Watching a fish swim gracefully around its tank has an excellent calming effect after a stressful day.
The problem is, most people don’t have enough space for a large aquarium.
Good thing, there are smaller fish tanks for those with limited area.
Below are reviews of the best 5 gallon fish tanks on the market to help you find the one suitable for your needs.
Best 5 Gallon Fish Tank Reviews
1. Aqueon LED MiniBow Fish Tank Starter Kit
If you are a hobbyist, this starter kit from Aqueon might just be the ideal choice for you.
More than anything, you will find that it is an affordable fish tank that is both easy to use and maintain.
Review
This compact and quiet Aqueon aquarium starter kit comes with the essentials required for a suitable home for your pet.
- Power Filter
This aquarium arrives with a built-in power filter known as Aqueon’s Quiet Flow filtration.
It helps improve water quality, keeping your aquarium clean and clear at all times.
- Acrylic Tank
The MiniBow fish tank made from high-quality acrylic material is less likely to break or crack than glass aquariums.
- LED Lighting
It also comes equipped with a full-coverage hood with bright LED light, allowing you to view your fish in excellent lighting.
You can lift a flap on top of the hood when it’s time to feed the fish without the need to take out the cover completely.
- Inclusions
This Aqueon starter kit comes with an LED lighting hood, the MiniBow acrylic aquarium, and the Quiet Flow filtration system.
You also get an elevated base, tropical flake fish food, a water conditioner, and an illustrated setup guide.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Excellent LED lighting
- Affordable
- Quiet filter
- Compact and stylish
Cons:
- Leaks
- Filter lacks power
2. GloFish Crescent Aquarium Kit
This eye-catching GloFish Crescent aquarium kit is an excellent choice for beginners and hobbyists looking for an affordable option.
Review
GloFish presents an impressive starter kit with a unique shape, making it hard not to take a second look.
- Blue LED Lighting
The blue LED lighting is the first thing you’ll notice upon entering the room, as it makes a black-light effect if you have the right accessories.
This energy-efficient GloFish blue lighting system incorporated into the cover enhances the fluorescent look of your fish.
- Crescent Shape
We rarely see fish tanks in a unique shape other than rounds and rectangles.
However, this GloFish tank comes in a crescent shape, adding to its charming appeal.
- Acrylic Material
If you want a more durable and lighter fish tank, this vessel from GloFish is perfect.
The fish tank’s high-quality acrylic material will not crack easily like glass.
You will also find that it’s safer to use with kids and pets since it’s less likely to break and hurt them.
- Open Feeding Lid
The fish tank’s cover has an open feeding lid for added convenience, so you don’t need to take away the entire thing.
It also prevents the fish from jumping out of the tank and reduces water evaporation at the same time.
- Inclusions
In addition to the five-gallon crescent-shaped tank, you will also receive the Bio-Bag filter cartridge from Tetra Whisper and the black lid with an open feeding hole.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Affordable
- Gentle filter flow
- Colorful
- Excellent blue lighting system
Cons:
- Flimsy lid
- Misaligned lid
3. Fluval SPEC Fish Tank Kit
This five-gallon modern-looking aquarium from Fluval SPEC is perfect for fish keepers looking to upgrade their pet’s habitat.
Review
The Fluval SPEC aquarium kit has the perfect design for small areas, like your desktop or countertop.
It is an all-in-one kit where the filtration, light, and pump are packaged in one housing.
- Inclusions
This well-packaged aquarium kit has all the things you need to set up this all-in-one fish tank.
Included in the box are the glass tank, acrylic cover, LED light with connected power brick, and a low-voltage transformer.
You will also get a circulation pump with the outlet nozzle, a foam filter block, an activated carbon insert, and a BioMax insert.
To finish the setup, there’s also an outlet tube and the instructions manual.
- Fish Tank Design
The walls and bottom of this aquarium are all glass.
Quarter-round pieces of aluminum cover the four corners of the tank, hiding their connecting point.
Moreover, the manufacturer used black silicone to better mask the dirt and algae growth.
Each top corner has a black, protective plastic covering.
This SPEC glass aquarium rests on a black plastic frame.
On the other hand, the inside has three divisions separated by black plexiglass.
The first part is the main display where you put the fish; next is the filtration system section.
Lastly is where you install the pump.
- Lighting System
The lighting system of the SPEC is on another level with 37 LEDs on its strip, which is as long as the aquarium itself.
