Best Fish Tanks: There are some things that you need to consider when choosing a fish tank—for example, the size, type, and cost of the aquarium. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the best aquarium for your fish, plants, or other aquatic animals.
Best Fish Tanks & Accessories (Overview)
- Best fish tank overall: SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set.
- Best betta fish tank: Marineland Contour Glass Aquarium Kit.
- Best fish tank with less than 10 gallons: Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit. – Perfect for nano fish.
- Best 20-gallon fish tank: Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit.
- Best glass fish tank: Marina LED Aquarium Kit.
- Best beginner saltwater fish tank: SCA Starfire 50-Gallon Glass Aquarium Kit.
- Best substrate for planted tanks: CaribSea Eco-Complete.
- Best filter for planted tanks: Fluval External Filter.
- Best light for planted tanks: Finnex FugeRay Planted+ Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights.
Best Rimless Fish Tanks
These are the best rimless fish tanks for beginner fish keepers:
Landen Rimless Aquarium
The Landen fish tank has 6 mm glass and has low iron content, which makes the transparency of the glass around 91%. And, with no silicone, there’s less work to set up this simple aquarium.
Pros
- High visibility
- High-quality build
- Affordable
Cons
- No extra accessories/equipment (no filter, heater, nothing)
Starfire Rimless Fish Tank
This 50-gallon Starfire rimless fish tank features 10 mm thick glass. It is pre-drilled with drain and return holes inside the overflow box. There are also Loc-Line plumbing fixtures.
Pros
- Looks wonderful
- Very solid glass
- Has Loc-Line fixtures.
- Spacious
Cons
- Fittings are somewhat off so you may need customer support
- Expensive
Lifegard Aquatics Crystal Rimless Aquarium Tank
Here’s an ultra-clear rimless aquarium that has a filtration system built in. It has a mechanical sponge filter, a quiet pump, a bottom drain/plug, and a directional jet return nozzle. Its low iron glass allows for optimal visibility.
Pros
- A built-in hidden 3-stage filtration system
- High-quality glass and great viewing angles
- Good value for price
- Easy to set up
Cons
- No LED Lighting included
JBJ Rimless Nano Aquarium
The JBJ rimless nano-aquarium has 6mm-thick bent glass and has a filtration system. The filtration system features a mechanical sponge, an activated carbon sponge, and biological ceramic rings for 3-stage filtration.
Pros
- Great design
- Canopy included
- LED Lights included
Cons
- Canopy clips hard to adjust
JAJALE Rimless Glass Tank
The JAJALE rimless tank has a built-in filtration system and features a prebuilt wooden cabinet. You can use it to set up both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
Pros
- Comes with a stand
- Choice of cabinet design
- Space for plumbing/equipment in the stand
- Built-in filtration system
Cons
- Expensive
Ultum Nature Systems Rimless Tank
The glass of the Ultum Nature rimless tank is very transparent. But, it is a barebones offer, which means that it does not come with a filtration system or any other perks.
Hygger Horizon Glass Aquarium
Here’s a multipurpose yet straightforward aquarium that has a concealed filtration system. Best of all, it’s a noise-free filter. But, the filter is of low quality, and the aquarium does not allow for 360-degree viewing.
Pros
- Low power pump
- Two-stage filtration system
- 3D rockery background decor
Cons
- No heater included
Best Acrylic Aquariums
SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium
The SeaClear acrylic aquarium comes with a 24″ electrical light fixture. Its clearer than glass aquariums and is 17 times stronger yet much lighter than a glass fish tank. SeaClear offers some of the best acrylic aquariums in the following sizes:
- 20 gal Deluxe Hexagon
- 20 gal Rectangular
- 26 gal Flat Back Hexagon
- 29 gal Rectangular Show
- 30 gal Rectangular Show
- 40 gal Rectangular
- 46 gal Bowfront
- 50 gal Rectangular
- 15 gal Deluxe Hexagon
Pros
- Available in multiple sizes and shapes
- Light fixture included
- Durable
Cons
- No filter
- No heater
- Expensive
Koller Acrylic Fish Tank
The Koller acrylic fish tank is affordable, has an energy-efficient LED light, and a powerful internal filter. The only drawback is the size. It’s a tiny tank, and as such, it limits the number of fish you can keep.
