The first thing to do after buying a pet fish is to look for a good fish tank or aquarium for sale, either with a stand or for your coffee table or office. You'll also need a filter, a light, and a thermometer. Not to forget aquascaping and ornaments! Maintaining a clean tank to avoid green or brown algae can be daunting to beginners, which is why you should start off with the right tank to get you on your feet (or fins!).
Before you pick, you should know what to look for to provide the best living conditions for your fish. Whether that's a 5 litre or a 20-litre capacity, a bubble machine or an underwater cleaning filter, our guide will help you choose the ideal home. And, of course, the trusty tanks in our top 10 list include options for goldfish and tropical betta or guppy fish alike and are all available on Amazon and Argos.
Image | 1 ![]() Superfish | 2 ![]() MonsterShop | 3 ![]() Fluval | 4 ![]() Tetra | 5 ![]() Marina | 6 ![]() ZWF | 7 ![]() All Pond Solutions | 8 ![]() Diversa | 9 ![]() Sotoboo | 10 ![]() Ferplast |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Qubiq Aquarium | Large Fish Tank Aquarium | Spec Aquarium Kit | Starter Kit Tank | 360 Aquarium | Multifunctional Living Room Creative Aquarium | Nano Aquarium Curve | Aquarium Fish Tank | Wall Hanging Fish Tank | Plastic Fish Aquarium |
Features | 30-Litre Tank With a Filter and LED Lights, Perfect for First-Time Fish Owners | A Huge 300L Fish Tank With Practical Extras Including Gravel, Ornaments and Plants | A Modern and Efficient Tank With a Smart Design and a 3-Stage Filter | A Perfect Starter Kit for Families Featuring an 80-Litre Tank, LED Lights and a Heater | A Cylindrical, Stylish Fish Tank With Multicoloured Lights and a Handy Remote Control | The Perfect Home Complete With a Roof, L-Shaped Sofa and TV Cabinet | A Sturdy, Round Fish Tank That Holds 14 Litres, Ideal for Your Home or Office | Simple, Spacious and Sleek Aquarium With Strong Silicone Joints for Extra Security | A Decorative Hanging Fish Tank With a Wide Open Gap, Ideal for One or Two Fish | A Basic, Plastic Fish Tank for Children That Holds 6 Litres of Water |
Price | £82.99 | £749.99 | £89.00 | £100.00 | £51.26 | £256.98 | £72.99 | £209.95 | £18.74 | £15.60 |
Capacity | 30 litres | 300 litres | 19 litres | 80 litres | 10 litres | 5 litres | 14 litres | 160 litres | 5 litres | 6 litres |
Material | Glass | Glass | Glass | Glass | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Glass | Acrylic | Plastic |
Accessories | Light, filter | Light, filter, stand, air pump, heater, ornaments | Light, filter, pump | Light, filter, food, heater, conditioner | Multi-colour LED lighting, decorative rocks, remote control, filter, air pump | Ornaments | Light, decorative tree, pebbles | Light | - | - |
Shape | Cube | Rectangular | Rectangular | Rectangular | Cylinder | Novelty house | Circular | Rectangular | Bowl | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 32 x 32 cm | 70 x 120 x 39 cm | 52.1 x 19.1 cm | 53.5 x 62.5 x 34 cm | 25.4cm x 25.4cm | 36 x 27 x 39cm | 46 x 27 cm | 100 x 40 x 40 cm | 29.5 x 14 x 26 cm | 30 x 20 x 20.3 cm |
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To make sure that your fish are happy and have room to grow, you need to know which capacity of tank to buy. Tanks are measured in litres, which range between 5 and 300 litres. You can get smaller, but we'd recommend starting with 5 litres for easier maintenance, and a better overall environment.
It's suggested to keep a maximum of five fish in a 10-litre tank, so use that as a helpful perspective as to how many you could fit in your desired tank. This is important if you want to keep your fish healthy and happy.
Make sure you have the right fish food for the species to feed them too!
It's important that you find the right material for your tank, and you'll typically have a choice of glass, acrylic, or plastic. Glass is the most frequently used, and makes for a scratch-resistant tank that's easy to care for and keeps its clarity over years of usage.
