If you ever been to an aquarium or a zoo you may have experienced the calmness a fish tanks bring when at its present. This may lead you to the thought of having a fish tank. Honestly, it’s one of the most amazing things to have at home, either for decoration on meditation if you like to see beautiful these creatures from under the sea in your kitchen, office or living room than I would suggest getting a fish tank.
If this is your first time looking around for a fish tank, I can understand how it can easily be overwhelming and frustrating to choose the perfect fish tank, especially for a beginner. Having a fish tank is not easy work so it is important that you have the best fish tank to reduce the work you have to deal with. This is a very important step before thinking about putting any fish in a glass container.
When considering fish tanks, you should consider where you will be placing this tank, this means knowing how large your space is and knowing the amount of weight that can be handled there. From this point, you will be thinking of the size, weight, and volume of this fish tank. So before going out and looking for fish tanks analyze your space and figure out what best fits your lifestyle. To make this easy for you, we’ll help you find the perfect fish tank out there for a beginner.
Fish Tanks Reviews
Tetra 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit
Let’s start with the first tank on our list, the Tetra 20-gallon aquarium kit, this tank is quite large so this is going to be for the people out there looking to becoming an aquarist. For the most part, this is a beautiful tank and can house several types of fish.
This Tetra kit comes with the 20 Gallon Glass Aquarium, a UL heater very important component this will keep your fish warm and healthy, a Tetra Whisper 20 filter to clean out the majority of the residues, a Color Fusion changing LED, and two Wonderland plant multipacks and one blooming white anemone to customize your tank.
This tank has less risk of getting chipping or cracked this makes it great if you have children or pets around. Tanks as large as these give not only the ability to put more fish but also the ability to put more types of fish in the tank. More for your money means having the safety aspect of the tank and space.
This tank is made in the USA and is scratch-resistant so the kids and pets don’t scratch it up. The Color Fusion LED will make the tank so special; it can color change and you can customize your tank color by pausing your color cycle. The feeling you will get having this tank is nothing less than amazing.
Pros:
- Scratch-resistant tank with a lifetime warranty
- Comes with beautiful Color Fusion changing LED with an option to pause
- Large tank for many types of fish and comes with several extras in the kit
Cons:
- Wonderland plants are not the best quality, you may have to buy better quality plastic plants,
- the plants glow in the dark, if you’re looking for a more natural look you may want to consider buying others.
MarineLand 5 Gallon Portrait Glass LED Aquarium Kit
The Marine Land is a 5-gallon portrait tank that comes with a 3-stage hidden filtration with a Rite-Size Z Cartridge, a Bio-Foam, and an adjustable flow filter pump. This is a small tank which means very easy to transport and to take care of.
This tank is unique due to the portrait look that it has been shaped into. I have to say this is a special tank, you may have seen this at your local pet store, the hidden filtration system allows you to put together a beautiful tank without having all the equipment exposed.
The compact nature of the tank means it can fit into small spaces or even a desk. Although it has a small compact design, it still provides a decent volume of water, which is a great size for Betta fish or other fish near the same size. This is a great kit that comes with several perks and equipment.
This kit also comes with a base that gives unique access to the back of the aquarium to be able to better care for your little ones. Overall, an amazing fish tank that can easily be taken care of with an amazing white LED light giving you beautiful sceneries at night.
Pros:
- Easy to take care of a smaller tank that takes much less effort.
- An easy kit to assemble with minimal pieces and beautiful designs
- Comes with various pieces to makes your experience easy and fun
Cons:
- Filter not the best seems to leave a lot of particles behinds
- Design of tank doesn’t allow more than 3.5 – 4 gallons of water for the fish to swim in
SeaClear 36 Gallon Bowfront Aquarium Kit
This 36-gallon aquarium is something to marvel over. The curved glass gives a beautiful effect giving any room a marvelous glow to it. Don’t mistake this kit for the acrylic Seaclear although made with the same material it is not the same shape. The Acrylic material used to make these types of aquarium are extremely light before keep water in it. This make it easy to transport and set up.
The SeaClear Bowfront aquarium kit includes aquarium, reflector and electrical 24″ light fixture. Although it does not include much else it does have a beautiful convex shape that enhances your view, you won’t believe how your fish and decorations will look.
Acrylic aquariums are much clearer than glass, they also are much stronger than glass with only half the weight. They are more impact resistant and less prone to chipping or cracking than glass. This results to a much safer product, giving you piece of mind when it comes to pets and children. This aquarium is meant to last and will give you maximum durability.
The 36-gallon tank gives a lot of room for a beginner to work with. You will be able to put many different types of fishes in this aquarium. Also leaving you with a lot of space to create a beautiful aqua space. This means having the ability to put live aquatic plants. The downfall of this tank is the lack of equipment included with it; that means you will have to buy you filter and heater individually. Besides that, I really do think it’s a great aquarium and will likely please you if you decide to acquire it.
