Wall-Mounted Kiosk Display for Your Fish Room

A dedicated screen next to your tanks showing live camera feeds, temperature gauges, and one-tap controls is the ultimate fish room upgrade. This guide turns a cheap Fire tablet into a always-on aquarium command center with kiosk mode, auto-dim, and ambient screensaver.

What You'll Need

Amazon Fire HD 8 or HD 10 tablet (~$50-100) — best value for wall mounts
OR Any Android tablet with a web browser
Tablet wall mount — 3M adhesive or screw-mount (VESA or universal)
USB cable long enough to reach an outlet (6-10 ft)
Home Assistant with aquarium dashboard built
Fully Kiosk Browser app ($7, one-time) — OR free alternatives below

Hardware Options

Tablet	Price	Screen	Best For
Fire HD 8	~$50	8"	Single tank / small fish room
Fire HD 10	~$100	10.1"	Multi-tank dashboard
Samsung Tab A8	~$130	10.5"	Better display quality
Old iPad	Free	Varies	If you have one lying around
Fire HD 8 Plus	~$70	8"	Wireless charging mount option

Wall mounts: Search for "tablet wall mount adhesive" — most are $10-15 and use 3M VHB tape (no drilling).

Step 1: Set Up Fully Kiosk Browser

Fully Kiosk Browser is the gold standard for tablet dashboards. It provides fullscreen mode, auto-dim, motion wake, and remote management.

Install on Fire Tablet

Enable Apps from Unknown Sources in Fire tablet settings
Download Fully Kiosk Browser APK from fully-kiosk.com
Install and open

Configure for Aquarium Dashboard

Open Fully Kiosk settings:

Start URL:        http://homeassistant.local:8123/aquarium-dashboard/0
                  (or your HA IP address)

Web Content Settings:
  ☑ Autoplay Videos    (for camera feeds)
  ☑ Enable WebRTC      (for live camera streams)

Kiosk Mode:
  ☑ Enable Kiosk Mode
  ☑ Hide Navigation Bar
  ☑ Hide Status Bar
  ☑ Prevent Sleep

Screen Management:
  Screen Brightness:           200   (normal daytime)
  Screensaver Brightness:      5     (dim at night)
  Screensaver Timer:           300   (5 minutes of inactivity)
  Screensaver URL:             http://homeassistant.local:8123/aquarium-dashboard/camera-view
  ☑ Turn Screen On on Motion   (uses front camera as motion sensor)
  Motion Detection Sensitivity: 80

Device Management:
  ☑ Keep Screen On While Plugged In
  ☑ Launch on Boot

Free Alternatives

If you don't want to pay for Fully Kiosk:

WallPanel (Android) — free, open source, motion detection
Home Assistant Companion App — native HA app, no kiosk features but works
Chrome Kiosk Mode — chrome --kiosk http://your-ha-url (no auto-dim)

Step 2: Kiosk Dashboard Layout

Design a dashboard optimized for an always-on wall display. Key principles:

Large text — readable from 3-5 feet away
High contrast — dark background, bright indicators
Minimal clutter — only show what matters at a glance
Touch-friendly — big tap targets for controls

Kiosk-Optimized Dashboard

configuration.yaml

views:
  - title: "Kiosk"
    icon: mdi:monitor
    type: panel
    cards:
      - type: vertical-stack
        cards:
          # ── Large temperature display ──
          - type: horizontal-stack
            cards:
              - type: custom:mushroom-template-card
                primary: "{{ states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') }}°F"
                secondary: "29G Community"
                icon: mdi:thermometer
                icon_color: >
                  {% if states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') | float > 82 %}
                    red
                  {% elif states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') | float > 80 %}
                    amber
                  {% else %}
                    teal
                  {% endif %}
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card { font-size: 1.4em; }

