Whether you are looking for an aquarium for betta fish or red-eared sliders, you’re going to want the most ideal tank for your purpose.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as simply using a glass bowl like they do in the movies. There are a bunch of factors to consider – from the size to material, the filtration system to costs.
The last thing you want is a faulty tank that kills off more fish than it keeps alive. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in aquatics, getting the perfect aquarium is at the top of your priority list.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered! We understand the importance of finding the right home for your swimming friends, aquatic plants, cute turtles, or just for providing a conversation starter.
We’ve found the 15 best aquarium tanks, ranging from nano tanks to unique tanks that can spruce any room up.
Table of Contents
Best Nano Aquariums Reviews
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nano aquariums are designed to inhabit small fish in a compact tank. The size of these tanks don’t usually exceed 10 gallons and they can be a home for both freshwater and saltwater small fish.
MarineLand Portrait Glass LED 5 Gallon Aquarium Kit
This 5-gallon tank is an ideal starter aquarium for beginners. Made from glass with rounded corners, you can view the fish and plants from any angle with minimal distortion.
It comes with a sliding glass lid or canopy which allows for easy access – ideal for when it comes to cleaning the tank.
The standout feature of this tank is the LED lighting system. The built-in LEDs allow for daylight and moonlight lighting to provide some form of natural lighting for the fish and the appropriate ambiance for the room.
As for the filtration system, this tank has a 3-stage filtration system built-in and hidden at the back of the aquarium. This means you won’t have to buy a separate filter. It also means you can remove and clean the filter easily without disturbing the fish.
- LED system – Built-in lighting system produces both daytime and nighttime lighting
- Filtration system – Filter is built-in and hidden at the back to avoid disrupting the fish and view
- Portrait – Vertical tank allows for tall ornaments and plants
- Not suitable for dwarf shrimp – Filter inlets may suck the smallest shrimp up
MarineLand 3-Gallon Contour Glass Aquarium Kit
For those who prefer a cube-like aquarium, this tank measures at 9.5” x 10” for an even amount of space both vertically and horizontally.
The MarineLand Contour aquarium is made of a clear and durable glass with rounded corners to allow for easy viewing from any angle without distortion.
This nano aquarium comes with a handy built-in LED rail light that features bright daytime lighting and blue nighttime lighting to create the right ambiance.
It is also fitted with a useful built-in 3-stage filtration system that is easily accessed and hidden at the back of the tank to avoid disrupting the view or the tank’s inhabitants.
- Easy to maintain – Built-in filtration system is easy to remove and clean, and sliding canopy allows for easy access
- LED system – Rail light helps to create the right ambiance
- Cube shape – Allows equal space both horizontally and vertically
- 3-Gallon – Very small nano aquarium will not be suitable for some fish such as clownfish
Tetra 3-Gallon LED Cube Aquarium
This 3-gallon aquarium is one of the smallest aquariums on our list at 10” x 10” x 10.5”. If you’re tight for space, this is an ideal-sized tank for you – but it won’t be suitable for some fish that would benefit from a 5-gallon tank minimum.
The standout feature of this tank is that all of the sides are clear, which means it can be viewed from any angle. It does come with a Tetra 3i filter, but this isn’t a built-in filter and would need to be fitted manually – though this does make for more customization.
This tank is equipped with a removable lid with a feeding hole that allows for easy feeding without having to remove the whole lid. This lid comes with an LED lighting system to show off the tank’s inhabitants.
- Sleek design – Clear glass on every edge allows for enhanced viewing angles
- Filter included – Filter comes with this kit and can be installed manually from any position
- LED light – LED lighting system included to highlight fish
- Glass and acrylic – Whilst durable materials, the tank is prone to scratches
Tetra Crescent Acrylic 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit
This is an awesome little crescent aquarium that offers a horizontally curved tank, which is a great enhancement to any interior.
The tank is made of acrylic, which is a lightweight material that allows for much less distortion than thick glass which refracts light rays. However, acrylic is more likely to scratch.
The standout feature for this tank is the handy LED light system. The energy-efficient white lights are on an exterior rail that doesn’t extend too far from the top of the tank, which is good for saving space.
This tank also comes with a handy filtration system that needs to be installed manually. Whilst it’s not built-in already, this does allow for more customization in your chosen placement of the filter.
