The Best Aquariums
Aquariums are gorgeous and go a long way in adding beauty and a sense of serenity to your space. They're ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, and anywhere else you need a touch of peace. Whether you fill it with plants, fish, or both, the water, sounds, and touch of nature can brighten your mood in minutes. And to ensure you get the most from your set-up, we dug deep to find the best aquariums to get you started.
What to Look For
An aquarium is more than a beautiful piece of home decor. It’s a home for living pets. That’s why it’s essential that whichever model you choose is the right size, made of safe materials, and is built to last. For example, the Aqueon MiniBow aquarium keeps your fish’s water extremely clean and easily lasts for years. However, you can only fit a single betta and some mystery snails inside the small five-gallon space. Meanwhile, the massive Tetra 55-gallon kit gives you all the room you need to create the underwater wonderland of your dreams. Whatever you’re looking for, we have you covered with the list below.
Aqueon MiniBow Aquarium Kit
Clean and clear
The Aqueon MiniBow Kit comes in three sizes, from a half-gallon to five gallons, allowing you to get just what you need. It’s ideal for desk or dresser-top set-ups, enabling you to have a little slice of heaven within arm’s reach as you or your children work and get homework done. As a bonus, the specially designed SmartClean filter keeps the water crystal clear with minimal maintenance.
Pros:
- The filter is adjustable and allows you to slow the flow to protect delicate plants and long fins.
- It’s lightweight yet sturdy. You can put it on almost any surface safely.
- A whisper-quiet filter allows you to keep this aquarium in your bedroom without disturbance.
Cons:
- Although it works well as a quarantine or betta tank, the largest size is still too small to make a permanent home for most fish species.
Koller 5-Gallon Aquarium
Dazzling view
A powerful filter and multi-colored LED lights ensure you get the absolute best view of your fish possible when you choose the Koller five-gallon aquarium. It has a small size and unique shape that give it an overall lovely yet basic look that fits in well in any space. You can set it up in a classroom, office, or home, allowing you a simple way to keep your cool anytime.
Pros:
- This aquarium is an affordable option with all the bells and whistles you need.
- Bright lights, whether clear or colorful, help you highlight the beauty of your fish.
- There’s plenty of space to add plants and decor to keep your fish happy.
Cons:
- You can’t set up the lights on a timer.
Fluval Chi II Aquarium
Elegantly elevated
If you’re on the hunt for a modern aquarium, the Fluval Chi II is the one for you. The Feng-Shui concept is perfect. It looks rimless, but it has a clear lid that keeps the fish safely inside. The high-quality filter sits in the center to give it a futuristic feel, and it includes both lights and soft sounds that provide the calming effect you need throughout the day.
Pros:
- The filter doubles as a fountain and light, making it more multifunctional than others.
- It’s an ideal size for mystery snails, crawfish, bettas, or other species that stay small, all while having enough space for plants and other pieces.
- Cleaning the tank is a breeze due to the powerful filter.
Cons:
- The built-in lights aren’t very bright, so you can only keep low-light living plants inside.
Tetra 55-Gallon Aquarium Tank
Spacious centerpiece
In most cases, a five to ten-gallon aquarium is a great choice. They sit neatly on small surfaces and have the space for a small fish or group of tiny creatures. But if you really want a stunning piece that catches the eye, this giant 55-gallon aquarium kit from Tetra is your best bet. It offers plenty of space for living plants, coral, and all kinds of colorfully unique underwater animals.
Pros:
- This kit includes a lot of extras, including plants, to get you started, and the built-in lights are bright enough to keep them healthy.
- The filter is much quieter than you’d expect for one that keeps this much water clean.
- It can fit way more fish, shrimp, snails, and other marine life than you could in a usual five to ten-gallon tank.
Cons:
- We were surprised to find that it doesn’t come with gravel. It’s odd to leave out, considering all of the other inclusions.
Aqueon Coralife LED BioCube Kit
Feature-rich fish home
Getting a saltwater aquarium up and running is more challenging than the standard freshwater versions. The Aqueon Coralife BioCube makes it easier. The programmable hinge-top, sunrise and sunset lights, and back wall filtration help you create a sea-worthy landscape for your favorite fish. You can even customize the filter and flow based on your needs for added versatility.
Pros:
- The lighting system includes brightening and dimming timers and Moonglow lights.
- Everything is built into the back, giving it a seamless look compared to many other tanks that have wires all over.
- Almost everything is customizable, from the lights to the filter.
Cons:
- You may need to add a couple of grow lights nearby if you’re using the tank to grow live coral and plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine how big my aquarium needs to be to keep my pets healthy?
Fish need space to swim, and in general, the more room they have, the better. However, you can follow some minimum requirements to help you figure out which aquarium you need. The most common rule is that you need a gallon per inch per fish. So keeping six three-inch fish will require at least 18 gallons, although best practices would have you round that up to at least twenty to be safe.
How many fish can I keep in my aquarium?
You can keep as many fish as you’d like inside your aquarium, provided it has the space and the fish get along. For example, if you have a 55-gallon tank, you can keep 20 neon tetras, a couple of cory cats, and a dozen barbs or danios. You’ll want to avoid putting them in with an aggressive or large species, like some puffers.
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