Our Top Picks:
Best Acrylic Aquarium – Seaclear 40 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium
Seaclear Acrylic aquarium is the best acrylic aquarium due to the presence of high-quality acrylic material, simple design, clear surface, and lightweight nature.
Best for Minimal Design – LANDEN Rimless Low Iron Aquarium Tank
The LANDEN aquarium offers a contemporary look due to its beautiful rimless design. The low-iron glass offers better clarity and reduces the occurrence of a bluish-tint on the surface.
Best for Premium Features: Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro
The Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro consists of standout features such as the filtration system, which efficiently treats the water and releases it back into the tank. The premium cube shape is also quite unique and offers a stylish appearance.
A 40-gallon fish tank is one of the best ones for beginners. It isn’t too small; hence, you can easily keep a variety of fish in it. Moreover, it is also not too large to intimidate new aquarists. However, the real question is – how to find the best 40-gallon fish tank.
You must consider several factors, ranging from the type to the material. You also need to ensure that you’ve ample space to fit in a 40-gallon fish tank, as it is bigger than an average fish tank.
In this guide, I’ve tried my best to consider all the parameters and come up with a list of the best 40-gallon fish tanks. So, read on!
The Best 40 Gallon Fish Tanks
You won’t find a lot of 40-gallon fish tanks on the market today. A 40-gallon tank is generally not as popular as other tanks like a 20-gallon tank or a 55-gallon tank.
However, the list below goes over some of the best 40-gallon fish tanks that are easily available.
Seaclear 40 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium
Best Acrylic Aquarium
- Combo includes aquarium, reflector and electrical 24" light fixture
Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features:
- Size: 36 x 15 x 16 inches
- Weight: 20 Pounds
- Material: Acrylic
- Comes with a reflector and an electrical light fixture
Acrylic aquariums are some of the best due to the fact that they’re often more lightweight than glass aquariums. Additionally, they are also resistant to visual distortion.
Hence, if you’re looking for the best 40-gallon acrylic aquarium, Seaclear is simply one of the best. This tank comes with a reflector and an electrical light fixture, making it easier for you to use.
The aquarium’s simplistic design is also noteworthy. It will allow you to have a better look at your fish. Moreover, the tank’s clear quality also helps here, as it is constructed of acrylic, and not glass.
Also, if you’re someone who constantly moves around the tank due to some reason, this one is suitable. It weighs only around 20 pounds, as opposed to other glass tanks that weigh between 50 to 80 pounds or more.
The major drawbacks to this gallon tank are its top opening and light fixture. The access from the top is limited, so it might get difficult to put any decoration inside. It’s also a bit tough to find a light that fits the light fixture due to its odd design. So, you might have to look beyond the pet shops to find a suitable light.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Sturdy and durable
- Usable for both freshwater and saltwater
- Provides a very clear surface
Cons:
- Small openings
- The light fixture isn’t the best
LANDEN Rimless Low Iron Aquarium Tank
Best for Minimal Design
Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features:
- Size: 35.4 x 17.7 x 17.7 inches
- Weight: 85.8 Pounds
- Material: Glass
- Rectangular with no rims
The LANDEN brand is known for its beautiful rimless designs. So, if you’re someone who is into minimalism and sleek aquariums, then this one is the right one for you.
The LANDEN aquarium is one of the best on the market due to two reasons. The rimless design offers a gorgeous aquarium view. You can now watch your fish without any disruption.
Additionally, the glass quality is quite remarkable. The aquarium features 10-mm thick glass with 91% transparency.
The glass is also low-iron and is different from traditional glass. It is because low-iron glasses help in removing the blueish tint that is often observed in normal glasses. Therefore, you can expect excellent clarity with a LANDEN aquarium tank.
One more concern that most of us online buyers have regarding fish tanks is their packaging. Well, LANDEN offers great packaging and ensures that you receive the tank without any damage.
