Investing in the best fish tank is one of the most important purchases you’ll make as a pet parent when it comes to ensuring your fish stay happy and healthy. While fish are often touted as "easy" pets compared to dogs or cats, they still require proper care, and a habitat that gives them room to live their fishy little lives. Before purchasing fish, or a tank to house them in, it's worth sitting down to fully understand what your fish will need from you in order to thrive.
The first thing to work out is what kind of fish you are interested in keeping, and how many of them you plan to house in a single tank. This means thinking about the size of fish and their temperament, tank size, lighting, filters, and more.
If you’re planning on creating a vibrant, sub-aquatic colony of tropical fish, we recommend opting for one of the best tropical fish tanks as these have water capacities of at least 20 gallons to ensure your finned friends have plenty of space to swim about in.
On the other hand, if you’re happy to have a single fish or to keep your fishy family to under five, then the best small fish tanks are well worth considering. Compact and ideal for tiny living spaces, these petite pads come in sizes up to 10 gallons and are wonderful for dorm rooms, kids rooms, or apartments.
Whatever kind of tank you decide to go for, it’s worth factoring in some extra space to accommodate a few of the best fish tank decorations. Just like any other creature, our finned friends thrive in a stimulating and enriching environment, so a few carefully placed pieces of driftwood, some stones, caves, ships, or ruins are all wonderful for adding fun places for fish to explore.
With all of that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best fish tanks currently available, including starter kits that are perfect for beginners and just a few fish, right through to palatial palaces for the experienced fish keeper that will hold a whole school of underwater amigos.
We've also spoken to Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, to ensure you're making an informed choice for the health of your fish!
Rebecca MacMillan is a companion animal vet who has always had a passion for writing and client communication. Since her graduation from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009 she has gained a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, in both clinical and managerial roles. She currently works in the South West and deals with a variety of routine and emergency appointments, but particularly enjoys medicine cases. She has recently gained her postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine!
Dr. MacMillan has a few tips before purchasing any fish, or a new tank to house them.
"As a fellow fish fanatic, I know the amount of tank choices out there can be overwhelming. There are several key things to remember when making your purchase. The first is what sort of fish you would like to own. This includes freshwater vs marine species, small or large specimens, shoaling or singular fish, and whether your chosen variety are escape artists (a lid can be handy in this case!). The second thing is where you are planning to situate your tank, which dictates the size you can go for and how easy water changes will be. The third consideration is budget, which is a big factor for many people when choosing."
PetsRadar's pick of the best fish tanks
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If you are delving into the world of fish for the first time and don't want a big outlay to start with then this budget fish tank is for you. It's a starter kit that contains all the basics that you will need but without breaking the bank. This is a smaller capacity tank at just 5 gallons, and 6 pounds when not filled. That makes this the perfect starter tank, ideal for a small community of 2-3 fish, a betta, or goldfish!
Measuring at 15"L x 9"W x 11"H, this tank has a fairly small footprint, making it easy to display in your home without needing a dedicated stand to do it. This tank also features a curved front, delivering panoramic views of your new fishy friends.
The interior of the tank is lit from hidden LED lights tucked under the lid. These white lights will ensure you can see everything going on within the tank, without distracting from the aquatic adventures within.
To keep your few fish happy and healthy an air pump-driven Tetra Whisper Internal Power Filter will keep the tank clean. This uses a two-part filtration system that catches waste and removes debris and odors. This is great for the fish and for your home.
This tank has a black plastic lid on top, keeping your fish safe from any accidental dropped items, or curious cats who are looking for a snack. When it's time to feed your fishies, all you need to do it flip it open, and voila!
Do you want a sleek and elegant upright tank to house your fish, but don’t have enough space for a large tank? Say hello to this portrait tank from Marineland. It has a small footprint, measuring just under one foot in length and width. But it is the 17-inches in height that pumps up the capacity to five gallons, which is just enough for a 1-2 small fish.
The tank sits on its own sturdy plastic base, held in place by its own weight. This raises the tank a few inches above any surface it is placed on and adds to the ambience of the overall design of the tank.
Add in the curved corners and black background and you have a tank that is attractive and great for viewing your smart looking fish from multiple angles. Sitting above the tank is a blue and white LED lighting system which brings your tank to life with natural daylight and moonlight settings.
