automationIntermediate
Multi-Tank Command Center Dashboard
Build a single Home Assistant dashboard that monitors every tank side-by-side — temperature, device states, alerts, energy usage, and camera feeds all on one screen.
By AquaAutomate·
If you run more than one tank, you need one screen that shows everything. No clicking through tabs, no missing an alert on the shrimp tank because you were looking at the cichlid tank. This guide builds a command center dashboard that aggregates all tanks, all sensors, and all switches into a single unified view.
What You'll Need
- Home Assistant with all tank devices added
- 2+ tanks with smart plugs, temperature sensors, and any other monitored devices
- Optional: HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) for custom cards
- About 45 minutes to configure
Dashboard Architecture
The command center uses a grid layout with one column per tank, plus a shared header row for aggregate status and global controls.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AGGREGATE STATUS BAR (alerts, total energy, scenes) │
├─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬────────────┤
│ 29G Comm. │ 10G Shrimp │ 55G Cichl. │ 5G Betta │
│ ───────── │ ───────── │ ───────── │ ──────── │
│ Temp: 78°F │ Temp: 74°F │ Temp: 80°F │ Temp: 79° │
│ [gauge] │ [gauge] │ [gauge] │ [gauge] │
│ ───────── │ ───────── │ ───────── │ ──────── │
│ Light: ON │ Light: ON │ Light: OFF │ Light: ON │
│ Heat: ON │ Heat: OFF │ Heat: ON │ Heat: ON │
│ Filter: ON │ Filter: ON │ Filter: ON │ Filter:ON │
│ Air: OFF │ Air: ON │ Air: OFF │ ──────── │
│ ───────── │ ───────── │ ───────── │ [camera] │
│ [camera] │ [camera] │ [camera] │ │
│ ───────── │ ───────── │ ───────── │ ──────── │
│ 12W total │ 6W total │ 28W total │ 4W total │
└─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴────────────┘Step 1: Template Sensors for Aggregate Data
Before building the dashboard, create template sensors that aggregate data across all tanks.
Add to configuration.yaml:
configuration.yaml
template:
- sensor:
- name: "All Tanks Average Temperature"
unit_of_measurement: "°F"
state: >
{% set temps = [
states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') | float(0),
states('sensor.inkbird_10g_temperature') | float(0),
states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') | float(0),
states('sensor.inkbird_5g_temperature') | float(0)
] %}
{{ (temps | sum / temps | length) | round(1) }}
- name: "All Tanks Total Power"
unit_of_measurement: "W"
state: >
{{ [
states('sensor.shelly_29g_total_power') | float(0),
states('sensor.shelly_10g_total_power') | float(0),
states('sensor.shelly_55g_total_power') | float(0),
states('sensor.shelly_5g_total_power') | float(0)
] | sum | round(1) }}
- name: "Tanks With Alerts"
state: >
{% set count = 0 %}
{% if states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') | float > 82 or
states('sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature') | float < 74 %}
{% set count = count + 1 %}
{% endif %}
{% if states('sensor.inkbird_10g_temperature') | float > 80 or
states('sensor.inkbird_10g_temperature') | float < 72 %}
{% set count = count + 1 %}
{% endif %}
{% if states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') | float > 82 or
states('sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature') | float < 74 %}
{% set count = count + 1 %}
{% endif %}
{% if states('sensor.inkbird_5g_temperature') | float > 82 or
states('sensor.inkbird_5g_temperature') | float < 74 %}
{% set count = count + 1 %}
{% endif %}
{{ count }}Step 2: Aggregate Status Bar
The top row shows at-a-glance health of the entire fish room:
configuration.yaml
type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: entity
entity: sensor.all_tanks_average_temperature
name: "Avg Temp"
icon: mdi:thermometer
- type: entity
entity: sensor.all_tanks_total_power
name: "Total Power"
icon: mdi:flash
- type: entity
entity: sensor.tanks_with_alerts
name: "Alerts"
icon: mdi:alert-circle
style: |
ha-card {
{% if states('sensor.tanks_with_alerts') | int > 0 %}
background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.2);
{% endif %}
}
- type: entity
entity: input_boolean.vacation_mode
name: "Vacation"