Pros:
- The Acrylic material is light easier to lift and set up
- Clearer than glass giving you a vibrant affect for you room unlike any other aquarium
- Very strong impact resistant and less prone to chipping or cracking, making it much safer
Cons:
- Lake of included equipment this means buying you own filter and water heater
- 36-gallons maybe a bit to big for a beginner might want to start a bit smaller
MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit
This is the smaller version of the 5-gallon MarineLand tank. This tank is the 3-gallon curve glass tank with daylight and moonlight LED’s giving a stunning look to your tank throughout the day. Also, it includes a 3-stage filtration system to keep your tank as clean as possible.
The LED lighting sits on a hinge allowing you do have easy access to the tank, thus making it easy for you to clean your tank as well as feed and take good care of your fish. The LED’s are energy efficient which means money-saving opportunity.
The great part about the tank is its versatility, this is a great tank for both saltwater fish and freshwater fish. It is a very sturdy fish tank made with very good materials. A bit shorter than the Marineland portrait but just as wide for the most part you will get just as much space for the fish to roam around. In case you are looking for it to be significantly smaller than the Mariland portrait I will let you know now that they are very close in size.
The 3-stage filtration system not found in many beginner tanks will allow you to provide a healthy aquatic environment, this kit will provide you with an adjustable flow filter pump, to allow for great or lesser flow of water in the tank, this kit also features a glass canopy which makes it easy to slide back over your aquarium filter to provide a gap for daily feeding as well as water care.
Pros:
- Very visually appealing
- Small and easy to take care of
- The beautiful LED’s on a hinge giving you easy access to the tank
Cons:
- LED’s may not shine bright enough to keep plants and animals healthy
- Filter motor is maybe difficult to access
SeaClear Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set
Beautiful seamless tank, one of the strongest tanks on the market includes the 24-inch light fixers. The aquarium is incredibly clear giving you an amazing view of your aquatic wonderland. This tank is much stronger than your average tank making it More impact resistant and less prone to chipping or cracking than glass, making it safer around children as well as pets.
The walls of the tank are about 5 millimeters thick, making it very sturdy and hard to break. The acrylic material that it’s made out of is super light making it very easy for you to move around before fully installing your tank.
The top of the tank stays open and may need an extra hood, but for the most part, the tank is very sturdy has a lot of space for various fish friends with a sleek and beautiful design. The only downside is the lack of lighting that it comes with, but that also means you get a chance to customize your aquarium.
This is a 20-gallon tank that will allow you to have enough space for several types of fish or aquascape. The lights are 15-inch tub lighting that will give your tank a nice look at night as well as the day.
Pros:
- Seamless edges giving the tank a beautiful infinity look
- Very light and easy to set up upon arrival
- Extremely sturdy making it safe for pets and children
Cons:
- Poor lighting will likely need stronger LED’s depending on use
- A solid structure on the top of the tank giving you only 15 inches of space to work with when cleaning and fixing tank.
Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon
The Fluval Spec V aquarium is another small 5-gallons tank that will allow you to travel and move around as needed. This kit comes with many things to include Glass aquarium with cover, LED lighting, circulation pump with an output nozzle, and a foam filter block.
The Fluval Spec V allows you to relax, not only because of the beautiful design but also because of a great foam filter which is included with the tank. Great at keeping tanks cleans and staying very quiet, giving you peace of mind, your tank will be clean and safe for your fish and other creatures.
This tank is well designed and the sturdy doing a great keeping your fish healthy and happy. The tanks’ aluminum build body and strong glass mean that it can handle scratches by pets and kids, which means it will allow your fish to be safe. The great design also means an easy way to clean your tank and feed your fish.
This version of the tank features an impressive high-output 7000 K LED, which generates 20% brighter lighting performance for noticeably bolder fish colors and plant growth. This all put together in a beautiful design.
Pros:
- Small compact with a Stylish honeycomb design concealing filtration area
- A high-output 7000 k LED helping with bolder fish colors and plant growth
- Lots of components included like the foam filter, LED lighting and circulation pump
Cons:
- Very small set up not giving you much room to work with
- The filter may be dangerous for fish set up makes it easy for small fish to get stuck
Aqueon LED MiniBow Aquarium Starter Kit
The Aqueon Monobow is great for starters, it’s small and compact give you the choice of putting it in a dorm room or an office. This starter kit includes a Flow filtration, LED lighting, food and water care samples and a complete setup guide which can help you through the process of setting it up.
This is a compact aquarium that will fit perfectly in any small space that comes with everything a beginner needs for a successful setup. The flow filtration is great to keep water clean and your fishes healthy. Especially in the small environment like these, the fishes will be much happier when using such a great state of the art filter.
