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Best 5 Gallon Fish Tank: Ultimate Guide

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Fish tanks can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Not all fish tanks or aquariums fit well with the species of fish that you want to keep.

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For starters, you may need to look into a good-sized aquarium where the filters and fish fit perfectly so that they don’t get overcrowded or get sucked into the filters. Choosing an appropriate tank can also be important if you have a small space in the house.

This is why you may need to choose the best 5 gallon fish tank in the market today. If you are looking for a 5 gallon fish tank review, you’ve come to the right place, since we will round up some great products that might interest you.

Top 5 Gallon Fish Tank Reviews

We handpicked the following products to choose the best 5-gallon fish tank out there:

1. MarineLand 5 Gallon Portrait Glass LED Aquarium Kit

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As an aquarium with a slim design, this one already has a set of LEDs that are above the water with two colors that simulate nature. The white light is for a shimmering light while the blue light simulates a moonlight glow, which makes the fish feel like they are outdoors.

The filtration process at the back has 3 stages and you can also adjust the flow of the pump when needed. The tank can be easily accessed due to the glass canopy and the hinged design of the light.

Things We Liked

  • Good design of the contoured glass corners
  • Has a slim design so it fits easily in most rooms or spaces
  • A silent filter motor
  • Solid design for the base and weight of the aquarium
  • You can flip up the light to access the aquarium

Things We Didn’t Like

  • May not be ideal for small fish due to the strong filter suction
  • Can be hard to clean the area at the back of the rear filter

2. Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon, White

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As a 5-gallon tank, this one has a horizontal rectangular shape which measures 17.2 x 10.6 x 6.3 inches (make sure to measure your personal space for this fish tank first!). It already comes with its own filter media, such as a foam block, activated carbon, and BioMax bio rings, so you can start using it right away for filtering the fish tank.

The tank also comes with its own 37-color LED lighting system so it is almost ready to go. What’s more, the aluminum trim of the glass tank keeps it sturdy and protected yet not too much of a hassle to lift and replace the water with. You can use this tank for a betta, goldfish, tropical freshwater, and bottom feeder fish.

Things We Liked

  • Good for small areas
  • Comes with various filter media
  • Already has LED lights
  • Okay for nearly all fish species
  • 3-stage filtration process

Things We Didn’t Like

  • May be hard to clean due to the narrow design
  • The light placement may hinder you from throwing the food inside

3. MarineLand Contour Glass Aquarium Kit with Rail Light

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This aquarium starter kit is also made with a 3-stage filtration that you can adjust the water flow in. The tank uses the RITE-SIZE Z filter cartridge (included) and is able to be switched between daylight and moonlight settings for its included LED light. The rail light may be something that looks attractive to fish and guests.

Its hinged light makes it easy to flip over to access the tank. It can accept various filter media, such as mechanical, chemical, and biological (e.g. Bio-Foam).

Things We Liked

  • Flipping lights for easy access to the tank
  • Has a narrow shape for small spaces
  • Two settings for LED lighting
  • Aesthetic design due to the contoured glass

Things We Didn’t Like

  • May not be ideal for small fish due to the powerful filter pump

4. Marina LED Aquarium Kit

Marina LED Aquarium Kit
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This 5-gallon glass fish tank can be good for beginners due to including everything that you need to set up a fish tank. Due to the slim filter design (a clip-on), it can be easy to fit into small spaces. Also, it can be set up within 1 minute due to the simple design of the tank.

The natural daylight effect LED lighting makes it great for simulating a peaceful atmosphere for your fish. Energy-efficient LED light is used for fish lighting.

Things We Liked

  • The all-glass construction looks aesthetically pleasing
  • Quiet filter
  • The black sealant can be good for algae problems
  • Easy to set up

Things We Didn’t Like

  • Can be hard to position the filter
  • May not be spacious enough for a heater

5. Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit

Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit
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Yet another aquarium with an all-glass design (frameless), this 5-gallon fish tank has a slightly bent or curved design so it looks like one of those curved HD TVs nowadays. It measures 11 x 8 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches in its dimensions and it can be used for a wide variety of fish species.

Due to the hinge style plastic lid, it can be a breeze to feed or access the fish inside the aquarium. Included in the kit are a cascade filter and an LED light that’s ready to take some action.

Things We Liked

  • Thoroughly wrapped and protected during shipping
  • Curved, all-glass design
  • A whole kit which includes a filter and a light
  • Easy to put together
  • Not very spacious in your room

Things We Didn’t Like

  • Instructions for changing the filter were unclear
  • The filter may be too powerful for betta fish

Things to Consider

When you choose the best 5-gallon aquarium, you may want to consider the following FAQs first:

What equipment do I need to set up my 5-gallon fish tank?

