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Best Fish Tanks

Updated December 2018
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Tetra
Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit
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Bottom Line

Large enough to house a variety of fish, this 20-gallon aquarium kit includes almost everything you need to get started with your new hobby.

Pros

Kit includes scratch-resistant glass aquarium, hood with LED lights, Whisper filter and accessories, Tetra Mini UL heater, plastic plant "mat," and four plastic plants. Just add gravel, extra decorations, water conditioner, and your favorite tropical or freshwater fish.

Cons

Some owners complained the filter didn't work well and was noisy.

Best Bang for the Buck
Marina
Marina LED 10-Gallon Aquarium Kit
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Bottom Line

The perfect size for the beginning aquarist, this sturdy tank comes with lots of supplies, and is big enough to hold a small school of fish.

Pros

The 10-gallon glass tank comes with natural-daylight LED lighting incorporated into the tank hood, Marina Slim filter, water conditioner, Cycle Biological Supplement, a small pack of fish food, net, and guide to aquarium care. Add gravel, decorations, and a heater if you want to keep tropical fish.

Cons

A few customers stated they received cracked tanks.

Fluval
Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit
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Bottom Line

Small enough to sit on a desk or dresser, but large enough to hold a few fish, this kit makes it easy to start keeping pet fish.

Pros

You'll get a 5-gallon etched-glass tank with aluminum trim, tank hood with LED lighting system, and BioMax bio ring filter system. You'll need to add decorations, gravel, water conditioner, and fish care items, along with a few small fish.

Cons

No heater is included, so unless you plan on keeping goldfish or Bettas in the tank, you'll need to add one.

Marineland
Marineland Portrait 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit
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Bottom Line

The upright shape of this aquarium is perfect for a countertop or small table. A good choice for Betta fish, goldfish, or a few small tropical fish.

Pros

An attractive 5-gallon curved glass tank with Marineland's 3-stage hidden filtration system, and LED lights in both blue and white. Turn on the white lights for a daytime effect, the blue lights for a moonlit glow. Decorate with gravel, plants, and fish. Add a heater for tropicals.

Cons

The filter housing is difficult to clean. Some owners said the lighting was faulty.

Tetra
Tetra Cube 3-Gallon Aquarium Kit
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Bottom Line

A mini-tank for showing off a Betta fish or a couple of goldfish or small tropical fish. A nice choice for a child's room.

Pros

Clear plastic 3-gallon tank resists shattering and cracks. Includes a pedestal base, Whisper filter and accessories, and LED light fixture. Add decorations, gravel, heater, water conditioner, and fish.

Cons

Only large enough for a couple of fish. Several owners felt the filter was not powerful enough to cycle the water.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

  • 18 Models Considered
  • 5 Models Tested
  • 68 Hours Researched
  • 1 Experts Interviewed
  • 195 Consumers Consulted
    • Zero products received from manufacturers.

    We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

    Why trust BestReviews?
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.

    Fish cannot prosper without a healthy habitat, which is what makes a clean and suitable tank so important. Keeping fish as pets requires a tank that is adequate in size depending on the species and number of fish housed within it. The size and shape of tanks also helps to determine the ability to maintain the correct water temperature and prevents problems such as stunted fish growth and even the untimely death of these exotic pets. Do your research before you buy to ensure you’re selecting the perfect tank for your fish.

    The team that worked on this review
    • Devangana
      Devangana
      Web Producer
    • Eliza
      Eliza
      Production Manager
    • Michelle
      Michelle
      Writer
    ×

    Tetra

    Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Tetra

    Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Large enough to house a variety of fish, this 20-gallon aquarium kit includes almost everything you need to get started with your new hobby.

    $96
    ×

    Marina

    Marina LED 10-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Marina

    Marina LED 10-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    The perfect size for the beginning aquarist, this sturdy tank comes with lots of supplies, and is big enough to hold a small school of fish.

    $78
    ×

    Fluval

    Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Fluval

    Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Small enough to sit on a desk or dresser, but large enough to hold a few fish, this kit makes it easy to start keeping pet fish.

    $86
    ×

    Marineland

    Marineland Portrait 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Marineland

    Marineland Portrait 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    The upright shape of this aquarium is perfect for a countertop or small table. A good choice for Betta fish, goldfish, or a few small tropical fish.

    $45
    ×

    Tetra

    Tetra Cube 3-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    Tetra

    Tetra Cube 3-Gallon Aquarium Kit

    A mini-tank for showing off a Betta fish or a couple of goldfish or small tropical fish. A nice choice for a child's room.

    $26

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