Pros
- Power Filter
- LED Lighting
- Small size – fits almost anywhere
Cons
- Tiny
Tetra GloFish Acrylic Aquarium Kit
The Tetra GloFish 3 Gallon Aquarium Kit Fish Tank has an internal filter and an LED lighting system. It’s a small tank that’s perfect for keeping guppies, tetras, or other small tropical fish species.
Pros
- Looks great with GloFish
- Easy to set up
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Limited space
- Expensive for the size
Tetra Crescent Acrylic Aquarium Kit
Tetra Crescent is an excellent choice for keeping a single fish. For example, Betta fish. It has a built-in filter and LED lights. The only con is that it has an irregular shape. It limits the spaces that you can place the aquarium as well as the type of fish you keep inside it.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Small
- Irregular shape
SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Junior Kit
This rectangular acrylic aquarium includes a hood and fluorescent light fixture. It has an Aqua Clear 50-gallon power filter, natural lava rock with plastic plants, a thermometer, and a fishnet. It’s an excellent choice for beginner fish keepers or hobbyists. This starter aquarium is safe for both freshwater and saltwater fish.
Best Fish Tank Overall: SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set
Best Fish Tank Less Than 10 gallons: Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit
Pros
- Unique design
- The LED lights (day mode and night mode)
- Filter included
Cons
- Need to remove light when accessing the tank
Best 20-gallon Fish Tank: Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit
Pros
- Heater included
- Filter included
- LED hood
- Artificial plants
- Background
- Scratch Proof Glass
Cons
- One Temperature Heater
- Loose LED Light
Best Glass Fish Tank: Marina LED Aquarium Kit
Pros
- Built-in LED Light
- Filter
- Fish net
- Fish food
- Guide Book
- Easy Set-up
Cons
- Loud Filter
- LED not suitable for live plants
Best Beginner Saltwater Fish Tank: SCA Starfire 50-Gallon Glass Aquarium Kit
Pros
- High-quality
- Algae-resistant Starfire glass
- Comes with an aquarium cabinet for storage
- An integrated 3-stage filtration system
- Comes with filter media
- Includes a protein skimmer and return pump
- Comes with a sump system to install equipment
Cons
- Cabinet is not pre-assembled
- May need to purchase additional connectors for some equipment
- No lighting system
- Included protein skimmer doesn’t come with a removable cup
How To Choose The Best Fish Tank If You’re A Beginner?
When choosing a fish tank, you need to select the right tank size, the type of fish, the plants, and the equipment. If you want to keep fish as pets, the bigger the fish tank, the better. A 10-gallon aquarium is excellent, but anything 20-gallon or more is ideal.
It’s easier to keep the water conditions in a large tank stable than in a small tank. Larger fish tanks can also hold more fish. Larger aquariums also let you easily fit different equipment and decorations into the tank.
To make it easier, you should buy an all-in-one kit so that you can have lighting and a filter. Some fish tank kits have a heater, thermometer, fish net, fish food, and tank decor.
The Size Of The Tank
Small fish like guppies can thrive in a small aquarium, but for larger fish, you will need a big tank. When buying an aquarium, think about the type of fish you plan to keep. Think about the different types of plants. How big do the fish or plants grow? The size of the aquarium is an integral part of choosing the right tank size. You want to pick a tank that will allow all your pets and plants to thrive and be happy.
The Placement Of The Tank
Before you rush off and buy the bigger fish tank, think about where you’re going to put it. Will it fit in that location? Will it be in direct sunlight? Fish tanks should never be in direct sunlight as it promotes algae growth, and you don’t want that!
Once you have a decent spot to place your fish tank, take some measurements to know what size tank can fit the space. Once you know what size you can accommodate, you can determine what kind of fish you can keep and how many.
Consider The Weight
Think about what you plan to place the fish tank on. Is the stand strong enough to bear the weight of the aquarium when it’s full of water? Some aquarium stands are built specifically for a heavy tank. Consider this when setting up your aquarium. The next thing to consider is the type of fish tank.