icon: mdi:airplaneStep 3: Per-Tank Column Cards
Create a reusable card pattern for each tank. Here's the 29-gallon community tank as a template:
Tank Header + Temperature
configuration.yaml
type: vertical-stack
title: "29G Community"
cards:
- type: gauge
entity: sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature
name: "Temperature"
unit: "°F"
min: 68
max: 86
needle: true
severity:
green: 75
yellow: 80
red: 83
style: |
ha-card { --ha-card-header-font-size: 14px; }Device Switches
configuration.yaml
- type: glance
show_name: true
show_state: false
columns: 4
entities:
- entity: switch.tuya_29g_light
name: "Light"
icon: mdi:lightbulb
tap_action:
action: toggle
- entity: switch.shelly_29g_heater
name: "Heat"
icon: mdi:fire
tap_action:
action: toggle
- entity: switch.shelly_29g_filter
name: "Filter"
icon: mdi:water-pump
tap_action:
action: toggle
- entity: switch.tuya_29g_air_pump
name: "Air"
icon: mdi:air-filter
tap_action:
action: toggleCamera Feed
configuration.yaml
- type: picture-entity
entity: camera.29g_camera
show_name: false
show_state: false
camera_view: live
style: |
ha-card { border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; }Power Summary
configuration.yaml
- type: entities
entities:
- entity: sensor.shelly_29g_total_power
name: "Current Draw"
icon: mdi:flash
- entity: sensor.shelly_29g_total_energy
name: "Today"
icon: mdi:meter-electricStep 4: Put It All Together
Use the grid card to lay out tanks side by side. Adjust columns based on how many tanks you have:
configuration.yaml
views:
- title: "Fish Room"
icon: mdi:fishbowl
type: panel
cards:
- type: vertical-stack
cards:
# ── Aggregate header ──
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: entity
entity: sensor.all_tanks_average_temperature
name: "Avg Temp"
icon: mdi:thermometer
- type: entity
entity: sensor.all_tanks_total_power
name: "Total Power"
icon: mdi:flash
- type: entity
entity: sensor.tanks_with_alerts
name: "Alerts"
icon: mdi:alert-circle
- type: button
name: "All Lights"
icon: mdi:lightbulb-group
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: switch.toggle
target:
entity_id:
- switch.tuya_29g_light
- switch.tuya_10g_light
- switch.tuya_55g_light
- switch.tuya_5g_light
# ── Alert banner (only visible when problems exist) ──
- type: conditional
conditions:
- condition: numeric_state
entity: sensor.tanks_with_alerts
above: 0
card:
type: markdown
content: >
**{{ states('sensor.tanks_with_alerts') }} tank(s) need attention.**
Check temperature readings below.
style: |
ha-card {
background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.15);
border-left: 3px solid #ff6b6b;
}
# ── Tank columns ──
- type: grid
columns: 4
square: false
cards:
# Tank 1: 29G Community
- type: vertical-stack
title: "29G Community"
cards:
- type: gauge
entity: sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature
unit: "°F"
min: 68
max: 86
needle: true
severity:
green: 75
yellow: 80
red: 83
- type: glance
show_name: true
show_state: false
columns: 4
entities:
- entity: switch.tuya_29g_light
name: "Light"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_29g_heater
name: "Heat"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_29g_filter
name: "Filter"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.tuya_29g_air_pump
name: "Air"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- type: picture-entity
entity: camera.29g_camera
show_name: false
show_state: false
camera_view: live
# Tank 2: 10G Shrimp
- type: vertical-stack
title: "10G Shrimp"
cards:
- type: gauge
entity: sensor.inkbird_10g_temperature
unit: "°F"
min: 66
max: 84
needle: true
severity:
green: 72
yellow: 78
red: 80
- type: glance
show_name: true
show_state: false
columns: 3
entities:
- entity: switch.tuya_10g_light
name: "Light"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_10g_heater
name: "Heat"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_10g_filter
name: "Filter"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- type: picture-entity
entity: camera.10g_camera
show_name: false
show_state: false
camera_view: live
# Tank 3: 55G Cichlid
- type: vertical-stack
title: "55G Cichlid"
cards:
- type: gauge
entity: sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature
unit: "°F"
