5 Best Small Fish Tanks: Tiny Options Reviewed (2026)

Last Updated: July 11, 2022 by Flora Gibbins

An aquarium with colorful plants and fish is always a captivating experience. Whether it is a single fish or a group of three, watching fish swim creates a relaxing effect.

But…

You may not have room in your home for a large aquarium. Should this kill your fishkeeping dream?

No, rather get a small fish tank. It fits conveniently on desktops or countertops. Moreover, these aquariums will hold one to three fishes despite their size.

When looking for the best small fish tank, we prioritized features like size, functionality, and efficiency. This is why we recommend Aqueon LED MiniBow Kit as the best overall fish aquarium.

But that should not hold you back from checking out the other four options in this small fish tank review.

The Top 5 Best Small Fish Tanks Reviewed

1. Aqueon LED MiniBow Kit – Best Overall

This small fish tank is ideal for beginners, seasoned hobbyists, and experienced fish keepers. Plus, you can place it in your home office, living room, or bedroom.

This technology helps maintain a healthy aquatic environment in under two minutes.

The Aqueon Filtration system is ultra-quiet and does not stress fish. Therefore, you can happily raise your fish in your bedroom or other quiet rooms.

Bettas are a great option to add to this 5-gallon tank. You can house one betta or carefully choose a tank mate as they are naturally aggressive. Since the model has no heater, add one because bettas thrive on water temperatures between 75 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

The aquarium is acrylic, meaning it is more durable than glass. However, it is prone to scratches during shipment.

Pros

• Quick water changes with SmartClean technology
• Durable acrylic tank
• Ultra-quiet filter
• Features an elevated base

Cons

• The lid rests on top rather than lock securely in place

Takeaway

If you are a beginner or a seasoned hobbyist, the Aqueon MiniBow Kit is a perfect small fish tank for your home or office. It retails at an affordable price, is easy to set up, operates quietly, and comes with several accessories.

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2. Marineland Contour 3 Aquarium Kit – Best Value

Marineland is a brand committed to delivering superior and innovative products for fishkeeping success. The Contour 3 Aquarium Kit is a stylish yet functional model.

The bright white LEDs produce a daylight effect, while the blue lights provide a relaxing calm at night. The LED lighting system is energy efficient and cost-effective on your power bills.

The Marineland Contour 3 features a 3-stage filtration system to keep the water clean, clear, and healthy. The system uses an adjustable filter pump hidden at the back.

Mechanical filtration uses cartridge floss screens and molded ribbed back to filter dirt and debris. The activated carbon filter removes impurities and odors. Meanwhile, the Bio-foam in biological filtration gets rid of nitrites and ammonia.

The glass canopy on the aquarium provides easy access when feeding your fish or water changes. It also maintains ideal water temperatures in the tank.

Pros

• High-quality, advanced filter
• Easy access with the glass canopy and hinged light
• LED lights create daylight and moonlight effect
• Sleek design offers visibility from multiple angles

Cons

• The pump flow current can be stronger for some small fish.

Takeaway

This 3-gallon tank from Marineland is suitable for shrimp, betta, and small freshwater fish. Its advanced filtration system will ensure the water is free of harmful toxins and impurities to keep your pet healthy.

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3. Tetra Crescent Aquarium Kit – Best Budget

Tetra boasts of high-quality aquariums, and this Crescent Aquarium Kit fits the bill. Its curved front offers an unobstructed view of your fish plus their underwater environment.

Despite its bright LED lights, this tank is energy efficient since it uses low-voltage adapters. You can keep one goldfish or two tropical fish. However, add a heater to the tank for tropical fish as they require warm temperatures between 77 and 80 degrees.

The oval opening at the top lid allows easy feeding. However, you can cover it up after feeding if you are worried your pet might jump out.

Pros

• Seamless design offers a better view
• Easy-to-change filter
• Bright LED lights
• Features mechanical and chemical filtration

Cons

• The strong filter suctions in fish

Takeaway

With the Tetra Crescent 5, you get an eco-friendly and energy-efficient fish tank at an affordable price. Moreover, its Whisper filtration system is easy to maintain.