- Enhanced viewing – Acrylic material and curved screen allows for minimal distortion and great view from every angle
- Filter included – Filter needs to be manually installed wherever you like
- Included LED system – Light rail included to highlight the fish
- Acrylic tank – Acrylic is more likely to scratch than glass
Coralife LED Biocube Aquarium
This product stands out for its unique and extensive LED light system. Where most aquariums with a light system offer a white light and sometimes a blue setting for a nighttime ambiance, this tank offers three different lighting channels – white, blue, and color.
The system comes with a 24-hour timer and an automatic 30-minute sunrise and sunset setting to provide a comfortable environment for the fish.
This aquarium comes with a built-in filtration system at the back of the tank which can be customized. The submersible pump is also very quiet, which is always a bonus.
- Great LED system – Range of lighting options and automatic system to replicate a normal day cycle
- Built-in filter – Filtration system is built-in and can be customized
- Quiet pump – Submersible pump is quiet for minimal distraction
- Not clear on all sides – Due to the back filter, this tank can only be faced and viewed one way
Best 10 – 55-Gallon Aquariums Reviews
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you are looking for fish that may need more space than a nano aquarium, you will need a bigger tank.
10-Gallon Marina LED Aquarium Kit
Sometimes, people want something bigger than a 5-gallon tank that doesn’t take up as much room as a 20-gallon tank.
This 10-gallon aquarium kit is ideal, as it measures only 20” x 10” x 12.5” (LxWxH) and comes with all of the necessary equipment for starting the aquarium up properly. It’s also available in 5-gallon and 20-gallon sizes.
This tank conveniently comes with a clip-on filter that is equipped with a quick-change cartridge system for easy adjustments. This filtration system is very quiet and easy for beginners to use.
The tank also comes with an LED system on the lid, which provides a nice light to highlight the tank’s inhabitants.
- Ideal for beginners – Comes with convenient accessories for easy start-up
- Quiet filtration system – Easy-to-use and quiet filter for straightforward cartridge changes
- LED system – Handy built-in light system for now bulb replacements
- No air pump – Pump isn’t included for bubble effect
Tetra Aquarium 20-Gallon Fish Tank Kit
This is a great aquarium for those who have room for a 20-gallon tank, as it offers 4 clear sides for easy viewing from every side. It is made from glass for ultimate durability and no scratches, though there may be slight distortion from some angles.
This Tetra aquarium comes with all of the necessary accessories, including an LED hood, a filter, four artificial plants, and even a mini heater. Not all tanks come with a heater, but this is a great money-saver for homing tropical fish.
The LED hood provides a natural daylight glow without blinding the fish, and the filter is designed for minimal distraction by its quiet sound.
- Accessories included – Kit comes with necessary accessories including a heater for tropical fish
- Quiet filter – Small and quiet filtration system unlike the annoying buzz from loud filters
- Removable hood – Hood has hinges for easy access to clean the tank
- Base not included – Sturdy base is necessary for the weight of the tank, water, gravel, and accessories
Tetra Aquatic Turtle 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit
If you’re looking for a tank for aquatic turtles, this is the product for you! This 20-gallon tank is 30” wide and 12” tall, which is an ideal size for providing enough water and basking areas for one or two turtles – provided they do not grow larger than 4 inches long.
This handy kit comes with a filter, heating lamp, plant mat, and a basking platform – all necessary accessories for starting up a turtle’s aquarium.
The lamps are built into the lid to provide the best source of warmth, and the filter naturally creates a waterfall to add to the design.
- Great for small turtles – Suitable space for turtles smaller than 4 inches long
- Necessary accessories included – Kit includes heating lamps, filter, basking platform, and other extras for easy setup
- Built-in lamps – Warmth and light included for the turtles to bask
- Consider the size – Whilst ideal for small turtles, consider the size of the tank in relation to how big the turtles will grow to
Landen 53.5-Gallon Rimless Aquarium Tank
Experts in aquatics are more likely to invest in a tank that they can customize in terms of decoration and accessories.
This is a simple tank made of 10mm thick glass and premium silicone rimming, which is ideal for durability and provides a clear view from every angle without distortion.
Whilst this tank doesn’t come with accessories, this means the user has complete freedom and creativity to customize their aquarium – whether it’s to home fish, turtles, or aquatic plants.
Due to the lack of accessories, we wouldn’t recommend this product for beginners who would benefit from an aquarium kit better.
