Among the most low-maintenance, perfectly simple pets you or your family may own are fish. These pond dwellers’ winning combination is food, water, and friends, and they really don’t require much upkeep beyond that. The same should be said about the aquarium you house them in. Plastic or high-grade glass, 5 or 50 pounds, your fish tank should suit your one or many fish comfortably, while also adhering to the limitations of your own home. The kind of aquarium you’re looking for should depend on the amount of fish you have, the kind of setting you have them in, and how much love you’re willing to give your fish (we really hope it’s a lot of love). If you’re looking for the right aquarium for your new carnival pet, here are some we recommend.
Choosing the Perfect Aquarium for Your Place
When picking out your next fish tank, give these factors some thought first:
- Bulk: Like with most pieces of furniture that will come through your front door, you’ll need to keep the dimensions of your surroundings in mind. Everyone wants to give the most to their pets, but if you don’t have the space for a larger fish tank, then don’t attempt it. Traditional small pets like goldfish and beta fish don’t require much room; as long as you’re providing them a good home, they’ll be happy.
- Style: Still, a little fun for your fish isn’t a bad thing. Your aquarium is, in equal measure, a house for your pet and a standout item for your pad. You should find a tank that offers an appropriate look and simplicity for your child’s room, your bar top, or your office.
- Filtration: Fish may not require much, but what they do need, you must absolutely provide. A clean home is one of those needs, and it helps to own an aquarium that utilizes a great filtration system not only for easy cleaning but also for the sake of your pet’s health.
Best Overall: GloFish Aquarium Kit Fish Tank with LED Lighting and Filtration Included
Conveniently sized to fit on most side tables, the GloFish Aquarium Kit Fish Tank is overall one of the most easygoing fish tanks you could own. When empty, this aquarium weighs just over six pounds, and when it’s full, you can expect a visually wondrous environment for your pet(s). “GloFish” is more than a brand, but a species of genetically altered fish that glimmer when their scales are hit with a specific light. This line of fish tank provides the exact kind of blue LED lighting its occupants need to really shine, day or night. Other features this 5-gallon aquarium offers its users are a dual-powered filtration system that removes debris and odor and a semi-circle hood that allows for easy feeding and the prevention of fish accidentally jumping out.
GloFish Aquarium Fish Tank Kits, Includes Fish Tank Decorations and LED Lighting, Tetra Filter and Water Conditioner
A luminous and high-quality option for your household, this aquarium is hard to miss.
Best for Kids: Tetra ColorFusion Starter Aquarium Kit
A brand name rooted in 50 years of German innovation in the aquatics industry, Tetra’s ColorFusion aquarium kit is a high-quality option for your fish and an enjoyable sight for your kids. Its two-part filtration system that removes waste while preventing unwanted aromas throughout the three-gallon aquarium is a big plus on your end; however, your kids, and even you, will enjoy the show that comes along with this tank’s purchase. Its ColorFusion LED lights illuminate bubbles from the included Bubbling Air Stone in every color of the rainbow. It’s a joyous sight that makes feeding your pet fish as fun as it is simple, especially with the inclusion of a clear feeding tube.
Tetra ColorFusion Starter aquarium Kit 3 Gallons, Half-Moon Shape, With Bubbler And Color-Changing Light Disc
Light up your fish's life with this aquarium that's an easy clean and a great sight for the kids in your family.
Easiest to Clean: MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit with Rail Light
Simple in design, yet offering a tremendously healthy lifestyle for your fish, the MarineLand Aquarium Kit will ensure that your pet’s home is the epitome of clean. This aquarium’s hidden filtration system offers your fish a balanced aquatic environment thanks to its three-stage operation. On one end, a Mechanical Filtration process captures dirt and debris, while a Chemical Filtration uses activated carbon inside a filter cartridge to remove odors, discolorations, and other impurities. Additionally, this tank features a Biological Filtration operation that uses a bio-foam substance to capture and eliminate aerobic bacteria, like toxic ammonia and nitrite. So, while a good scrub on occasion would never hurt, this fish tank is among the easiest to clean because it handles all of that for you.
Marineland Aquarium Kit - Contour 3G (3G Rail Light), Shippable
Packing one of the most thorough filtration systems you could buy, this tank offers your fish luxury and clean bubbles.
Also Consider: Back to the Roots Water Garden
There’s just no other way to put it, the Back to the Roots Water Garden is really, really cool. This is more than an aquarium and it’s more than a home. It’s a mini ecosystem that is self-cleaning, self-replenishing, and a sight to behold. Below is your standard tank filled with water, but up above is a small garden bed where you can actually grow your own vegetation. Even without soil, this process works to great effect because the fish waste will fertilize your plants while the plants clean your water, resulting in a cycle of continuous give-and-take-and-win. Not only will this aquaponics device allow you to harvest fresh greens in only ten days, but it will provide a cleaner water environment for your fish for a longer duration of time.
Back to the Roots Indoor Aquaponic Garden and Fishtank - 3 Gallon Self Watering, Mess-Free Planter and Self-Cleaning Fishtank for Herbs, Microgreens, Bamboo, Succulents, and Houseplants, support Fish
A premium option that makes owning a fish fun, this tank is not only an aquarium but a mini garden bed.