Tank Size

Tall and Skinny or Short and Fat?

Most fish don't spend their time swimming up and down so they don't need a tall tank. You might want a tall tank so you can keep tall plants but otherwise there is no need for a taller tank. Standard sizes exist for a reason.

What Brand?

Aqueon is the most widely available but there are lots of other brands too. For example: Tetra, Fluval, Coralife, Marineland and many more. Some are better than others, do your research before buying a tank. Tanks tend to be less expensive in local stores than online. Another option is a used tank. You can find people selling used tanks nearby on apps like nextdoor or facebook market place. You will need to test if its watertight though, if its not you can easily fix it yourself.

What Material?

The most common type is glass, it is cheap and reliable. Acrylic is another option but it is more expensive. Acrylic tanks can be made into weird shapes and it distorts images less than glass but it also gets scratched very easily. It depends on the size of the tank and the brand.

Less than 5 Gallons

Any tank smaller than five gallons is cruel to a fish.

5 Gallons

Five gallons is ok for a one or two small fish. Some shrimp would be happy in a tank this size. They can be quite cheap.

Dimensions: 16 x 8 x 10 inches

10 Gallons

10 gallons is good for a betta or a school of little fish like neons or danios. They can be quite cheap.

Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 12

15 Gallons

15 gallons is good for a betta or a school of fish like neons or danios. Its a great size for beginners.

Dimensions: 24 x 12 x 12

20 Gallons

20 gallons is good for most tetras and you can keep schools of them in it.

Dimensions: 30 x 12 x 12

29 Gallons

29 gallons is great for people who want a lot of fish options. This is probably the largest tank a beginner should get. It can be difficult to find a place to put it so plan accordingly.

Dimensions: 30 x 12 x 18

40 Gallons

40 gallons is great for larger fish or a heavily planted tank. Any larger and your parents will think you are a crazy fish person but don't listen to them. You might need to buy a stand to go with it. With tanks so large its a good idea to see one in person before buying one to get a scale of it.

Dimensions: 48 x 12 x 16

50 Gallons

50 gallons is great for larger fish or a heavily planted tank. Your parents will think you are a crazy fish person but don't listen to them. You might need to buy a stand to go with it. With tanks so large its a good idea to see one in person before buying one to get a scale of it.

Dimensions: 36 x 18 x 19

55 Gallons

55 gallons is big and definitely not for beginners but it can be awesome. With tanks so large its a good idea to see one in person before buying one to get a scale of it.

Dimensions: 48 x 13 x 21

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