power
        name: "Heater"
        icon: mdi:fire
        suffix: "W"
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_filter_power
        name: "Filter"
        icon: mdi:water-pump
        suffix: "W"
  - type: history-graph
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_heater_power
        name: "Heater (W)"
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_filter_power
        name: "Filter (W)"
    hours_to_show: 24
  - type: entities
    title: "Monthly Usage"
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_heater_energy
        name: "Heater Total"
        icon: mdi:flash
        suffix: "kWh"
      - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_filter_energy
        name: "Filter Total"
        icon: mdi:flash
        suffix: "kWh"

Step 6: Scene Control Buttons

configuration.yaml

type: horizontal-stack
cards:
  - type: button
    name: "Day"
    icon: mdi:white-balance-sunny
    icon_height: 40px
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: scene.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: scene.tank_day_mode
    style: |
      ha-card { background: rgba(0, 212, 170, 0.1); }
  - type: button
    name: "Night"
    icon: mdi:moon-waning-crescent
    icon_height: 40px
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: scene.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: scene.tank_night_mode
  - type: button
    name: "Feed"
    icon: mdi:fish
    icon_height: 40px
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: script.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: script.tank_feeding_mode
  - type: button
    name: "Movie"
    icon: mdi:movie-open
    icon_height: 40px
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: scene.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: scene.tank_movie_mode
  - type: button
    name: "Maint"
    icon: mdi:wrench
    icon_height: 40px
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: scene.turn_on
      target:
        entity_id: scene.tank_maintenance_mode
    style: |
      ha-card { background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.1); }

Step 7: Conditional Alert Banner

Show a warning banner only when something is wrong:

configuration.yaml

type: conditional
conditions:
  - condition: numeric_state
    entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
    above: 82
card:
  type: markdown
  content: >
    **Temperature Alert:** Water is {{ states('sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature') }}°F —
    above safe range. Check heater and room temperature.
  style: |
    ha-card {
      background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.2);
      border: 1px solid rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.5);
    }

Step 8: AWC Status Card

configuration.yaml

type: entities
title: "Water Change System"
entities:
  - entity: switch.tuya_awc_drain_pump
    name: "Drain Pump"
    icon: mdi:water-minus
  - entity: switch.tuya_awc_fill_pump
    name: "Fill Pump"
    icon: mdi:water-plus
  - entity: binary_sensor.autoaqua_water_level
    name: "Water Level"
    icon: mdi:waves
  - type: button
    name: "Run AWC Now"
    icon: mdi:water-sync
    tap_action:
      action: call-service
      service: automation.trigger
      target:
        entity_id: automation.weekly_awc_drain_phase

Step 9: Mobile Optimization

For mobile, use a single-column layout. Create a separate mobile view:

Click the three dots → Edit Dashboard
Add a new View → name it "Mobile"
Set view type to Panel or Masonry (1 column)
Add the same cards in priority order: Status → Temp → Scenes → Devices

configuration.yaml

# Mobile-friendly compact status card
type: glance
title: "Tank Status"
entities:
  - entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
    name: "Temp"
  - entity: switch.tuya_aquarium_light
    name: "Light"
  - entity: switch.shelly_plug_heater
    name: "Heat"
  - entity: switch.tuya_air_pump
    name: "Air"
  - entity: input_boolean.vacation_mode
    name: "Vacation"

My Complete Dashboard YAML

Here's the full dashboard config that I run — copy and customize:

configuration.yaml

views:
  - title: "Aquarium"
    icon: mdi:fish
    cards:
      # Row 1: Quick status
      - type: horizontal-stack
        cards:
          - type: entity
            entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
            name: "Temp"
          - type: entity
            entity: switch.tuya_aquarium_light
            name: "Light"
          - type: entity
            entity: switch.shelly_plug_heater
            name: "Heater"
          - type: entity
            entity: switch.tuya_canister_filter
            name: "Filter"
      # Row 2: Scene buttons
      - type: horizontal-stack
        cards:
          - type: button
            name: "Day"
            icon: mdi:white-balance-sunny
            tap_action:
              action: call-service
              service: scene.turn_on
              target:
                entity_id: scene.tank_day_mode
          - type: button
            name: "Night"
            icon: mdi:moon-waning-crescent
            tap_action:
              action: call-service
              service: scene.turn_on
              target:
                entity_id: scene.tank_night_mode
          - type: button
            name: "Feed"
            icon: mdi:fish
            tap_action:
              action: call-service
              service: script.turn_on
              target:
                entity_id: script.tank_feeding_mode
          - type: button
            name: "Maint"
            icon: mdi:wrench
            tap_action:
              action: call-service
              service: scene.turn_on
              target:
                entity_id: scene.tank_maintenance_mode
      # Row 3: Temperature
      - type: gauge
        entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
        name: "Water Temperature"
        unit: "°F"
        min: 65
        max: 90
        needle: true
        severity:
          green: 75
          yellow: 80
          red: 84
      - type: history-graph
        entities:
          - entity: sensor.inkbird_aquarium_temperature
        hours_to_show: 48
      # Row 4: All devices
      - type: entities
        title: "All Devices"
        entities:
          - entity: switch.tuya_aquarium_light
            name: "Light"
          - entity: switch.shelly_plug_heater
            name: "Heater"
          - entity: switch.tuya_canister_filter
            name: "Filter"
          - entity: switch.tuya_air_pump
            name: "Air Pump"
          - entity: switch.tuya_auto_feeder
            name: "Feeder"
          - entity: switch.tuya_uv_sterilizer
            name: "UV"
          - type: divider
          - entity: input_boolean.vacation_mode
            name: "Vacation Mode"
      # Row 5: Energy
      - type: history-graph
        title: "Energy (24h)"
        entities:
          - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_heater_power
            name: "Heater"
          - entity: sensor.shelly_plug_filter_power
            name: "Filter"
        hours_to_show: 24

Tips

Use consistent naming — "Tank Light" not "switch.tuya_outlet_3_1"
Group by function not by device brand
Add conditional cards for alerts — they only show when relevant
Bookmark the dashboard on your phone for quick access
Use HA Companion App — native app with push notifications + widget support

What's Next?

Multi-Tank Command Center — aggregate all your tanks into one powerful dashboard
Advanced Dashboard with Custom Cards — mushroom + mini-graph + apexcharts for a polished look
Wall-Mounted Kiosk Display — turn a cheap tablet into a dedicated fish room display
Scene Control with Lutron Pico — the physical buttons for your dashboard
Smart Power Management — energy monitoring details
Getting Started with Home Assistant — if you haven't set up HA yet