5 Gallon Fish Tanks
5 gallon fish tanks can be a great place to start for fish enthusiasts. The tanks are affordable and are available from a range of suppliers. They are also big enough to allow you to begin to customize the tank to make the perfect home for your desired fish.
5 gallon fish tanks are usually 16″ x 8″ x 10″ in size. This makes them perfect as a versatile display tank. The size and filled weight (62 lbs) enable the tank to be placed in a range of places – from coffee tables, to your kitchen counter to your office desk.
Due to the small nature of the tank, however, it is important to remember:
- Not to overstock the tank
- That a good filtration system will be required
- That any adjustments to the water chemistry (such as pH adjustments or the buildup of nitrates) can have a bigger effect than if the tank was larger
Below you’ll find a range of 5 gallon starter kits. Hopefully you find one that is right for you!
5 Gallon Fish Tank Starter Kits
Aqueon LED Minibow Aquarium Starter Kits with LED Lighting, 5 Gallon, Black
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 3.5/5
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The Aqueon LED Minibow Aquarium Starter Kit is a compact fish tank with an elevated base. Although only a 5 gallon fish tank it has a contemporary design that is suitable for home or office. The tank comes with an LED energy efficient light hood, a feeding hole and a Aqueon QuietFlow filter. This filter uses Aqueon’s small filter cartridges. The kit also includes food and water care samples.
On the face of it the Aqueon LED Minibow Aquarium Starter Kit is classy and provides great value for money. We found it to be easy to set up and clean. Some users, however, have claimed that the filter is too strong for their fish and they ended up getting caught in the filter. Inserting a divider into the tank is an option to address this risk. Alternatively, consider the Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium 5-Gallon Kit which features a hidden filter.
Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter
The Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon tank with hidden filter is a highly regarded compact fish tank. It has an advanced 3-stage hidden back panel filtration with adjustable flow filter pump, allowing you greater control over the filtration within your tank. This is be especially important on small tanks. The tank includes a hinged light and sliding glass canopy which makes it easy to access the tank.
At the price, the Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit is a great option – balancing value for money with a great looking 5 gallon fish tank. Overall the reviews for the tank are fantastic, but you do need to bear in mind that the hidden filter section effectively reduces the amount of water that the fish can access. While not a problem in itself, it is worth considering it to be a 4 gallon tank when calculating how many fish you should add to the tank.
Koller Products Panaview 5 gallon Aquarium Kit with LED Lighting & Power Filter
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 3.5/5
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The Koller Products Panaview 5 gallon Aquarium Kit has energy-efficient LED lighting a range of 7 color options. The tank itself is made out of clear plastic rather than glass. Although less sophisticated looking, the plastic makes it easier to transport and less leak prone than it’s glass counterparts. The internal power filter has a flow rate of 45 gallons per hour, making it very capable of keeping the 5 gallon fish tank clean. The filter uses Tetra Whisper S Replacement filter cartridges.
On the value end of the spectrum, the Koller Products Panaview 5 gallon Aquarium Kit is a mixed bag. At around $35, it is one of the cheapest 5 gallon tanks on the market and is made from clear plastic rather than glass. It has, however, been known to suffer from unreliable LED lights that have failed after a number of months.
A good buy if you are looking for a cost efficient starter kit, but if you are wanting a prominent display piece in your living area it may be worth spending the extra money and getting the Marineland 5 Gallon Kit.
5 Gallon Fish Tank Stands
5 gallon fish tank usually measure 16″ x 8″ x 10″. This equates to 41 x 20 x 25 cm in metric measurements. It is not necessary to get a specific stand for them – the fit nicely on top of your kitchen counters or even your your desk.
How Many Fish in a 5 Gallon Fish Tank?
The general rule for fish tanks is that you should have a maximum of 1 inch of fish (length) for every gallon of water. Some people extend this to 1.5 inches with success, but it is not generally recommended. Bear in mind that the 1 inch of fish per gallon of water is based on the fish at their fully grown size, not the size that you buy them at!
It is therefore recommended that you have a maximum of 5 inches of fish in a 5 gallon fish tank. If you want a larger tank consider either a 10 gallon or 20 gallon fish tank. Alternatively, if you want something stylish, it is worth considering the Fluval Edge 6 Gallon Aquarium.
Fish For Your 5 Gallon Tank
As discussed above, it is best to limit your fish to about 30 inches in total length when constructing a 29-30 gallon fish tank. This could be made up in a range of ways, such as:
- 2 female Guppies in a 5 gallon tank (female Guppies grow up to 2 inches in length)
- 3 male Guppies in a 5 gallon tank (male Guppies grow up to 1.5 inches in length)
- 2 Betta fish in a 5 gallon tank (the average length of a Betta fish is 2.25 inches, but they can grow up to 3 inches in perfect conditions)
5 Gallon Fish Tank Dimensions
The standard dimensions of a 5 gallon fish tank are 16″ x 8″ x 10″. This equates to 41 x 20 x 25 cm in metric measurements. 5 gallon fish tanks make for great starter tanks and could fit easily on top of your kitchen counters, on your desk, or even on smaller furniture pieces around your home.
A 5 gallon fish tank weights 62lbs when full (approximately 28kg).