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4. Back To The Roots Water Garden, Self-Cleaning Fish Tank – Best Self-Cleaning

If you are concerned you may not have adequate time for maintenance, get a self-cleaning fish tank. This Back to the Roots aquarium features an aquaponics system to help get rid of fish waste.

The water garden at the top provides sufficient room to grow organic microgreens. These plants thrive from fish waste and can be harvested in just ten days.

The provided grow stones act as the medium between the plants and the water. When plants grow on these stones, their roots access the waste from the water, thereby filtering it.

This 3-gallon fish tank comes with a complete ecosystem kit. You get radish and wheatgrass seeds, fish food, a water dechlorinator, a growing medium, and a water conditioner. Apart from radish and wheatgrass, you can experiment by growing house plants, orchids, or luscious bamboo.

With this aquaponics system, you spend less time cleaning the tank and changing the water. It also uses 90% less water when farming microgreens compared to traditional methods.

Pros

• The Aquaponics system allows growth and self-cleaning
• Purchase includes a complete ecosystem kit
• Low maintenance
• Reduces cleaning time

Cons

• The pump sucks in sick and super weakfish

Takeaway

Back to Roots Water Garden Self-Cleaning Tank allows you to grow food while caring for your fish. This eco-friendly model is easy to set up and comes with several accessories.

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5. Fluval Sea Evo V Saltwater Fish Tank Aquarium Kit – Best for Saltwater Fish

The Fluval Sea Evo functions as a marine reef tank despite its small size. It holds 5 gallons of water and is preferable for saltwater fish.

The super-bright aquarium light comes with a waterproof casing and offers day and night lighting.

If you are looking for the best small aquarium for polyp stony corals, this tank may not be the best choice as these corals require higher lighting.

For superior water quality, the Evo V uses three-stage filtration. The Fluval Foam filter block offers mechanical filtration as the activated carbon gets rid of odors and chemicals. The BioMax insert allows the growth of healthy bacteria.

I love that the tank has a large surface area where you can add filter media. Moreover, the honeycomb wraps allow the model to blend in.

Pros

• 3-stage filtration system
• Ideal for soft corals and marine fish
• Features a super bright LED light
• Holds 5 gallons

Cons

• Its small design makes it difficult to install a heater

Takeaway

This Fluval model is engineered to deliver style and performance. Its powerful multi-stage filtration offers optimal water quality, while the super bright LED lighting promotes healthy coral growth.

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Fun Fact: We have been dealing with fresh water aquariums for quite a while. What if you decide to set up a saltwater fish tank, instead? Our article on the Top 5 Best Saltwater Fish Tanks will provide you with tips and hints to help you make an informed choice!

Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Small Fish Tanks

Finding the best small aquarium for your home should not feel like an impossible challenge. This is why we have compiled these six features to help you narrow your best pick.

Number of Fish

When looking for a small aquarium, experts recommend using a gallon of water for every inch of fish. So if your fish is 1inch, a 1-gallon water tank is ideal. With this in mind, it is easier to estimate how many fish your 5-gallon or 10-gallon tank should hold.

Nevertheless, this expert rule is problematic as it does not account for fish growth, temperament, waste production, body shape, or water surface area.

Based on this, we recommend housing one fish in a 5-gallon aquarium. This guarantees comfort and meets their environmental needs.

Fish Species

Not all tiny fish are suitable for small fish tanks. Therefore, do prior research on whether your favorite fish species thrive when confined in small aquariums.

Bettas, for example, are solitary fish. They do not mind the company of snails or shrimp. However, the neon tetras, though small, thrive in large schools and are not an ideal species for small fish tanks.

Also, find out the temperament of your preferred fish species. Small fish tanks have limited space to house aggressive and passive fish. There is not enough room for the passive fish to hide, and they may end up stressed or worse, dead.

In addition, go for fish that do not produce a lot of bio-waste. Since your tank is small, you do not want the excess fish waste polluting the water.

