The 10 Best Fish Tanks

For a first tropical setup, the Aqueon 10 Gallon Starter Kit covers nearly everything in one box. Along with the glass tank and a low hood with white lights, you get a hang-on filter, a preset heater, a thermometer, a net and samples of food and water conditioner. Plenty of kits this size leave out the heater, so this one saves a second purchase. The filter pushes a strong current, though, which can buffet a betta with long fins.

Anyone planning a lively mix of tetras, rasboras and corydoras should look at the Tetra 29 Gallon Complete Kit. More water means temperature and waste levels shift slowly, which forgives beginner mistakes. The kit pairs the tank with a hinged light hood, a hang-on filter and a heater sized for the volume. Once filled, it is far too heavy for a dresser or desk, so plan on a sturdy stand, which is sold separately.

The Marineland Portrait hides its filter behind a black back panel, so the view stays clean from the front and sides. Its hinged light switches between bright white for the day and a soft blue glow for evening. The glass is tall rather than wide, which suits a betta, a few shrimp or a small planted layout. It has no heater, and five gallons limits stocking to one betta or a small group of tiny fish.

Budget buyers who still want a proper glass tank can start with the Tetra LED 10 Gallon Kit. That size is what many hobbyists suggest as a first home for small schooling fish, since it stays steadier than a desktop tank. The kit includes a hinged hood with white lights, a filter with a carbon cartridge, and samples of food and water conditioner. A heater isn't part of it, so tropical fish need one added before they move in.

Filter, pump and wiring all sit in a hidden back chamber on the Coralife LED BioCube 16, leaving a tidy rounded cube up front. Its light runs white, blue and color-boosting channels on a built-in timer that fades up at dawn and down at dusk. That light is strong enough for corals and live plants, so it works for a small reef or a planted freshwater tank. It costs a lot, and the heater and stand are extra.

Small tanks need frequent water changes, and the Aqueon LED MiniBow 5 makes that chore quicker. A turn of the filter spout lets you drain dirty water without a separate siphon hose, and Aqueon says a change takes under two minutes. The curved acrylic front and raised base give it a neat desktop look. Acrylic scratches if you scrub it with a rough pad, and there's no heater for a betta.

Kids' rooms are rough on glass, which makes the Koller AquaView 360 a sensible choice there. The tall cylinder is clear, impact-resistant plastic, so a bump is less likely to end in a flood. The light cycles through several colors and has a timer, so the fish get a regular night. A narrow column suits a betta or a few shrimp better than fast swimmers, and plastic scuffs more readily than glass.

The Tetra Half-Moon is a small, low-cost start for one betta or a few shrimp. Its curved front gives a wide view, a single air pump runs both the filter and a bubbling disc that shifts through colored lights, and the lid has a feeding hole. Three gallons is a floor for a betta, not a goal, and the water changes temperature quickly. Add a small heater, since none comes in the box.

Fans of glowing fish should start with the GloFish 20 Gallon Kit, which adds a blue light stick that makes their colors pop next to a white light for normal viewing. It also includes a heater, a hang-on filter and a few fluorescent plants. GloFish are bred tetras, barbs, danios and sharks that need the same care as their plain cousins. The neon plants and blue glow look odd in a natural-style tank.

Hobbyists who want a clean, rimless look can build around the Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 15. Extra-clear glass, black seams and a built-in back wall hide an overflow, a filter sock and a small adjustable pump, so the filtration stays out of view. A backup drain guards against a flood if the main one clogs. It ships with no light, heater or lid, so budget for those, and jumpy fish need a screen top.