              - type: custom:mushroom-template-card
                primary: "{{ states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') }}°F"
                secondary: "55G Cichlid"
                icon: mdi:thermometer
                icon_color: >
                  {% if states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') | float > 82 %}
                    red
                  {% elif states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') | float > 80 %}
                    amber
                  {% else %}
                    teal
                  {% endif %}
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card { font-size: 1.4em; }

          # ── Camera feeds side by side ──
          - type: horizontal-stack
            cards:
              - type: picture-entity
                entity: camera.29g_camera
                show_name: true
                show_state: false
                camera_view: live
                name: "29G Community"
              - type: picture-entity
                entity: camera.55g_camera
                show_name: true
                show_state: false
                camera_view: live
                name: "55G Cichlid"

          # ── Scene buttons (large, touch-friendly) ──
          - type: grid
            columns: 5
            square: true
            cards:
              - type: button
                name: "Day"
                icon: mdi:white-balance-sunny
                icon_height: 60px
                tap_action:
                  action: call-service
                  service: scene.turn_on
                  target:
                    entity_id:
                      - scene.29g_day_mode
                      - scene.55g_day_mode
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card {
                      background: rgba(0, 212, 170, 0.1);
                      font-size: 1.2em;
                    }
              - type: button
                name: "Night"
                icon: mdi:moon-waning-crescent
                icon_height: 60px
                tap_action:
                  action: call-service
                  service: scene.turn_on
                  target:
                    entity_id:
                      - scene.29g_night_mode
                      - scene.55g_night_mode
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card { font-size: 1.2em; }
              - type: button
                name: "Feed"
                icon: mdi:fish
                icon_height: 60px
                tap_action:
                  action: call-service
                  service: script.turn_on
                  target:
                    entity_id: script.all_tanks_feeding_mode
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card { font-size: 1.2em; }
              - type: button
                name: "Movie"
                icon: mdi:movie-open
                icon_height: 60px
                tap_action:
                  action: call-service
                  service: scene.turn_on
                  target:
                    entity_id:
                      - scene.29g_movie_mode
                      - scene.55g_movie_mode
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card { font-size: 1.2em; }
              - type: button
                name: "Maint"
                icon: mdi:wrench
                icon_height: 60px
                tap_action:
                  action: call-service
                  service: scene.turn_on
                  target:
                    entity_id:
                      - scene.29g_maintenance_mode
                      - scene.55g_maintenance_mode
                card_mod:
                  style: |
                    ha-card {
                      background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.1);
                      font-size: 1.2em;
                    }

          # ── Device status strip ──
          - type: glance
            show_name: true
            show_state: true
            columns: 8
            entities:
              - entity: switch.tuya_29g_light
                name: "29 Light"
              - entity: switch.shelly_29g_heater
                name: "29 Heat"
              - entity: switch.shelly_29g_filter
                name: "29 Filter"
              - entity: switch.tuya_29g_air_pump
                name: "29 Air"
              - entity: switch.tuya_55g_light
                name: "55 Light"
              - entity: switch.shelly_55g_heater
                name: "55 Heat"
              - entity: switch.shelly_55g_filter
                name: "55 Filter"
              - entity: switch.tuya_55g_air_pump
                name: "55 Air"

Step 3: Ambient Screensaver

When nobody's in front of the kiosk, show a rotating camera feed as a screensaver — like a live fish tank picture frame.

Camera Screensaver Dashboard

Create a separate dashboard view for the screensaver:

configuration.yaml

  - title: "Screensaver"
    path: camera-view
    type: panel
    cards:
      - type: custom:swipe-card
        parameters:
          autoplay:
            delay: 10000
            disableOnInteraction: false
          effect: fade
          loop: true
        cards:
          - type: picture-entity
            entity: camera.29g_camera
            show_name: true
            show_state: false
            camera_view: live
            card_mod:
              style: |
                ha-card {
                  border: none;
                  background: black;
                }
          - type: picture-entity
            entity: camera.55g_camera
            show_name: true
            show_state: false
            camera_view: live
            card_mod:
              style: |
                ha-card {
                  border: none;
                  background: black;
                }

Set this as the screensaver URL in Fully Kiosk — it rotates between tank camera feeds every 10 seconds with a fade transition. At 5% brightness it creates a beautiful ambient glow.