Acrylic, on the other hand, can yellow with age, although it does have more flexibility and can be made into a variety of different shapes. Plastic tanks are good for children who need a starter tank, or perhaps if you need a place to put your fish while you clean the main tank. All in all, glass tanks are the most popular and reliable option, but we've included a bit of everything on our list so you can decide for yourself!
If you were to go to Amazon and buy everything you need for your tank separately, you could find yourself shocked at the total cost! That's why we'd recommend considering a bundle of care items along with your tank. Most commonly this will be a filter, light, and thermometer, but could also offer cleaners, food, backdrop stickers, gravel, sand, and decorations. Phew!
This is beneficial for a number of reasons other than the fact that it saves money. For instance, it also makes things easier for first-time fish owners, and means you don't have to source different products that suit the size of your tank – everything is already fitted for you.
Create a diverse and fun environment for your new pet(s) with our top pick of fish tank ornaments!
Traditionally, the round goldfish bowl was a classic design and frequently bought for children to keep one or two goldfish in. However, more recently, there is a plethora of box tank designs that appeal more to the eye. In addition, the flat sides are actually easier to clean in comparison to rounder edges.
These new box tanks can be square, tall, and slim, or long and wide, to suit your preferences for a home aquarium aesthetic as you wish. We recommend a box tank to rest on a stand, or if you're buying a tabletop tank, opt for a round one or a taller minimalistic style. It's also worth noting the dimensions of the fish tank so you know what surface size it will need to sit on, or where you can place it in your home.
Ensure that your tank has good water oxygenation and improved filtration with an air stone.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£82.99
Capacity | 30 litres |
---|---|
Material | Glass |
Accessories | Light, filter |
Shape | Cube |
Dimensions | 32 x 32 cm |
£749.99
Capacity | 300 litres |
---|---|
Material | Glass |
Accessories | Light, filter, stand, air pump, heater, ornaments |
Shape | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 70 x 120 x 39 cm |
£89.00
Capacity | 19 litres |
---|---|
Material | Glass |
Accessories | Light, filter, pump |
Shape | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 52.1 x 19.1 cm |
918/9427
£100.00
Capacity | 80 litres |
---|---|
Material | Glass |
Accessories | Light, filter, food, heater, conditioner |
Shape | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 53.5 x 62.5 x 34 cm |
£51.26
Capacity | 10 litres |
---|---|
Material | Acrylic |
Accessories | Multi-colour LED lighting, decorative rocks, remote control, filter, air pump |
Shape | Cylinder |
Dimensions | 25.4cm x 25.4cm |
£256.98
Capacity | 5 litres |
---|---|
Material | Acrylic |
Accessories | Ornaments |
Shape | Novelty house |
Dimensions | 36 x 27 x 39cm |
£72.99
Capacity | 14 litres |
---|---|
Material | Acrylic |
Accessories | Light, decorative tree, pebbles |
Shape | Circular |
Dimensions | 46 x 27 cm |
£209.95
Capacity | 160 litres |
---|---|
Material | Glass |
Accessories | Light |
Shape | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 100 x 40 x 40 cm |
£18.74
Capacity | 5 litres |
---|---|
Material | Acrylic |
Accessories | - |
Shape | Bowl |
Dimensions | 29.5 x 14 x 26 cm |
£15.60
Capacity | 6 litres |
---|---|
Material | Plastic |
Accessories | - |
Shape | Rectangular |
Dimensions | 30 x 20 x 20.3 cm |
You’ll want to clean your fish tank every one to two weeks to remove any uneaten food and faeces from the gravel as well as replacing some, not all, of the water in the tank. A complete clean of the filter and tank walls should be done 2-3 times a year.
This will depend largely on the quality and material of the tank, as well as how well you have taken care of it. You should expect to get at least 5-10 years out of a properly maintained tank. Of course, your average guppy tank will not be as robust as a tropical tank so you should also bear this in mind.
Remove all decor and plants, scrubbing clean with a toothbrush where necessary. Some people like to use a net to transfer fish to another tank for holding while you thoroughly scrub the aquarium. If this isn't possible, you can clean the tank with the fish still in it, but be careful not to harm them!
Written and researched by Annie Speight
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