It offers 7000 K LED high-output, generating an additional 20% lighting performance.
Basically, what it does is enhances fish colors while promoting plant growth at the same time.
- Filtration System
SPEC boasts a three-stage filtering system that combines biological, chemical, and physical aspects for exceptional water clarity.
This process means that the water passes through three various filters to ensure that it’s clear of any impurities.
Noticeably, there’s a separate area on one end of the tank.
The filtration system is hidden and organized together with the quiet filter pump.
Found on the same end of the tank is an adjustable water return nozzle.
Most users aim it on the glass wall to weaken the water force to prevent stressing out the fish.
Even the filtration system is adjustable, allowing you to set the water’s current low for a calm aquatic environment.
- Aquarium Specifications
The overall capacity of this rectangular Fluval SPEC aquarium kit is indeed five gallons, unlike other fish tanks claiming to have the same volume.
It measures 20.5 x 7.5 x 11.6 inches and weighs five kilos.
It offers a more extended swimming area for the fish than other aquariums with similar capacity.
This tank design allows you to fill the tank with natural plants and try your hand at aquascaping and let them propagate.
Pros:
- Slim and sleek design
- Quiet pump
- Excellent lighting system
- Well-designed
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Water evaporates quickly
- Powerful pump
4. Koller Products PanaView Aquarium Kit
The overall design of the Koller Products PanaView aquarium kit promotes easy setup and maintenance.
Review
The PanaView is a cost-effective aquarium kit suitable for your betta and other small fish species.
- LED Lighting
The kit’s LED lighting system has an on and off switch and comes with energy-efficient LEDs in seven different color selections.
You can choose from the following colors to illuminate the fish: amber, aqua, blue, daylight white, green, purple, and red.
- Filtration System
There’s a powerful internal filter that helps clean and purifies the water inside the aquarium.
Impressively enough, it produces 45 gallons per hour of water flow.
The filter helps remove various organic pollutants, such as discoloration, heavy metals, odors, and toxic gases.
You will also find that the poly-fiber floss is dual-sided responsible for removing debris and fish waste.
Similarly, the activated carbon gets rid of organic pollutants.
- Tank Design
The fish tank offers a complete viewing experience with its impact-resistant transparent plastic material.
Its one-piece seamless design, measuring 16.5 x 10 x 11.8 inches, provides a leak-proof guarantee.
It has a unique shape, too, allowing you to view the aquarium from various angles wherever you are in the room.
- Patented Hood
The PanaView’s patented hood design allows convenient cleaning and maintenance as it easily tilts upwards.
Pros:
- Energy-efficient LED lights
- Easy to maintain
- Break-resistant
- Leak-proof
- Easy setup
Cons:
- No heater
- Scratches easily
5. Tetra Crescent Aquarium Kit
The Tetra Crescent aquarium kit is an affordable option for beginners who plan to start from a few fish to keep.
Review
The overall finish of the acrylic casing of the Tetra Crescent makes it the perfect vessel to showcase your fish.
- Inclusions
The Tetra Crescent aquarium kit includes the acrylic tank, the black cover, and the base frame.
You also get white LED lighting, a low-voltage power adapter, and an internal filter with a Bio bag.
- Seamless Acrylic Casing
The acrylic fish tank offers lightness not found in glass aquariums, making it easier to move from one spot to another.
Its overall form and finish make it durable to handle bumps and knocks without breaking.
- Hidden LED Lighting
LED lights are essential to aquariums, whether big or small, as they are waterproof and blend well with any background.
There are 12 LED lights in a row placed at the backdrop of the tank, illuminating the fish and setting the room’s ambiance.
- Filtration System
The Tetra Crescent kit uses Ultra-Activated Carbon that eliminates unwanted odors from the tank.
It also comes with the Tetra Whisper Internal Power Filter, providing healthy surroundings for your pet.
- Flawless Finish
The flawless glass-like finish of the compact Crescent makes it more appealing to display in any room.
It will give you a close-up view of your fish.
Pros:
- Bright LED lights
- Ideal size and shape
- Easy to setup
- Powerful filter
- Beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Large feeding hole
- Scratches easily
Final Verdict
Among these selections, we consider the Fluval SPEC kit as the best 5 gallon fish tank.
More than anything, it has a sleek design and a unique lighting system.
It exudes a high-quality standard that is hard to find from other aquarium models.
We also like that the separate compartment keeps the hardware neat and organized.
With its extended length, your fish will have plenty of space to swim.