The bright white LEDs create a shimmering sunlight effect while the blue LEDs produce a moonlit glow, an ideal night time setting. Directly under the hinged LED lighting - and across the top of the tank – is a sliding glass canopy for easy access to the tank.
The kit doesn’t include any decoration to bring the tank to life and give your fish a more natural environment. See this as an opportunity to invest in some tall plants, some natural strata and a water heater to create a bespoke habitat to keep you and your fish happy.
If the sight of happy little fish swimming around isn't quite enough for you, and you'd prefer something just a little more visually engaging, the Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit could be what you're looking for. This 15-gallon fish tank benefits not only from a curved front panel for a clearer (and ever so slightly magnified) view of your fish, but also some impressive lighting options. This is also an ideal size for a school of fish between 10-15, depending on their size.
Not only does it pack 7500K white LED lighting that's ideal for encouraging plant growth and showing off your fish's colors to best effect, it also comes with RGB LEDs (plus a remote for controlling them) that'll give you over 80 color options as well as special lighting effects including cloud cover, storm and full color cycle.
While you'll have to supply your own extras such as plants and accessories for the Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, it's otherwise well-specced, with multi-stage filtration for keeping things healthy, with foam, carbon and biomax media included. The filter stays tucked away in a hidden compartment at the back, while a honeycomb wrap at the top of the tank conceals the water line and the sides of the rear compartment.
If you are looking to start your own tropical fish aquarium, you will need all the right equipment to make it happen. This may seem like a herculean task, but you can throw yourself straight in at the deep end with a Tetra 20 Gallon Complete Aquarium Kit. The kit comes complete with everything you need, except for the fish. You get to choose those.
The key component of any aquarium is the fish tank. The tank in this kit has a 20 gallon capacity – ideal for up to 20 fish – and has a footprint of 27.88 x 16.13 x 20.38 inches. There are larger options available from Tetra including a 55 gallon aquarium kit if you want to go large. The tank is made from quarter inch thick scratch-resistant glass ensuring that viewing of your finned friends will stay crystal clear.
Also included in the kit is a Tetra Whisper 20 filter to keep the tank clean and a Tetra Mini UL heater to keep the water temperature at the right level. Both of these models do the job, but you may want to think about upgrading in the future. The heater has an electronic thermostat that automatically adjusts to keep the water in the tank at a steady 78 degrees. Check this works for your fish.
Tank decorations create the habitat inside a tank and this Tetra kit comes with a few basics. There is one artificial Boxwood Plant Mat and four artificial plants. This is enough to get you started but you will need to invest in more accessories to create a great looking aquarium. And, there is no gravel or sand to recreate a seabed. To complete the aquarium an LED hood provides a natural daytime effect. This is conveniently on hinges to open for easy access and cleaning. But there is also a small flap to quickly drop in fish food.
If you are literally looking for just a fish tank then this option from Landen could just be what you are after. No water filters, no tank decoration, no water heaters, just the tank (and a black nano foam levelling mat). This makes this tank the ideal solution for someone who’s looking to take their fish keeping hobby a little more seriously. You get to choose everything that goes with the tank. The perfect opportunity to create your own custom aquarium.
The Landen is made from premium quality thick crystal clear low iron glass, which has a greater than 91 percent transparency. This means you get to gaze at your finned friends with plenty of clarity and really enjoy their beauty. They are hand-made by craftsmen and come with a high standard of workmanship, especially on the edges.
The Landen is available in six different sizes. The smallest in the range measures 14.2 × 8.7 × 10.2 inches and weighs in at ten pounds. This has a capacity of around five gallons, so ideal for around five fish or less. The next option in the range measures 23.6 x 14.2 x 11.8 inches and weighs in at 26 pounds. But, the largest tank measures an impressive 39.37 x 17.72 x 17.72 inches and weighs in at a hefty 92.8 pounds. And this is without water – the tank holds around 50 gallons – so you will need to make sure you have a strong and sturdy platform to place your tank on.
Make any room pop with this sleek and stylish GloFish Aquarium that’s sure to be the talking point of your home. An affordable starter kit that includes all the essentials, the crescent-shaped 5-gallon tank comes with a Tetra Whisper Bio-Bag Filter Cartridge, a convenient feeding hole and energy-efficient blue LED lighting.
The perfect home for Danios and Tetras, the hidden blue LED lights are set into the hood, illuminating your fish from above to give them a fluorescent look. The dense dual-sided mesh does a great job of catching the debris and waste that’s pushed through the filter cartridge and the black hood reduces evaporation and the fish from jumping.