The Different Types Of Fish Tanks
There are two main types of fish tanks. Glass fish tanks and acrylic fish tanks. When choosing the best fish tank, you have to consider which type you want. The type can influence things like weight. For example, glass is heavier than acrylic.
Each has its benefits and disadvantages. Glass aquariums are durable, scratch-resistant, and affordable. Acrylic aquariums are expensive but lighter than glass. They also won’t crack or break as easily as glass.
Glass Fish Tanks
- Cost: Glass aquariums are cheaper than acrylic fish tanks.
- Scratch Resistant: Despite being less durable than acrylic, glass fish tanks are more scratch-resistant.
- Viewability: Glass fish tanks can affect your perception of things in the aquarium and distort the size of things in the aquarium.
- Longevity: Glass tanks won’t yellow over time the way acrylic tanks do but it may have a green tint.
- Support: Glass tanks don’t need as much brace support compared to an acrylic tank needs.
Acrylic Fish Tanks
- Lightweight: Acrylic aquariums are 4-10 times lighter than glass aquariums.
- Durability: Acrylic is a more durable material than glass. It reduces the risk of cracks and leaks.
- Flexibility: Despite being super durable, you can still drill through an acrylic aquarium with ease if you want to set up an overflow system. You cannot do so with glass aquariums.
- Repair: Repairing scratched or damaged acrylic is easier than repairing glass. Acrylic polishing kits are available at online fish stores like Amazon. Use these kits to remove scratches on the outside of the aquarium. Never use them on the inside.
- Viewability: Minimal distortion of pets and plants in the tank. The location of the fish may be off, but it won’t distort their color or size. With glass tanks, there are a lot of distortions that obscure the actual size and color of your fish.
- Clarity: High-quality acrylic aquariums are like housing your fish in an invisible container. That’s how clear the view is. It is more so evident in larger tanks when compared to glass aquarium types. For example, the more water needed, the thicker a glass tank needs to be. Solid glass can obscure your view. Thick glass can also add a green tint that distorts the color of items and fish inside the tank.
Which brand of fish tank is best?
Here are the best fish tanks and accessories you can buy:
- Best fish tank overall: SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set.
- Best betta fish tank: Marineland Contour Glass Aquarium Kit.
- Best fish tank with less than 10 gallons: Fluval Spec V 5-Gallon Aquarium Kit. – Perfect for nano fish.
- Best 20-gallon fish tank: Tetra 20-Gallon Aquarium Kit.
Which fish tank is easiest to maintain?
- BEST LOW MAINTENANCE 20 GALLON AQUARIUM. #1. Marina LED Aquarium Kit.
- BEST LOW MAINTENANCE GOLDFISH AQUARIUM. #2. Fluval Premium Bow Front.
- BEST LOW MAINTENANCE 10 GALLON AQUARIUM. #3. Aqueon LED Aquarium Kit.
References
- Make Your Own: DIY RIMLESS AQUARIUM – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1VJ2arDdjM
- Rimless aquariums Vs Rimmed – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW_Y86PvTQY
- 60 Gallon Rimless Tonga Tank- Reef Aquarium – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ySJJi3HWk
- Rimless Aquarium: Amazon.com
- The pros and cons of Rimless Aquariums vs Traditional Braced Aquariums – Reef Builders – https://reefbuilders.com/2016/01/19/pros-cons-rimless-aquariums-traditional-braced-aquariums/
- Why is rimless so expensive? – Aquatic Plant Central – http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/equipment/4462-why-rimless-so-expensive.html
- Is acrylic or glass aquarium better? – Glass Vs Acrylic: Which Aquarium Is Best For You? – FishLab – https://fishlab.com/glass-vs-acrylic-aquarium/
- Making an Acrylic Aquarium Complete Guide – DIY – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8LGIrVJQZs
- Glass VS Acrylic aquariums – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1F1ESIzYD4
- SeaClear 20 Gallon acrylic aquarium tank – Video – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFffHGlF2-o
- Disadvantages of Acrylic Fish Tanks – https://fishtankbasics.com/disadvantages-of-acrylic-aquariums/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/best-fish-tank
- https://www.vivofish.com/best-self-cleaning-aquarium/
- https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-fish-tank/
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