Aquariums can bring beauty and tranquility to any home or office. When getting an aquarium you need more than just the tank. There’s lighting, filtration and other considerations to take into account. To make things easier for consumers, many aquarium manufacturers have started selling aquarium kits that include pretty much everything you need to get started. Sure, you still need to get substrate, decorations, maybe a heater and of course the fish! But these kits make things super easy.
Aquarium kits have become quite popular and there are a ton of great options out there. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve picked some of our favorite aquarium kits and have shared them below. So check them out and see which one looks the best for you!
Key Features To Look For When Buying Aquariums
- Size – Is it large enough to provide enough space for the kinds of fish (or other aquarium residents) you want to get? Will it fit in the part of your home or office you want to place the tank?
- Salt or Fresh water – Are you planning to have a saltwater or freshwater tank? Are you planning to keep corals or live plants in the tank?
- Maintenance – is the aquarium easy to maintain? Or will you need a lot of time, effort and skills to clean it?
- Design – Does the design fit the aesthetic of your home or your room?
- Accessories – Aside from the aquarium itself, what else is included in the kit?
Best Aquarium Kits In the Internet
Best Overall Pick: Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter
Our top overall pick is the Portrait Aquarium Kit from Marineland. It is a curved glass aquarium and can hold up to 5 gallons. The kit is easy to assemble, so it can be put together easily by beginners.
The design matches any home aesthetic. Maintenance is easy, too. The 3-stage filter is hidden and features an adjustable flow pump. The kit also comes with Rite-Size Z Cartridge and Marineland Bio-Foam.
Key Features
- Advanced 3-stage hidden back panel filtration with adjustable flow filter pump.
- The white LEDs create a shimmering light in the water.
- The blue LEDs produce a relaxing moonlight glow.
- Includes a hinged light and sliding glass canopy for easy access to the tank.
What others are saying about the Portrait Aquarium Kit from Marineland
“I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this Beautiful little tank so much I bought another one.”
“This is the best 5 gallon tank you will ever purchase for the price. I love the vertical design, curved edges, glass lid that slides open, and the lighting that has two settings (natural and blue light). Moving my betta from a tiny tank to this 5 gallon tank has really made him come to life. He loves exploring his new environment with all the fresh vegetation. I realized pretty quickly that even on the medium setting for the water pump it was too strong of a current for my betta. He was being suctioned to the filter. Since the pump is adjustable I was able to lower the setting and he can swim with ease. I also bought a heater with a built in thermostat. It’s really nice to have for betta fish that need to be in warm water. Keep in mind that the tank, light and heater will require a total of three outlets.”
“This is a great starter fish tank. The glass work is really nice. Filtration system is good. Minor peeling of black trimming, easily fixed by glue. Overall style is very chic.”
Best Stylish Pick: MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit with Rail Light
If you’re looking for something that will look good in any room in your house, go for the MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit with Rail Light. The design is so beautiful that it easily compliments any room in your household.
This one is only three gallons, but it features curved glass with an LED lighting system that uses bright white and blue LEDs. The lighting shows off the aquarium in the best light possible. It also features daylight and moonlight settings. Plus the advanced 3-stage filtration system keeps the aquarium clean and the residents healthy.
Key Features
- Stylish aquarium kit with rail light
- Daylight and moonlight LED settings
- Easy to use
- Hidden 3-step filtration with adjustable flow filter pump and one RITE-SIZE Z filter cartridge
- Holds up to three gallons
What Others Are Saying About the MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit with Rail Light
“Great for a shrimp tank! Only downside is the lower right corner has an opening that the shrimp would constantly crawl through. However, I covered this with a Java moss on a square piece of metal. I bought a heater for this and my shrimp have been breeding with no problem.”
“I currently have two tanks for half moon bettas. One is a Fuval Spec III. The other is the Marineland Contour. The Marineland is superior in design and quality. It has more space to work in the “back” and I like the glass (as opposed to flimsy plastic) lid. I also like that it fits unobtrusively on my kitchen countertop. If you are concerned about having too much current for your betta in the tank with the filter that comes with it, what I did was set aside the original filter and instead installed a KollerCraft TOM Aquarium Mini Internal Filter (basically a sponge filter) which comes with a spray bar. I also installed a Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm Heater (25 watt). Both fit nicely in the space provided in the back of the tank. It does take a little effort to get the spray bar attached to the filter through the hole provided in the tank, but I got it to work. If you are serious about keeping bettas, or if you want a nice little tank for some small tropical fish, this is a winner.”