The following equipment is generally needed for you to set up your fish tank:

  1. Filter. The filter should be just the right size for your fish and your tank. If you are purchasing a fish tank package that already has a filter, test to see if the filter is just right for your fish. If it is too powerful then it might blow your fish away. Do consider a filter that is just right for your fish.
  2. Heater. A heater is necessary to make sure that your fish stays at the right temperature. This would be an important feature if you are keeping tropical fish. Heaters can be set somewhere between 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit depending on how much fish you have inside.
  3. Lights. Good lighting can help stimulate the fish so that it will feel like their environment is natural. Lighting systems for fish tanks are usually in eco-friendly LED lights, which can be set between daytime and nighttime lighting to simulate a day and night cycle for the fish. A lighted tank can also look attractive to guests.
  4. Substrate. The substrate is the base of your tank that will act as the ground. It can be either sandy or gravel depending on your preferences or depending on the type of fish that you are going to keep.
  5. Plants. Adding plants comes next, and it pays to keep the right kind of plants for a 5-gallon tank so that it will not look too crowded. We’ll list down a good set of plants that you can choose to place on your small tank. The benefit of adding live plants is that it can help in producing oxygen for a healthier environment for fish. Live plants also absorb ammonia from the water, which comes from the fish.
  6. Cleaning equipment. Aside from filters, you can also use a siphon for removing big particles that settle in the filter, most of which can’t be sucked in by your filter due to their large size. The glass of the tank can also be filled with algae sometimes so you may want to clean that using an algae magnet that you can buy separately.

What fish can I keep in a 5-gallon fish tank?

Here are some small species that you can keep in a 5-gallon fish tank:

  1. Betta fish. Also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, this species is the most popular for small, 5-gallon tanks due to their small size but colorful design. They can grow up to 7 cm (adults) and their lifespan can reach from 3 to 5 years in captivity. Unlike other fish, Bettas don’t really need the company of another fish, so you can just put one in a tank and maybe some other non-fish species there.
  2. White Cloud Mountain Minnows. This species can also live up to 5 years and they can live well with other fish (but not with larger fish!). They are also typically a small species but they have a cute color pattern on their tail. They may be ideal for beginners as well.
  3. Dwarf Rasbora. This small fish generally has an orange color with a spot or two, much like the Koi fish. Also known as the Pygmy Rasbora, it is classified as a tropical fish and can feed on simple worms or small crustaceans.
  4. Endler’s Livebearer. Yet another small but colorful fish, this one usually has striking neon colors on a black or gray body. With a scientific name of Poecilia wingei, this species of fish can be fed with live worms, shrimp, and various invertebrates, or even finely crushed flake or powder food, so it may be easy to feed for beginners.

Additionally, you can also add other aquatic and semi-aquatic species, such as:

  1. Cherry Shrimp. A freshwater shrimp, the Neocaridina davidi is good for controlling algae in your fish tank, so they may help out with cleaning.
  2. Ghost Shrimp. Also known as the glass shrimp, the palaemonetes paludosus is a shrimp that can also help to clean up your aquarium since they are voracious eaters. They also look cool due to their transparent body and they will also feed on most shrimp pellets or even fish flakes that weren’t caught by your fish.
  3. Dwarf Frog. African dwarf frogs can be a unique addition to any aquarium. They are omnivores and they can grow up to 1 1/4 inches long. If your aquarium is a bit larger in size or shape in a rectangular way, you can add them.
  4. Nerite Snails. A nerite snail can be a great algae eater as well so it could be an addition to your 5-gallon fish tank.

What plants can I keep in a 5-gallon fish tank?

Plants that can be added to your 5-gallon fish tank may include the following:

  1. Java fern – this plant is a popular one and can be easily attached to any rock or wood.
  2. Java moss – ideal for beginners, Java moss has a hardy texture.
  3. Dwarf hair grass – as a carpet plant, this one can be great for adding aesthetics to your tank.
  4. Anubias Nana – requiring a low-moderate rating, this plant is hardy and can grow up to 8 inches.
  5. Staurogyne Repens – yet another hardy plant, this can act as a foreground aquarium plant.

How many Betta fish can I keep in a 5-gallon fish tank?

The ideal set up for a 5-gallon fish tank if you want to keep Betta fish would usually be a single Betta fish, a ghost shrimp, or a nerite snail. Keeping aquarium plants such as Java Fern and the Anarchis can also be a great idea.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, our top pick would be the MarineLand 5 Gallon Portrait Glass LED Aquarium Kit due to the contoured glass corners, a space-saving slim design, easy access to the aquarium due to the flip-up light, a sturdy weight so that it won’t easily move around, and a silent filter motor.

While there’s a too strong filter suction, you can easily replace the filter with a suitable one for your fish species, such as the betta fish. Other fish tanks that we mentioned here are okay as well, but we chose this one due to its slimmer design.