This is a 1.5-gallon tank this replacing your common fishbowl. The LED lighting in this kit will allow you to put a small fish that can easily be comfortable in this small space. This kit comes with a quiet flow filtration made for minimal noise when studying or working.
The size of this tank makes it easy for any new starter to get a handle on keeping fish and other aqua animals. It is simple to set up and maintain, with a low-profile LED energy-efficient light hood, the lid has a feeding hole for convenient feeding and an elevated base that adds an extra flair to the design.
Pros:
- Small compact fit almost anywhere.
- Quiet flow filtration making minimal noise
- Comes with LED lighting for a great look at night
Cons:
- Too small for certain fish such as beta’s
- Filter too strong for small space will likely hurt fish
Marina LED Aquarium Kit
The Marina Kit is an all-glass 10-gallon all glass aquarium features a long-lasting, natural daylight effect LED lighting module incorporated into aquarium canopy and includes everything you need to get started. LED lighting module incorporated into aquarium canopy, fish food, water conditioner, and the cycle biological supplement to create a biologically well balanced and healthy aquarium environment.
The main tank is well built with quality and clear glass including black silicone sealed edges. On the side are fitted with hinges canopy making it very easy to open and access the interior of the tank for setup or maintenance. You will receive the lid already drilled with hoses for feeding fish and adding equipment.
This kit also includes a net and an aquarium care guide that will give you advice on how to set up and maintain your tank. The water condition will help to make your water safe for the fish, the cycle biological supplement will create a balanced environment for the fish.
The 10-gallon tank will allow plenty of space for various types of fishes, the Aqua Plus Water Conditioner will allow you to use tap water to fill up your tank, thus giving you the ability to keep water safe for your fish and to create a great environment for them to live.
Pros:
- The kit comes with various components which make it easy to get started
- Comes with water conditioner and cycle biological supplement for your fish’s health
- Includes fish food and an interactive guide to make your experience easy
Cons:
- All glass kit may be heavy for some people
- Large may not fit all spaces and may need stronger LED lighting for fish and plants
GloFish Aquarium Kit Fish Tank
This is a 20-gallon tank that includes, blue LED lighting, plants and décor, gravel, water conditioner, and fish food. This tank is easily customizable and gives you’re the ability to have many different fishes as well as plants.
You can also change the background of this tank with the many color-changing backdrops included with this aquarium kit. The kit also arrives with LED light to light up your tank at night, a heater to keep your fish warm and healthy, filter to keep your water and environment nice and clean, stick-on thermometer to keep a lookout on temperature, two packs of Glofish plants to make your landscape beautiful.
The kit is great for beginners, the LED, the heater which helps warm the water and keep fishes comfortable. The filter is one of the most important parts of starting a tank which allows the tank water to be filtered and free of debris. The size of this tank is well suited for several types of fish giving you lots of space to put several species of fish.
This tank is made with high-quality plastic, the plastic canopy with fluorescent colors provide the perfect backdrop for your fish. The LED lights will help to brighten up the fish’s unique color and make both the aquarium and your room beautiful.
Pros:
- Larger tank plenty of space to put several types of fish
- Include several important components for a beginner
- Setup very easy and straight forward
Cons:
- Filter hose to large, it likely needs extra equipment to assure the safety of fish
- LED lighting needs to be stronger for plants to grow
BiOrb Classic 60 Aquarium
This is a nice 4-gallon fish tank well suited for smaller fish, easy to clean and great for beginners. at about 17 pounds this small tank comes with a one size fits all water filter, 5 stage filtration system for biological water stabilization and oxygenation for your fish.
This aquarium also includes a low voltage transformer which allows your 5-stage filtration system to work great and give you a beautiful aesthetic look with the lighting component that is attached to it. This tank also makes it easy to clean given the size of it.
This is awesome for small saltwater set up, that’s because it can easily be converted to a saltwater tank using the premixed saltwater from your local pet store. The filtration used with all biOrb aquariums gives the biOrb a beautiful appeal as if it’s a larger aquarium with the easy maintenance of a smaller tank.
The LED lighting in the tank is barely noticeable making for a minimalist look when looking at this tank. Also, the filtration system is so easy to replace or just clean it yourself. This is a beautiful design made for any first-timer.
Pros:
- Small easy to clean ready to use
- Include filter and lighting for quick use
- Filter easy to replace and easy to clean and maintain
Cons:
- Doesn’t include decoration
- Only a 4-gallon tank Not many fishes can fit
How to select your fish tank?
Evaluate your space: You want to make sure you know exactly where you will be putting your fish tank. This will allow you to know how big your fish thank should be. Understand that fish tanks are hard to move, this means if you do not have a particular space for your tank you can make some mistakes. Once you select your space your likely able to choose a good size.