Note that this aquarium comes without a lid. So, you might have to purchase it separately. This can become a tough task, as finding a lid for this aquarium is slightly difficult. It’s also heavier than the usual 40-gallon tanks.
Pros:
- Offers a unique rimless design
- Thick and durable glass
- Great viewing experience due to 91% transparency and low-iron quality
- Safe packaging
Cons:
- More expensive than the rest
- Doesn’t come with a lid
Aqueon Tank Breeder
Best for Affordability
- Brand New Un-Opened
Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features:
- Size: 36.2 x 19.4 x 17.2 inches
- Weight: 55.65 Pounds
- Material: Glass
- Rectangular with black borders
Most fish tanks can easily cost more than $350. This might not be feasible for everyone. So, if you’re looking for an affordable fish tank that costs below $300, try the Aqueon Tank Breeder.
The Aqueon Tank Breeder consists of a simple and minimal design that lets you have a clear look at your fish. It also has silicone edges, that help in preventing water leaks. Thus, reducing the need of cleaning the surroundings daily.
Overall, the glass quality of the Aqueon tank is nice. It might not compare to that of an acrylic tank or a low-iron one, but for the price, it offers good clarity.
Keep in mind that just like the LANDEN tank, Aqueon Tank Breeder also lacks a lid. Therefore, you might have to purchase it separately. It also doesn’t have any extra features.
Pros:
- More affordable compared to other options
- Simple design
- Good quality
Cons:
- No lid
Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro
Best for Premium Features
Features:
- Outside Size: 23.62 x 19.68 x 18.89 inches
- Display Size: 23 x 15 x 18.89 inches
- Weight: 83 pounds
- Material: Glass
- Cubic in shape
You will find several simple tanks consisting of a clear surface with one or two extra features. But, if you’re looking for ‘the tank’ containing exclusive features, then I recommend buying Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro.
The Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro offers a unique set of features. The standout one is the all-in-one built-in filtration. Through this filtration setting, the water gets filtered, heated, and then released into the tank automatically.
You might wonder that the pump included in the aquarium may cause disruption due to the noise. However, such is not the case. The pump offers an almost noise-free experience.
Apart from the filtration functionality, this tank also offers an excellent design and clear glass. The glass is again a low-iron glass. So, it can prevent the bluish tint from ruining your viewing experience.
Unlike the standard rectangular tanks, this one is cubic in shape. This makes the tank look pretty unique along with giving it a modern touch. If you can pay extra, the tank comes with an additional stylish stand too. Hence, you won’t have to look for an aquarium stand separately.
Due to its premium features, this fish tank is heavy on the pocket, and costs above $500.
Pros:
- Best for both freshwater and saltwater fish
- High-clarity glass
- Quick shipping
- Comes with additional features like filters and leveling mats
- Comes with a one-year warranty
Cons:
- Condensation might be a problem due to the design
- The pump isn’t powerful enough
- Bulky
Clear-for-life Acrylic Rectangle Aquarium
Best for Durability
- Dimensions - 36"(L)x15"(W)x16"(H)
Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Features:
- Size: 36 x 15 x 16 inches
- Weight: 63 pounds
- Acrylic surface
- Rectangular shape
Acrylic fish tanks are more durable than glass as the latter is quite fragile. So, if you can maintain your tank well, then a good acrylic aquarium, like the Clear-for-life Acrylic aquarium is the way to go!
The Clear-for-life aquarium consists of high-quality acrylic material. Additionally, you also get a lifetime warranty for any type of leakage due to manufacturing defects.
Apart from its strong-built, the Clear-for-life aquarium stands true to its name. It consists of acrylic that is 40% clearer than a glass tank. The surface is brighter than glass and allows a vivid view of the aquarium.
This aquarium gives off a rimless appearance due to its frameless design. It comes with rounded corners, making it look more stylish. The company also ensures proper packaging to ensure safety and prevent the tank from getting damaged.