- High-quality tank – Strong glass and silicone rimming allows for durability, minimal scratches, and no visual distortion
- Customizable – Ideal for experts who have preferences with filters, plants, heaters, lights, and more
- Large – Holds up to 53.5 gallons of water for larger fish
- Just a tank – No accessories or lids included, these will need to be purchased separately
Tetra 55-Gallon Aquarium Kit
This is the biggest aquarium on our list, holding up to 55 gallons of water. Tanks around this size should have a suitable sturdy stand to withstand the weight of the water and tank.
This size allows for providing a great home for all sizes of fish or lots of smaller fish – and is really great for tropical fish.
This tank comes with lots of useful accessories, including a filter, fish net, heater, thermometer, hinged hood, some artificial plants, and more.
It also comes with an LED system which provides some natural lighting to highlight the inside of the tank. Great source of light for real aquatic plants!
- Large tank – Holds up to 55 gallons of water and a variety of fish sizes and amounts
- Lots of accessories – Includes filter, heater, thermometer, LED system, fish net, and more
- Ideal for tropical fish – Expansive area and heating system is great for tropical fish
- Loud filter – Filter is noisy which may be distracting
Best Unique Aquariums Reviews
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Not all aquariums have to be for fish! Aquatic plants, rocks, and fun accessories in an aquarium can be a fun way to liven up an interior – but not all of these tanks are designed for fish.
Outgeek Wall Fish Bubble Hanging Bowl
Who said a fish tank has to be an ordinary tank? This unique aquarium (if you can call it that) is a great way to enhance the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, living room, or office space.
At 9” in diameter and 4” wide, this hanging bowl attaches to a wall with its included small wall anchor and hole in the tank. Whilst not a huge aquarium for fish, this is great for aquatic plants to bring some color to a room.
Despite its design, this is a sturdy fish bowl that is made of a durable acrylic that won’t, in the worst-case scenario, smash like glass.
Due to the size of the bowl, we do not recommend using this product for holding fish. Whilst tiny fish may survive for a little while, it’s not the best environment for them to live in.
- Unique design – Wall-mounted half-bowl design to enhance interior designs
- Perfect for aquatic plants – Small size is great for showcasing aquatic plants on your wall
- Sturdy design – Acrylic material isn’t likely to break and attaches to the wall easily
- Not good for fish – Due to size, this isn’t a good environment for fish
Tetra Bubbling LED Hexagon Aquarium Kit
This unique aquarium is ideal for providing a funky home for betta fish. In a hexagonal shape, this fun nano tank is a great enhancement to any office or bedroom – especially if you have kids who want their first pet fish!
The standout feature for this fun aquarium is the bubbling disc. This tank comes with an air pump-driven filter to clean the water regularly, as well as an automatic bubbling disc that produces bubbles and a range of LED colors.
Even if you want this tank purely for visuals and not for keeping care of fish, it’s designed to grab the attention of everyone in the room.
- Bubble and filter – Air pump-driven filter cleans water and provides fun bubbles
- Unique design – Hexagon shape is a good way to enhance a kid’s room
- LED system – Automatic rainbow LED lights to provide fun colors
- Only a starter tank – Only suitable for betta fish and beginners
Tetra LED Betta Trapezoid Tank
Trapezoid tanks are a fun way to fill in empty spaces on a bookshelf, windowsill, desk, or bedside cabinet. It only holds one gallon of water, however, which means it isn’t suitable for fish – despite the pictures.
Instead, we recommend using this funky aquarium for aquatic plants, fake plants, colorful stones, and interior tank accessories.
The standout feature for this tank is its LED base light that provides light from below the tank – which makes the customization more fun!
Whilst this is a sweet tank for baby betta fish, they will eventually grow and will need a new home.
- Fun shape – Trapezoid design is a fun way to fill up a shelf space
- Great for enhancing the interior – Easy to customize with fake plants and colorful accessories
- Good display – Fine for displaying baby betta before they outgrow the tank
- Not suitable home for fish – Too small for grown-up betta and all other fish
Sweetsea Hanging Wall-Mounted Fish Bowl
Another fun wall-mounted hanging bowl, this is a fun addition to any office, bedroom, living room, or even bathroom.
We recommend using this aquarium for growing aquatic plants, as the open top allows for the plants to flourish and thrive above the water to provide some greenery in a room.