min: 70
max: 88
needle: true
severity:
green: 76
yellow: 82
red: 85
- type: glance
show_name: true
show_state: false
columns: 4
entities:
- entity: switch.tuya_55g_light
name: "Light"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_55g_heater
name: "Heat"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_55g_filter
name: "Filter"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.tuya_55g_air_pump
name: "Air"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- type: picture-entity
entity: camera.55g_camera
show_name: false
show_state: false
camera_view: live
# Tank 4: 5G Betta
- type: vertical-stack
title: "5G Betta"
cards:
- type: gauge
entity: sensor.inkbird_5g_temperature
unit: "°F"
min: 68
max: 86
needle: true
severity:
green: 76
yellow: 82
red: 84
- type: glance
show_name: true
show_state: false
columns: 3
entities:
- entity: switch.tuya_5g_light
name: "Light"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_5g_heater
name: "Heat"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- entity: switch.shelly_5g_filter
name: "Filter"
tap_action: { action: toggle }
- type: picture-entity
entity: camera.5g_camera
show_name: false
show_state: false
camera_view: live
# ── Combined energy graph ──
- type: history-graph
title: "All Tanks — Power Draw (24h)"
hours_to_show: 24
entities:
- entity: sensor.shelly_29g_total_power
name: "29G"
- entity: sensor.shelly_10g_total_power
name: "10G"
- entity: sensor.shelly_55g_total_power
name: "55G"
- entity: sensor.shelly_5g_total_power
name: "5G"
# ── Combined temperature overlay ──
- type: history-graph
title: "All Tanks — Temperature (48h)"
hours_to_show: 48
entities:
- entity: sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature
name: "29G Community"
- entity: sensor.inkbird_10g_temperature
name: "10G Shrimp"
- entity: sensor.inkbird_55g_temperature
name: "55G Cichlid"
- entity: sensor.inkbird_5g_temperature
name: "5G Betta"Step 5: Global Scene Buttons
Control all tanks at once with "fish room" scenes:
configuration.yaml
type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: button
name: "All Day"
icon: mdi:white-balance-sunny
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: scene.turn_on
target:
entity_id:
- scene.29g_day_mode
- scene.10g_day_mode
- scene.55g_day_mode
- scene.5g_day_mode
style: |
ha-card { background: rgba(0, 212, 170, 0.1); }
- type: button
name: "All Night"
icon: mdi:moon-waning-crescent
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: scene.turn_on
target:
entity_id:
- scene.29g_night_mode
- scene.10g_night_mode
- scene.55g_night_mode
- scene.5g_night_mode
- type: button
name: "All Feed"
icon: mdi:fish
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: script.turn_on
target:
entity_id:
- script.29g_feeding_mode
- script.10g_feeding_mode
- script.55g_feeding_mode
- type: button
name: "All Maint"
icon: mdi:wrench
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: scene.turn_on
target:
entity_id:
- scene.29g_maintenance_mode
- scene.10g_maintenance_mode
- scene.55g_maintenance_mode
- scene.5g_maintenance_mode
style: |
ha-card { background: rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.1); }Scaling Tips
- 2 tanks: Use
columns: 2in the grid — each tank gets half the screen - 3 tanks: Use
columns: 3— works well on a wide monitor or TV - 4+ tanks: Use
columns: 4or add a horizontal scroll with swipe-card (HACS) - Phone layout: Create a separate mobile view with a stacked layout (one tank per card, swipe between them)
Naming Convention
Keep entity names consistent across tanks to make copy-paste easy:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
sensor.inkbird_{size}_temperature | sensor.inkbird_29g_temperature |
switch.tuya_{size}_light | switch.tuya_29g_light |
switch.shelly_{size}_heater | switch.shelly_29g_heater |
switch.shelly_{size}_filter | switch.shelly_29g_filter |
switch.tuya_{size}_air_pump | switch.tuya_29g_air_pump |
camera.{size}_camera | camera.29g_camera |
What's Next?
- Advanced Dashboard with Custom Cards — mushroom cards, mini-graph, and animated themes
- Wall-Mounted Kiosk Display — dedicated tablet display for your fish room
- Scene Control with Lutron Pico — physical buttons for global scene control