9 Best Fish Tanks for Keeping Your Scaly Friends Happy (2024)

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.8 x 11.9 inches (2.5-gallon size)
• Weight: 3.75 pounds
• Capacity: 1, 2.5, or 5 gallons

First-time fish owners are sure to love this fish tank from Aqueon. At just under four pounds, it’s incredibly lightweight and can fit on practically any sturdy surface, and its petite dimensions mean it hardly takes up any space.

It’s a great home for smaller fish, and comes with everything you need to get started, including the tank, hood, elevated base, power filter, small filter cartridge, fish food, and a water conditioner.

The tank's filter cleans the water in under two minutes, but when it needs to be deep-cleaned, its removable lid makes it easy to do so.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 6.9 x 12.5 x 12.9 inches
• Weight: 1 pound
• Capacity: 3 gallons

Equipped with everything you need to tend to your first fish (or two), this starter aquarium from Tetra is a must-have. Its half-moon shape lets you check in on your fish from nearly every angle, and its modest size makes it a great choice for smaller rooms. It comes with an air-pump-driven filter that keeps the water clean so that your fish’s living environment is always healthy.

The clear canopy hole at the top of this tank allows for easy feeding without removing the lid completely. Plus, the included LED lights make it easy to change the tank's interior color whenever you see fit.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 7.3 x 9.1 x 5.1 inches
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Capacity: 0.5 gallons

This low-maintenance kit is perfect for those who are just starting out on their fish-owning journey—especially with betta fish, often said to be some of the easiest aquatic pets to own and maintain. Up to two betta fish can live in this tank, and they can be housed separately within it, thanks to the included divider.

An aquarium plant, gravel, and fish food are also included in this kit, so you have pretty much everything you need to get set up; the only downside is that this kit doesn't come with a filter. To ensure a healthy environment for your pet, it's recommended that you change the water weekly.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 10.25 x 10.25 x 10.5 inches
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Capacity: 2 gallons

Not only is this tank incredibly affordable, its minimalist style makes it an attractive addition to any home. While it’s primarily designed for tropical fish, users say it works well for a wide variety of different small fish types. To make your tank even more aesthetically pleasing, you can choose from seven built-in LED lighting options that allow you to illuminate it.

There’s a powerful internal filter that cleans and purifies the water in the tank at a rate of 25 gallons per hour, so you hardly have to worry about it getting dirty or cloudy, and the rounded shape makes it easy to see your fish no matter where they are in the tank.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 15.5 x 36 x 36 inches
• Weight: 100 pounds
• Capacity: 25 gallons

One of the larger tanks on our list, this one is sure to make a statement in your home. It can hold up to 25 gallons of water, so it’s perfect for fish of various sizes. The top of this freshwater aquarium is removable, so it's easy to set up and clean, and once the top is secured, it can be used as an elegant coffee table.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 16.4 x 51.9 x 24.4 inches
• Weight: 72.5 pounds
• Capacity: 55 gallons

This tank is a great option for fish owners looking to make the transition from small starter tanks to bigger ones. It can hold up to 55 gallons of water, meaning it can safely house a relatively large number of fish, depending on type, and users say the water temperature and flow are easily maintained. The built-in LED lighting creates a daylight effect in the tank, so you can easily check in on your fish to ensure they’re doing well.

This tank also comes with a fish net, heater, filter, digital thermometer, and additional accessories that make maintenance simple.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 13.2 inches (4-gallon size)
• Weight: 6.5 pounds
• Capacity: 4, 8, 16, or 28 gallons

Fish owners with a modern aesthetic to their home will love this sphere aquarium. It’s just over a foot long and wide, so it hardly takes up any space on a counter or table, and it can hold up to four gallons of water. This tank is equipped with a long-lasting LED light that illuminates the water, making it easy to see your fish, and is made of acrylic, which is ten times stronger than glass.

Aside from how attractive it is, it also boasts a five-stage filtration system, so you’re guaranteed to have a clean tank at all times.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 16 inches (5-gallon size)
• Weight: 7.2 pounds
• Capacity: 5 gallons or 20 gallons

If you have a little more counter or table space available, this fish tank is a smart upgrade from smaller models. At just over a foot long, it’s big enough to hold a variety of fish, but won’t take up an excessive amount of space. This tank can hold up to five gallons of water and weighs up to 50 pounds when filled all the way. While its design is a bit basic, it's easy to maintain, has good visibility, and is relatively affordable for a glass tank of this size.

Key Specs

• Dimensions: 11 x 4.7 x 7.9 inches
• Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Capacity: 1.8 gallons

If you're worried you won't have time to clean out your fish tank as regularly as you'd like, this self-cleaning model is a great choice. It’s designed with a hidden, built-in filter system that ensures the tank water never gets too dirty or murky so that your fish always have a healthy environment to swim around in. The LED lights inside can be set to nine different modes, allowing you to customize how the tank is illuminated.

The tank also comes with an air purifier, as well as an aromatherapy system that can provide a light and pleasant fragrance to the air in your home. This tank can hold a number of smaller fish, but if you have larger ones, it may not be a great fit.