This tank is made of a clear acrylic that is not likely to break if the bowl drops from the wall. As for the installation, this bowl has a sturdy application process that makes it unlikely to come away from the wall unexpectedly.
- Conversation starter – Fun way to liven up any room without taking up any space
- Great for aquatic plants – Open top allows for aquatic plants to flourish outside of the tank
- Easy installation – Sturdy hook system attaches to a wall
- Not for fish – Size is not an appropriate tank for homing fish
Tfwadmx Wall Hanging Fish Bowl
If you have an ocean-themed bathroom or a kid’s bedroom, this is a great item to enhance the interior design. This is a wall-mounted tank that comes with a fun underwater backdrop, which can be the main center of attention with some water if you don’t want to go overboard.
If you want to customize it, you can use aquatic or fake plants, rocks, and aquarium accessories to add a splash of fun to the tank. It is not appropriate for homing fish.
- Ocean-themed – Comes with a backdrop that makes the tank look like a portal to the sea
- Showcase plants and objects – Whether you use water or not, this is a fun way to showcase fake or real plants and small objects
- Gift or kid’s room – Great present or for a kid’s room
- Don’t use too much water – Too much water will pull the tank down and might make it drop
Buyer’s Guide
Factors to Consider When Buying an Aquarium
Buying an aquarium, whether for homing fish, turtles, or aquatic plants, can often be tricky and overwhelming due to the number of choices online.
Experts will know exactly what they need to look for, but beginners may be slightly out of their depth.
Here is what to consider when looking for an aquarium.
Purpose
Before anything, make sure you know why you want an aquarium. Are you looking to become a parent to some swimming friends? If so, what type of fish are you looking to get?
The type of fish and how many you intend to get will determine the size of the tank. Betta fish like to have other betta friends and don’t need a big tank, for example.
If you want an aquarium purely to enhance your interior design, ask yourself if you really need fish. It’s more humane to not buy fish than to buy fish and not care for them, after all.
Fortunately, aquariums are a multipurpose object that can be a great home for aquatic plants, which can brighten a room easily.
Size
Not only should you consider the size of the fish you intend to get, but you also need to consider where you want to put the aquarium.
Small aquariums are easy to place anywhere, but larger aquariums will need a sufficient stand to hold the tank and water.
Filtration
Whilst most tanks come with a built-in or additional filtration system, you must become aware of how these work. Filters work to clean aquarium water through three stages – mechanical, biological, and chemical.
You need to consider the placement of this system, too. You can’t always move built-in filters, but you can have the freedom to customize the placement with non-built-in filters so it is hidden from sight.
Lighting
Again, some aquariums come with an LED system and others do not. Light is great for highlighting the inhabitants in an aquarium, and also provides the fish and plants with direct light rays that they would normally get from the sun.
We recommend looking for an LED system that comes with different colors or a sunrise and sunset setting, as this allows for the appropriate ambiance for the fish.
Extras
The most necessary accessories to get for a tank, if they aren’t already included, are:
- Filtration system
- LED system
- Thermometer
- Heater
- Aquatic or fake plants
- Stones, pebbles, or sand
The type of fish or turtle you have in your aquarium will determine the interior they should have. For example, turtles will require a basking area underneath a heated lamp.
Tropical fish will require a heater to keep the water warm. This should all be researched prior to buying an aquarium so you have a better idea of what you need to look for.
Material
Both glass and acrylic are good materials for aquariums, and it’s not easy to say which is best. Glass is less likely to scratch or break and is much easier to clean, but the thick glass may cause distortion.
Acrylic offers no distortion due to the thin material but is more likely to scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size fish tank is good for beginners?
Beginners should prioritize getting to grips with homing fish, so a 5 or 10-gallon tank is the best size. These tanks hold simple fish to care for such as betta fish and are the easiest to maintain and clean.
The more advanced beginners become, the larger the aquariums they can look for.
Can acrylic aquariums leak?
Acrylic aquariums are less likely to crack or leak compared to glass aquariums. Whilst glass aquariums aren’t likely to leak unless hit by extreme force, acrylic aquariums are much less likely to leak due to their durable, lightweight design.
However, any tank that has been poorly constructed has the ability to leak if it has been damaged.
What is the lifespan of an aquarium?
A well-maintained and high-quality aquarium can last up to 10 years if taken care of properly.
As with most products, the less care and attention an aquarium gets, the shorter its lifespan becomes.
