Starter Aquariums

THINK TANKS

An aquarium starter kit is a great way to introduce fish into your home

SUZANNAH KOLBECK | BestReviews

Few things are more relaxing than listening to the gentle hum of a fish tank while sleek, brightly colored fish move through plants and skim across gravel. For those who’d like to take advantage of this meditative activity, a 5-gallon fish tank is a great place to start. This size tank won’t take up much space in your home but still allows you to bring all of the benefits of fish-keeping into your life.

Here are five considerations for choosing a small aquarium for your home:

1 Accessories If you are investing in your first fish tank, a starter kit can be very helpful. These can include most of the accessories you’ll need, like a pump, water filter and heater.

You may wish to add more features to your fish tank, like plants, gravel, decorations, a thermometer or a light.

Some lights are designed to enhance the colors of fish; blue LED lights are the best for this. LED lights also use less energy and don’t heat up the tank. 3 Material Glass tanks are classic, durable and easy-to-clean, but they can be heavy, especially when filled (a gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds).

Plastic is lighter, but a fish tank made of that can get scratched or become cloudy over time. 4 Shape and size Five-gallon fish tanks are available in a variety of shapes, including vertical-cylinder, rectangle or crescent.

The size of your tank refers to its surface footprint. Vertically oriented tanks have a smaller footprint, while rectangle or crescent shapes will need a bigger display surface. 5 Lid A lid is important — especially if you have other curious pets. Fish tank lids are not airtight, but they will keep fish in and everything else out.

What kind of fish? How many?

Beginning aquarists will have the most success with freshwater fish. (FYI: Saltwater aquariums should hold at least 20 gallons.)

As a general rule, think 1 inch of fish for each gallon of water. This holds true for fish that won’t exceed 2 inches long, and it is a good guideline when shopping for fish. Get a larger tank for fish longer than 2 inches.

2 Ease of cleaning

Because clean tanks mean healthy fish, look for fish tanks and accessories that are easy to clean.

Complicated filters and heating systems can trap bacteria, causing illness.

BESTREVIEWS AND AMAZON.COM PHOTOS

5-GALLON AQUARIUMS TO TRY

Marineland Portrait Glass LED Aquarium Kit

This vertical glass tank is a stylish option for smaller surface areas. The unit is easy to assemble. The pump and filter are designed to tuck away in the back, and the LED light is bright — perfect for tropical fish. Note that cleaning the filter can be challenging. $111 at Amazon and Chewy.com

GloFish Aquarium Kit Fish Tank

This seamless, crescent-shaped plastic tank allows for easy viewing at any angle. This kit includes a filtration system and lid with bright blue LED lights designed to bring out the colors of GloFish. Keep in mind that some users felt the acrylic of the tank and plastic on the lid were flimsy. $45 at Amazon

Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit

This is an attractive, compact home for your fish with LED lighting and efficient filtration system. This glass aquarium has the traditional rectangular shape, but a slimmer footprint. It is best for smaller fish species like guppies and betta fish. Note that a heater is not included. $120 at Amazon and Chewy.com