5 TOP 10 Gallon Fish Tanks: Aquariums, Kits, Filters, Heaters, And Hoods

What is the best 10-gallon fish tank?

A ten-gallon aquarium is a really good tank size for beginners.

It’s big enough to house a variety of fish but doesn’t take up a huge amount of space. This size can be quick and easy to clean and it will make a great feature in any room.

I’ve owned many 10 gal aquariums in my time. From my experience, here’s what you need to keep in mind when buying a 10-gallon tank, as well as some top recommended models you can buy online today.

Best 10 Gallon Aquariums

Marina LED Aquarium Kit

  • Affordable tank for begginers
  • Includes filter, food, conditioner, net, and guide
  • Lid w/ LED lighting
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Aqueon 10 Gal LED Aquarium Kit

  • Clear glass tank w/ full hood
  • Filter and cartridge, 50w heater, food, net, thermometer
  • Great price
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Aqueon 10 Gal Black Aquarium

  • Standalone 10 gal glass tank
  • Upper and lower rims, silicone edges
  • Extra affordable
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This table has the highest-rated and best-reviewed 10-gallon tanks.

While I’ve tested and tried a number of 10-gallon aquariums, I haven’t tried ALL of them. Therefore you will need to read the reviews on the listings before making a final decision.

Many of these featured tanks come with most of the accessories you need to get started.

If you’re just starting out, keep in mind that you’ll likely need a filter, heater, and water conditioner as the bare minimum for starting a new aquarium.

1. Marina LED 10 Gallon Aquarium Kit

best 10 gallon fish tank

The Marina 10 gallon fish tank dimensions are standard at 20 inches long x 10 wide x 12.5 high.

They also sell this tank as a 5 or 20-gallon option as well. The 20-gallon tank would be great if you want to add more fish to your community in the future.

Also included:

  • Pump and filter unit (the Marina Power Filter)
  • Canopy with LED lighting
  • Fluval Max fish food
  • Fluval water conditioner & biological supplement
  • Fishnet

This kit comes with most of what you need to get started keeping freshwater fish but does not include a heater. It’s simple to set up and get going and includes a helpful guide for beginners.

Pros:

  • It’s made of glass
  • Reasonably affordable
  • Has most of what you need to start
  • Good for beginners

Cons:

  • Heater not included
  • Looks a bit cheap
  • The extras (heater, etc) aren’t the best quality out there

2. Aqueon 10 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit

10 gallon fish tank starter kit

The Aqueon Aquarium Fish Tank Starter Kit is very similar to the tank above, however, this kit does also include an aquarium heater and fish tank thermometer.

Here is everything you get in this kit:

  • 10-gallon tank
  • A preset submersible heater (set to 78°F and cannot be adjusted)
  • Thermometer sticker
  • QuietFlow power filtration device with filter change indicator light
  • Food and water care sample packs
  • Small fishnet
  • Aquarium cover with LED lights
  • Set-up guide

All you will really need to purchase separately is gravel, plants, and fish – and some extra decorations if you have space left over!

Pros:

  • Looks good
  • Comes with most things needed
  • Very affordable
  • Helpful setup and maintenance instructions

Cons:

  • Lighting not ultra durable
  • Filter and heater not the best
  • Filter can be a bit noisey

3. Aqueon 10 Gal Aquarium

10 gallon glass fish tank

The Aqueon Aquarium is a cheap 10-gallon fish tank that does not come with anything.

It’s totally empty and ready for you to set up as you like. The dimensions of this tank are 20.2 x 10.5 x 13 inches.

This tank could be a good option if you are needing to set up a quick quarantine tank for sick or new fish. You don’t always need all the bells and whistles in this case, and a kit isn’t always the best option.

Features:

  • Can be used for both fresh and saltwater
  • No lid or accessories
  • Great for fish that don’t mind smaller tanks
  • Silicon seals with black trim

Some people also find this 10-gallon tank good for other animals and/or insects besides fish and so don’t require pumps, heaters, and so on.

You can keep stick insects, beetles, small snakes, frogs, and other pets in this tank as well. However, you might need to purchase a 10-gallon tank lid for some of these pets as well.

Pros:

  • Just a basic glass tank
  • Rimless sides
  • Sturdy and durable
  • Does the job

Cons:

  • A rim around the bottom
  • An included lid would be better
  • Not always the tidiest silicon job

4. Cube 10 Ultra Clear 10 Gallon Tank

10 gallon aquarium starter kit

This tank is the highest quality tank we’re featuring and is best for those with a higher budget.

It’s a simple rimless fish tank with perfectly clear glass that has been diamond beveled. This beautiful glass gives “unmatched levels of brightness, color fidelity, clarity, and visual excitement.”

It’s cubed shaped, as opposed to the usual rectangular form of a 10 gal tank.