Note that this aquarium is comparatively more expensive for the features it offers.
Pros:
- Sleek and beautiful design
- Sturdy and durable
- Clear surface
Cons:
- No hood for light fixture
- Quite expensive
- Delivery may take time
Buyer’s Guide
There are a few things that you should consider before purchasing a 40-gallon fish tank.
Purpose: Freshwater or Saltwater
Most fish tanks are available for two purposes – freshwater and saltwater. The table below demonstrates the differences between both.
| Category | Freshwater | Saltwater |
| Species | For snails and fish like bettas, goldfish, cichlids, and tetras | For saltwater fish like gobies, clownfish, dwarf angelfish, and coral reefs |
| Maintenance | Requires less maintenance | Requires regular maintenance due to fluctuating water salt levels |
| Cost | Low-cost | High-cost |
| Fish Variety | Allows less fish variety | Allows various fish variety, and coral reefs too |
So, depending on your needs, you can opt for either freshwater or a saltwater tank. You can also go for one that is suitable for both.
The fish tanks listed in this blog post are compatible with both freshwater and saltwater purposes.
Size and Weight
When you’re purchasing, don’t forget to consider both the tank’s size and weight.
Note that most 40-gallon fish tanks are either breeder or long. Breeder tanks have a more square bottom whereas long tanks have a rectangular bottom. Also, 40-gallon breeder tanks are more commonly available as opposed to 40-gallon long tanks
The table below demonstrates the dimensions and weight of a breeder and long tank.
| Type | Size | Weight |
| 40-gallon breeder tank | 36 x 18 x 16 inches (approx.) | 58 lbs. (approx.) |
| 40-gallon long tank | 48 x 12 x 16 inches (approx.) | 55 lbs. (approx.) |
You should also consider the tank’s weight before purchasing one. It is because if you live in an apartment, carrying a very heavy 40-gallon fish tank upstairs can get quite stressful. In a few cases, you might have to pay extra for additional weight too!
Material
Material is a huge differentiation factor when you want to buy a 40-gallon fish tank. Typically, most fish tanks are available in two popular materials – glass tanks and acrylic tanks.
If you want to pick the right one, check out the pros and cons of each.
| Category | Pros | Cons |
| Glass Tanks | More affordable than acrylic tanks More scratch-resistant Low maintenance | Quite heavy Less clear than acrylic tanks Poor impact resistance – can break easily |
| Acrylic Tanks | Better clarity thank glass Available in different shapes High impact resistance Lightweight and easy to carry | Expensive More prone to scratching Can yellow with age Require high maintenance |
To summarize, if you’re a beginner looking for a cheap, low-maintenance, and scratch-resistant option, go for glass tanks. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a tank with excellent clarity and durability, acrylic tanks are a better option.
Design
The tank’s design is an important parameter to consider, as it should align with your room’s interior. For instance, you should opt for a rimless aquarium for a minimalistic or modern-looking room. Similarly, a traditional room would look better with a simple, rectangular tank.
Frequently Asked Question
How many fish can I keep in a 40-gallon tank?
The number of fish in a 40-gallon tank depends on various factors such as the fish size. Typically, you can go for up to 20 small-sized fish, 4 medium-sized fish, and 1-2 large-sized fish.
Why are 40-gallon tanks called breeders?
The primary characteristic of a 40-gallon breeder tank is that they’re shorter than other tanks. Now, this gives an aquarist easy access to the tank’s inside. So, it becomes easier to catch fish, clean and maintain the tank, etc. Due to this reason, this type of tank is known as a “breeder” tank.
Which aquarium is better glass or acrylic?
Both glass and acrylic aquariums have their own pros and cons. Typically, glass aquariums are better for beginners looking for a cheap, easy-to-maintain, and scratch-resistant option. On the other hand, acrylic aquariums are suitable for experienced aquarists looking for better clarity and durability.
Related article: How Many Fish in 40 Gallon Tank