Step 4: Auto-Dim with HA Automation

Use Home Assistant to control the kiosk brightness based on time of day and tank lighting state:

configuration.yaml

automation:
  - alias: "Kiosk — Dim for Night"
    description: "Dim the kiosk display when all tank lights turn off"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id:
          - switch.tuya_29g_light
          - switch.tuya_55g_light
        to: "off"
    condition:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: switch.tuya_29g_light
        state: "off"
      - condition: state
        entity_id: switch.tuya_55g_light
        state: "off"
    action:
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_set_brightness
        data:
          brightness: 5
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_load_url
        data:
          url: "http://homeassistant.local:8123/aquarium-dashboard/camera-view"

  - alias: "Kiosk — Brighten for Day"
    description: "Brighten the kiosk when any tank light turns on"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id:
          - switch.tuya_29g_light
          - switch.tuya_55g_light
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_set_brightness
        data:
          brightness: 200
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_load_url
        data:
          url: "http://homeassistant.local:8123/aquarium-dashboard/0"

Fully Kiosk REST Commands

Add to configuration.yaml to control the kiosk remotely:

configuration.yaml

rest_command:
  kiosk_set_brightness:
    url: "http://TABLET_IP:2323/?cmd=setStringSetting&key=screenBrightness&value={{ brightness }}&password=YOUR_KIOSK_PASSWORD"

  kiosk_load_url:
    url: "http://TABLET_IP:2323/?cmd=loadURL&url={{ url }}&password=YOUR_KIOSK_PASSWORD"

  kiosk_screen_on:
    url: "http://TABLET_IP:2323/?cmd=screenOn&password=YOUR_KIOSK_PASSWORD"

  kiosk_screen_off:
    url: "http://TABLET_IP:2323/?cmd=screenOff&password=YOUR_KIOSK_PASSWORD"

Step 5: Alert Takeover

When something goes wrong, take over the kiosk to show an alert — impossible to miss:

configuration.yaml

automation:
  - alias: "Kiosk — Temperature Emergency Takeover"
    description: "Flash the kiosk red on temperature emergency"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id:
          - sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature
          - sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature
        above: 84
        for:
          minutes: 2
    action:
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_set_brightness
        data:
          brightness: 255
      - service: rest_command.kiosk_load_url
        data:
          url: "http://homeassistant.local:8123/aquarium-dashboard/0"

Mounting Tips

3M Command Strips — damage-free, holds tablets up to 5 lbs
Magnetic mount — uses a metal plate stuck to the tablet, pops on/off for charging
Position at eye level near the tanks — you'll look at it all the time
Route the USB cable along the wall with cable clips
Use a right-angle USB cable so it doesn't stick out behind the mount
Consider wireless charging (Fire HD 8 Plus) for a cleaner look

Fire Tablet Setup Tips

Disable lock screen — Settings → Security → No Lock
Disable screen timeout — Fully Kiosk handles this
Disable automatic updates — prevents random reboots
Install Google Play Store (optional) — needed for some apps like WallPanel
Set Fully Kiosk to launch on boot — survives power outages

My Setup

I run a Fire HD 10 mounted next to my 29-gallon with a 3M adhesive mount. Fully Kiosk shows the main dashboard during the day (brightness 180) and switches to the camera screensaver at night (brightness 5). The front camera motion sensor wakes it to full brightness when I walk up. Total cost was about $115 — the tablet ($100), mount ($10), and right-angle cable ($5). Best $115 I've spent on this hobby.

What's Next?

Multi-Tank Command Center — the dashboard to put on your kiosk
Advanced Dashboard with Custom Cards — mushroom + mini-graph for a polished look
Camera Monitoring — set up the camera feeds for your kiosk screensaver