Included:

  • Adjustable return pump
  • Filtration devices
  • Bio-balls and activated carbon
  • Self-leveling mat
  • Baffle box
  • Overflow unit

This unit comes with some premium accessories and features, such as an overflow box and a unique baffle box.

Pros:

  • A higher quality tank
  • Better filtration and pump
  • Better construction

Cons:

  • Costs more
  • Often out of stock

5. Aqueon NeoGlow 10 Gal Aquarium

cheap 10 gallon fish tank

This unique 10-gallon fish tank for sale is great for those who love different effects.

It’s called the NeoGlow because of the colorful silicone that fluoresces under the blue LED lighting. Therefore, it’s great for those who love a feature tank at night.

This 10 gal aquarium comes with:

  • 50W preset heater (78°)
  • Black background
  • Multi-colored gravel
  • Three plants
  • Fish food
  • Water conditioner

You might also like to consider getting some Glofish to go with it.

Pros:

  • Something a bit different
  • Also in 7.5 or 5 gallons
  • Comes with a background
  • Good color setup instructions included

Cons:

  • Pumps, filters, etc. are not great
  • No heater included (could be a good thing)

10 Gallon Fish Tank Ideas

Often the 10-gallon fish tank kits provide better value if you don’t already have the required accessories.

Trying to buy all the parts that you need for an aquarium separately does tend to cost a bit more – though you’ll likely be able to get better quality equipment. However, the fish tank kits are definitely worth considering.

One great benefit to many of these tanks is that they come with lids/canopies/hoods.

You really need a fish tank hood to prevent fish from jumping.

I’ll never forget the time I found my poor red-tailed black shark all tangled in the hair on the floor after he’d jumped out of one of my early aquariums (miraculously, he survived). A cover also makes it easier to reach and maintain heat.

10 Gallon Fish Tank Lid

10 gallon tank top

While it is cheaper to buy a 10-gallon tank lid as part of a kit, sometimes, for whatever reason, you need to purchase one separately.

The Aqueon LED Background Hood will fit most standard 10-gallon fish tanks.

Features of this canopy include:

  • Made with materials that are safe for fish
  • Includes blue and white LED lighting (white for the day, blue for the night)
  • Energy-saving LEDs
  • Glass pane for under the light
  • Can be used for saltwater aquariums
  • Opens on hinges

It does come in a variety of size options, but it’s the 20-inch cover that will fit most standard 10-gallon tanks.

Pros:

  • Fits most 10 gal tanks
  • Comes in many different sizes
  • Includes lighting features
  • Durable and long lasting

Cons:

  • Quite expensive
  • Lighting can be a bit fickle

The Exo Terra Screen Cover is another option if you don’t need or don’t want to pay for a cover with lighting.

This lid will also fit standard 10-gal tanks and will prevent any fish from jumping!

Best Fish For 10 Gallon Tank

What sort of fish can you keep in a 10-gallon fish tank?

The best fish for a ten-gallon tank is the smaller varieties. Here are some of the best fish for a 10-gallon aquarium:

Platys

Platys are non-aggressive, peaceful fish that are easy to care for.

They are small fish that come in assorted sizes and can live in a 10 gallon tank at a minimum. They like to have plenty of plants in their habitat.

Bettas

Bettas are probably the most popular 10-gallon fish tank fish.

Male Bettas look amazing and can be kept happily in a tank of this size. You can even use a divider and keep two Bettas in 5 gallons each.

Tetras

Tetras, and in particular, neon tetras, are another very popular small tank fish.

They are schooling fish and need to be kept in groups of at least 5 or 6.

Guppies

These were my first starter fish.

They are a lot of fun because you get the excitement of babies (if you have a male and a female).

However, as they are easy to breed and have a large number of fry, you’ll need to be careful the tank doesn’t become overstocked.

Danios

Danios like peaceful community tanks with some plants.

They are easy to care for, and similar to tetras, prefer having others of their kind in the tank.

The other important question is ‘how many fish in a 10-gallon aquarium?’

We need to be careful not to overstock our tanks, whatever the size.

Small fish, such as neon tetras, aim to keep 1 fish per gallon of water. Schooling fish, like tetras, should be kept in numbers. Go with at least 5 and at max 10 in a 10-gallon tank.

10 Gallon Aquariums

Some people wonder if these 10-gal tanks are suitable for turtles.

My recommendation is to go with something much bigger.

Ideally, a turtle tank is best at 40 – 55 gallons for a single animal. That’s even if it’s a small turtle breed.

So no, a 10-gallon tank is not good for a turtle.

 

1 thought on “5 TOP 10 Gallon Fish Tanks: Aquariums, Kits, Filters, Heaters, And Hoods”

  1. 10 gallon tanks have been great for me over the years. Perfect size. I’m looking at getting my granddaughter one now.

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