Tank Location

Before you purchase a small fish tank, make sure that its dimensions fit the location you have in mind. Moreover, ensure that it can safely support the tank.

For instance, if you get a 5-gallon tank, keep in mind that every gallon of water weighs approximately nine pounds. This means that your aquarium will weigh 45 pounds, excluding the weight of the filtration system, light, or gravel.

With this in mind, ensure that the tank location has the perfect dimensions and can hold the tank’s weight.

Size

Tank size, though small, should have room for your pet to swim, good filtration, and optimal pH levels. This is why I recommend getting at least a 5-gallon tank as your smallest fish tank size.

Aquariums with 5 or more gallons are less susceptible to waste buildup and pH fluctuations. They also offer a larger surface area for a fish to swim in as well as healthy gas exchange compared to tanks under 5-gallons.

Additionally, the tank should hold accessories like plants or corals. Fish love hiding, and you must include a few hiding spots.

Aquarium Kit

An aquarium kit usually has most of the accessories you need but at a cheaper price. These accessories include lighting, a filtration system, and gravel.

Aquarium lights highlight a fish’s color, gravel, decorative plants, and ornaments. Today, most fish tanks use LED lights as they are energy-efficient to save power bills and last longer. Besides, they are customizable and come in different color shades.

Your pet fish needs a filter to keep the water clean and healthy. A built-in filter helps remove toxic waste, chemicals, odors, and toxins. It also promotes the circulation of oxygenated water.

Heater

Some fish species thrive in warm water, others in cool water. So, if you intend to keep marine or tropical fish, get a heater for your small tank. You do not want the water temperatures dropping and endangering your fish.

Pros of Buying A Small Fish Tank

Saves Space

A small fish tank allows you to nurture your pet when your home has limited space. You can keep the small aquarium in your dorm or small apartment without worrying about the tank setup.

It’s Cheaper

Due to their small size, these fish tanks cost less than their larger counterparts. Moreover, they require lesser accessories like plants, gravel, substrates, and ornaments.

Less Cleaning Time

All fish tanks, big and small, need regular cleaning and maintenance. However, it will take you a few minutes to clean the glass, change filters, or change the water compared to cleaning a 100-gallon tank.

If you are a DIYer, and looking for the next big challenge, how about you make a small fish tank?

Here is a video that breaks down the process in easy steps:

Cons of Buying A Small Fish Tank

Limited Number of Fish

You can only keep a few fish in this setup. I recommend getting solitary fish rather than those that live in schools. Also, opt for less active species as there is limited room.

Zero Room for Errors

Small fish tanks hold small volumes of water, leaving no room for mistakes like overfeeding or missed water changes. These errors may go unnoticed in larger tanks because of their higher water volume but can prove fatal in small tanks.

Related Questions

Do Small Fish Tanks Need Daily Cleaning?

No. Instead, these aquariums require weekly cleaning. Remove the algae, change the water and vacuum the substrate once every week. In terms of monthly maintenance, ensure you rinse filter media and replace it as recommended by the manufacturer.

Do Small Fish Tanks Require Extra Equipment?

Absolutely. For instance, a heater prevents water temperature fluctuations, while a filter system cleans the water. Aquarium lights and thermometers are also a welcome bonus.

Which Fish Species are Suitable for Small Fish Tanks?

Bettas, fancy guppies, freshwater shrimp, and chili rasboras are great candidates. However, carefully research your best options before introducing them into a small aquarium.

The Bottom Line

I believe that the Aqueon LED MiniBow Kit is the best overall small fish tank. Its SmartClean technology allows fast water changes to maintain water quality.

This 5-gallon tank is ideal for beginners and experienced fish owners. Besides, it includes a power filter and a filter cartridge to keep the aquatic environment healthy.

However, if you do not have time to clean the tank every week, consider buying Back to Roots Indoor Garden. This self-cleaning tank uses organic plants to clean out the waste from the fish tank. Besides, you can enjoy the healthy herbs and microgreens growing on top of the aquarium.

We hope this small fish tank review helps you find the right aquarium for your wet fishes.