When Wi-Fi networks in the Black Hills slow down, check first for local or regional internet outages. Western South Dakota is a land of blizzards, tornadoes, wildfires, and buffalo stampedes. Things happen. But if your internet provider’s signal is strong, you’ll have to troubleshoot your local network.
Neon tetras to blame?
It could be that your aquarium is casting a Wi-Fi shadow. This theory has popped up every few years since the birth of wireless networks. We like Internet myths as much as the next guy, so let’s consider the evidence.
- Fact: water interferes with radio signals, and Wi-Fi is a radio signal.
- Fact: aquariums are filled with water, and they use electrical devices such as lights and heaters that can create electromagnetic fields that interfere with Wi-Fi.
- Fact: modern aquariums even use monitors connected to Wi-Fi. Who knows what kind of traffic your neon tetras are generating.
But is this a real thing? See “Why fish tanks can slow down your Wi-Fi” on reefbuilders.com. Writer Jeremy Gay admits that he had positioned a Wi-Fi router on one side of a fish tank and a Wi-Fi tank monitor on the other side. His network seemed to slow, so he tested it. He was right. The aquarium was to blame.
Case closed?
Not so fast. There’s more science to consider.
Your tetra, for example, is in a freshwater tank (or it’s dead), but Reef Builders specializes in saltwater aquariums. Saltwater is more conductive than fresh, so it’s better at interfering with radio signals. Saltwater’s higher “dielectric constant,” also increases interference—especially at high frequencies. And Wi-Fi routers use high-frequencies. Maybe freshwater aquariums are less likely to interfere with networks.
We found more evidence against the aquarium conspiracy theory in an article titled “Your Fish Tank Probably Isn’t Slowing Down Your Wi-Fi” on youraquarium.co.uk . The Your Aquarium team tested Wi-Fi signals around a very large home aquarium. They were unable to detect a degraded signal.
However, like Reef Builders, Your Aquarium tested just one aquarium. They even called their test “casual.” Still, they dubbed the popular fish-tank story “essentially a myth.”
Our conclusion and solid advice
Don’t sell your aquarium and put your neon tetra to the curb. But would it kill you to move the router a little farther away?
Fish or no fish, Wi-Fi interference is real. It can be caused by steel, concrete or lumber. Televisions can cause it. So can microwave ovens and wireless landline phones. (Remember those?) The good news is, to speed up your local network you don’t need to call an IT tech. (Though we’d love to hear from you.)
(Mostly) easy fixes
Here are some better documented, mostly simple steps you can take to protect and strengthen your wireless network.
- Position your router in a central location, not on an exterior wall, and elevate it avoid obstacles.
- Place routers away from other electronic devices (including your Wi-Fi-equipped saltwater aquarium.)
- If your router has them, point its adjustable antennas in the right direction.
- Update your router firmware often. (Check the manufacturers website for details.)
- In a congested Wi-Fi area, switch use a less crowded channel.
- Install Wi-Fi extenders. (They’re often easy to install.)
- Get a new router. The latest models are faster and more secure. (See Kim Komando, “It’s time to replace your old router.”)
And finally, just in case, keep your eye on the fish.