“My Betta loves his new home! I added a 15 watt grow lamp, Tetra thermometer, a digital temp gauge, several live plants, a floating log, a sinking log, a Buddha head, catappa leaves, after I treated the water and I have one very happy bubble nest blowing Betta boy!”
Best Contemporary Pick: Fluval Spec III Aquarium Kit, 2.6-Gallon
On the other hand, we have the Fluval Spec II Aquarium Kit – another must-try! It’s a 2.6 gallon etched-glass aquarium with aluminum trim. The aquarium is small, but it packs some big features.
The overhanging lighting system with 31 powerful LED lamps, powerful 3-stage filtration system, activated carbon and BioMax bio rings are everything you want in an aquarium. It is easy to maintain, too!
Key Features
- 2.6 gallon Nano aquarium and Powerful 3-stage oversized mechanical, chemical and biological filtration.
- Etched-glass tank with aluminum trim
- Powerful 31 LED Lighting System
- Includes foam block, activated carbon and BioMax bio rings
- Size: 11.8 x 10.8 x 8.7 Inch
What Others Are Saying About The Fluval Spec II Aquarium Kit
“I found this tank to be very straightforward to assemble, I had it together in 10 minutes. I have a betta and few small shrimp in mine, I added a prefilter sponge over the outflow to slow down the current, works perfectly. I put a heater in the pump compartment (bettas are tropical fish and need warm water) and its hidden and works well. Mine supports several species of anubias and a little moss (for the shrimps) as well as frogbit and duckweed floaters. Everything grows so well that I have to thin them out regularly. I added Seachem Purigen in the spot made for the charcoal, and some extra ceramic filter media and it cycled well (not always easy with such a small tank). I only need to so a 30% partial water change weekly to keep ammonia, nitrates and nitrates at 0. The water is sparking clear.”
Its aesthetically pleasing, virtually silent and low maintenance. Can’t recommend it enough as an appropriate home for a betta.”
“This is my s second Fluval tank. This one is smaller and home for two goldfish I inherited from my adult daughter. These tanks are always very quite, require very little maintenance, etc. My bigger tank has a balance of plants, shrimp, and two bottom dwellers. This balance makes keeping everybody healthy and happy! BTW… I am not exaggerating… It came triple-boxed, and arrived quickly and in perfect shape!”
“I love these tanks! I think they are perfect for a betta. (I know some would disagree…) the filtration system is good, although I toss the carbon and use purigen. The new stock light grows low light plants beautifully. I’ve also used it for small shrimp colonies. If you’re looking for a first tank this is a great one to start with, since everything is included (except a heater) and setup is easy.”
Other Top Picks:
Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit
If you’re looking for something bigger, the Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit can hold up to 10 gallons. It features a contemporary style with a unique bent design with frameless construction. It is aesthetically pleasing and features a unique internal cascade filter to keep the aquarium clean.
Key Features
- Quiet Power Internal Filtration System
- Safe & Powerful LED Light
- Hinged Lid
What Others Are Saying About The Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit
“I bought this tank to upgrade my 6gal shrimp tank. Mine is the 10gal version. The glass is nice and thick and is actually glass.”
The extras need to be thought of just as that, extras. The filter is very usable and nice, the base is eh, and the light is trash. However for first time hobbyists the light is great. The light will have a tough time growing plants but would be fine for a betta for example.”
“I really do love this tank and it is such an incredible deal compared to everything else out there. I cant think of anything bad about this tank. Buy it if you are a first time hobbyist or a veteran.”
“I purchased the 7.5 g Penn Plax aquarium – It’s smooth aesthetic lines makes it a perfect palette for creative hobbyists. I placed it on the counter, and illuminated it with under-the-cabinet counter light, (which is remotely controlled).”
Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit, 29 Gallon
If you’re a beginner when it comes to aquariums, we highly recommend the Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit. It has everything you need to get started on this new venture!
Key Features
- LED Lights
- Designed for beginners
- Great value for money
What Others Are Saying About The Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit
“Great purchase”
“Love this aquarium!”