What type of fish: Tanks are made for all fishes but depending on the fish you may want to have specific tanks, specifically when we are talking about saltwater fish? Having a saltwater aquarium is very different from sweet water fish, this is why you need to figure out what types of fish you would like.
How much work are you willing to do? When it comes to fish tanks you must understand its more than just putting the fish and feeding them. They often come with a lot of problems, to you need to know your equipment, what does your fish tank come with do you need something a bit more specialized. Think about these questions when you are making your choice.
Overall before you go and buy your fish tank think about what you want. Understand the fish that you want and know what they need to survive. Don’t forget to evaluate your space know where this tank will go so that you know what size makes the most sense for your space. Lastly remember keeping an aquarium is not easy so be sure to know what equipment you will be getting to assure that you mitigate all your future issues with your tanks and fishes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fish Tank
Can a tank be too small? often tanks can be a bit too small, they can be a bit more difficult to take care of because of the environment. Although it may be easier to clean and maintain on a daily bases when the environment is unstable you are more likely to lose your fish then a tank with wider space.
What tank is most suitable for beginners? There is no specific tank that makes more sense for beginners. But having a smaller tank means being able to move around with it, have less to clean and likely very little maintenance. But like everything, there are bad parts to it. The bad of smaller tanks is that when water is contaminated or not stable fishes can die easily. This means yes small tanks are great for beginners but also means you have to be more attentive to your tanks.
What are the best filters for my freshwater tank? There is not one best filter for all tanks, but there are bigger and smaller filters that will fit your tank. You want to make sure that your filter is not too small for your tank. Also, when selecting your filter, you want to make sure that you understand the amount of maintenance that will be needed to keep your filter up to par.
Are large corner fish tanks ideal for everyone? That is probably an answer you will have to answer yourself, but for the most part, I believe that the answer is a no. This is due to the size I believe that a large corner aquarium will likely be ideal for experienced persons, also the structure that is will be kept in needs to be solid, more like concrete floors to sustain the weight.
Best place to buy your tank? There is no perfect place to buy your tank. But before buying your tank I would suggest that you go to your local pet store or anywhere that sells these types of items so you can see it for yourself. You want to know what the tanks are made out of so that you have a good idea of what you buying.
How to Maintain Your Tank?
When you first get your tank: Now that you have purchased your tank you will need to set it up. Here are some quick tips on setting up your tank. You want to make sure your tank is nice and clean, this doesn’t mean cleaning it with soap, just make sure that there is no random debris in your tank and if there is soap or something else just make sure its nice and clean. Next you want to make sure you thoroughly wash any items like, rocks, fake plants, houses with warm water. Do this several time until all debris is out, now you can start putting in some water. From there you will put in all your solutions (make sure you follow the instructions), and then start setting up your tanks.
Cleaning your tank: When cleaning your tank, you want to make sure you have a place to temporarily store your fish. You want to make sure that space is clean and well suited for your fish to survive and be comfortable. Don’t be in a hurry when cleaning you will have a remove half of the water out of the tank. This is so you can keep all the necessary bacteria’s that the fish will need to be stable in the tank.
The maintenance of the tank is not to bad mainly need to make sure that you ask questions when you do not know something. Research and read your guide, fish are easy to kill so be sure that you are understanding the implications of everything that you are doing to the tank.
Advantages of having an Aquarium
Aquariums are fun to have, they become a hobby and can be a showpiece for your home, business or office. Having an aquarium can be very rewarding, after you take the time to understand your little small aquascape environment you will have little to no issues with it. This is one of the most beautiful things you can see in your home, once you get into it you may wonder how you lived without one. An aquarium brings a piece of mind that I cannot even explain, you have to experience it for yourself. Little ones will appreciate and wonder about this beautiful and mesmerizing space you have created.
The aquarium can also be a fun activity for pets such as cats. They will love to look at the fish moving from one side of the tank to the other. This can be a good addition to your home to entertain other people and the little ones. Once you become deeply involved in this space you will not be able to detach yourself from it. Always remember use the space for relaxation don’t worry to much about how good it looks just make sure your environment is safe for the fish and you will be satisfied.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several aquariums out there and every one of them is made for someone, depending on what you want and depending on what your desires are you will choose the tank the best fits your life style. There are variety of tanks out there from small to big, complicated to easy. Learn about them and figure out which one does the best job for you. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed there are guys out there for you and people to answer questions.
Take your time in choosing the best tank that fits you, I find that a lot of the tanks with several electronic components can make you go a little nut’s so for me I find myself going for straight forward set-ups. This might be different for you, but at the end the goal is to have a safe environment for your fish. Don’t forget to go out there and look at the tanks for yourself at your local pet store and understand what it means to keep an aquarium ask questions and from there make your choice. You will not regret having such a beautiful space in your home, office of work. Now go out there and get yourself a beautiful tank.