This tank has a great look to it and provides an excellent view of your fish and we love how easy it is to set up and maintain. It’s also available in 10 and 20-gallon options as well, great if you’ve got a large fish family that you’re needing to house. The only drawback is the material, with the hood not being quite as durable as we’d like. Other than that, this is a fun and exciting tank with a unique look.
If you have a school of tropical fish or are just looking for a larger space for your fishy friends to swim around in, this 55-gallon tank from Tetra is exactly what you need.
Measuring 51.90" L x 24.40" W x 16.40" H, there's plenty of room for your fish to spread out comfortably and it comes with a 200W heater which does a brilliant job of maintaining the perfect water temperature. There's also a stick on digital thermometer so you'll be able to spot immediately if there are any issues.
The included LED lighting gives a lovely natural daylight effect to the aquarium and allows you to watch your finned friends in all their glory, although it's worth noting that the lighting in the hood can't be replaced, so you'll need to send away for a new one which can be a hassle.
Weighing approximately 79lbs on it's own, the tank can reach a weight of 520lbs when full, so you'll want to ensure you have a good solid stand to rest this on. It comes with two plant multipacks and a boxwood plant, so you'll have some nice accessories to get you started.
At over $300, it's not the cheapest 55-gallon tank we've seen, but it's stylish and well made which makes it a worthy entry in this list.
Give it as a gift or keep it for yourself, either way this wonderful water garden fish tank is a dream for anyone who has always wanted to grow succulents, house plants and micro greens but doesn't have any backyard space.
This water garden is a joy for both adults and children and comes with everything you could possibly need to get started, including fast growing and nutritious radish and wheatgrass seeds, water conditioner, a growing medium for your seeds to take root, water de-chlorinator, and fish food.
This hydroponic and aquaponic ecosystem will bring a touch of zen to any living space and is a also a great educational project for children. The fish tank is self-cleaning with the fish waste fertilising the plants on top and the plants cleaning the water.
How to choose the best fish tank
When choosing the best fish tank for your future finned friends, there are a variety of things to consider from water type, to tank size, to the size and behavior of your fish. Before you buy the first tank on sale, it's worth considering a number of factors.
What kind of tank is best?
Glass tanks tend to fare better than acrylic ones, as these can scratch during cleaning and often discolor over time. You should always purchase the biggest tank you can for both your space and budget.
Larger enclosures generally make for a happier animal, and fish are no different. Provide them with as much space as you can so that they can display normal behaviors, like shoaling, and have room for growth.
The water quality tends to be more stable in a larger tank too, with smaller ones needing more frequent cleaning.
How big of a tank do I need?
That, is a complicated question. The right size tank depends entirely on the size, type, and number of fish you plan to keep. If you only plan to have a goldfish, or betta, then a 5-gallon tank should be sufficient. However, if you want to keep a school of fish, or have multiple varieties, you'll want at least a 15-gallon tank.
In general, a 5-gallon tank can support at most 2 fish, while a 20-gallon tank can support a small school. Be sure to do research on the breed of fish, and their specific requirements to ensure they have enough space to thrive once you bring them home.
Dr. Rebecca MacMillan also advises a rectangular tank instead of a vertical one: "Tall, narrow tanks can look attractive to us, fish tend to laterally (swim side to side) rather than up and down. So this could affect their normal behaviors creating stress. Oxygen exchange also happens where air meets water, so a tall, narrow tank has less surface area for this than a wider, shorter one, even if they hold the same volume of water"
Is there anything else I need to consider?
If you can have life plants in your fish tank, then I definitely recommend this. From experience, there are several species that are very easy to grow and once established need little care other than the occasional trim.
Plants will help to oxygenate the water, provide natural interest for your fish, look aesthetically pleasing to us, and can be a food source for some species like ornamental snails. Bog wood makes for a great natural-looking feature as well, just make sure you soak it for several days before introducing it to your tank. This removes any tannins in the wood which can discolor your water.
Avoid any tanks where you are unable to easily install a filtration system (such as round bowls), as this equipment is crucial for the health of your fish
As well as making sure you have all the equipment you need, plus good lighting and a solid filtration system, the visual appeal is also important, especially if the fish tank is going to be the centerpiece of your home. Take a look at the best fish tank stands for inspiration on how you can support your aquarium in style.
Read next: How to clean a fish tank
