Whether you’re looking for your first aquarium or adding to your collection, finding the right aquarium kit is essential. It should fit the desired space in your home or office, match your budget, and be suitable for corals, fish, or other marine life you want to keep.
Complete all-in-one aquarium packages come with the tank, stand, and appropriately sized life support system that will get your freshwater or saltwater setup up and running fast. Kits are great for beginners because they eliminate the guesswork of what components to buy individually and ensure you have everything you need to start your fish tank.
Unfortunately, the included equipment is usually subpar at best. The tanks are typically a little smaller than you might want, the lights don’t have good timers or programmability, and most importantly the filters are usually not of high quality.
Also, some kits don’t include a heater, which is important if you’re going to be keeping fish that require warm water. Additionally, the hoods of these tanks are usually not hinged and must be completely removed for any substantial maintenance. This isn’t a huge deal on a small 5g or 10g tank but on a bigger tank like my 29g it’s pretty annoying.
Lastly, most aquarium kits don’t come with bottled bacteria or food, testing supplies, water conditioner, or a fish net. These things add up quickly and are not really necessary if you’re using the tank for a simple hobby but can be if you plan to breed or raise livestock. So in the end, while a kit is a convenient way to get started it’s probably cheaper to just buy all of the individual pieces you need separately.
Tetra Goldfish Flakes, Nutritionally Balanced Diet For Aquarium Fish, Vitamin C Enriched Flakes, 7.06 oz
$8.63 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner - Chemical Remover and Detoxifier 500 ml
$15.95 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Tetra 26446 HT Submersible Aquarium Heater With Electronic Thermostat, 100-Watt, Multicolor, 10-30 Gallon
$9.49 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Orlushy 25W Small Submersible Aquarium Heater, Constant Temperature Betta Fish Tank Heater of 78℉for 1-6 Gallons Freshwater & Saltwater Tanks
$11.99 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Tetra PRO PlecoWafers 5.29 Ounces, Nutritionally Balanced Vegetarian Fish Food for Bottom Feeders, Concentrated Algae Center
$3.99 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
AQUANEAT LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum for 12 Inch to 16 Inch Fish Tank Light Fresh Water Light
$8.99 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
DaToo Mini Aquarium Heater 25W Small Fish Tank Heater 25 Watt with Free Thermometer Sticker
$6.69 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Aqueon Aquarium Algae Cleaning Magnets Glass/Acrylic, Small, Black
$10.60 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Ultra Fresh Betta Fish Food, Pro Shrimp Patties, 50% Sword Prawns + Akiami Paste Shrimps, All Natural Protein, Rich in Calcium, for Betta's Healthy Development and Cleaner Water, 0.7 oz
$6.89 (as of December 22, 2024 14:20 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)