Best 5 Gallon Fish Tank (For Pet Fish Owners of All Levels)

Our Top Choices

Best 5 gallon Fish Tank for Betta Fish: Marineland Portrait

This 5-gallon fish tank is specifically designed for betta fish, which is notorious for jumping out of the tank. The height of the tank prevents the fish from jumping out of the water. 

Best 5 Gallong Fish Tank for Beginners: Tetra Crescent

This 5-gallon fish tank kit contains everything you need as a beginner fish owner. The set-up is easy, and it comes with LED lighting and a filtration system to help you keep fish without a problem. 

Best 5 Gallon Fish Bowl-like: Fluval Chi

Are you looking for a fish tank that feels like a fish bowl and also soothes and calms you? This fish tank is inspired by Feng Shui and has a fish bowl-like vibe that offers unfettered views from all angles. 

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Whether you are new to fish keeping or an experienced fish keeper and have small fish species, you should look at the 5-gallon fish tank. Though small, this fish tank is perfect for certain species like bettas and mollies, and you will find that a 5-gallon fish tank does not take up a lot of space. You can even keep the tank on your desk or mantle to admire your fish and take pride in owning them. 

With so many brands on the market claiming to be the best, choosing a five-gallon fish tank can be confusing and overwhelming. I have created a list of the five best 5-gallon fish tanks. Here, you can find their specifications, pros, and cons to select one fish tank that is right for you. 

No.	Product	Material	Filtration	Lighting	Price
1.	Marineland Portrait 5-gallon Fish Tank	Glass	✔	✔	Check Price
2.	Tetra Crescent 5-gallon Fish Tank Kit	Acrylic	✔	✔	Check Price
3.	Fluval Chi 5-gallon Fish Bowl-like Fish Tank	Glass	✔	✔	Check Price
4.	Penn-Plax 5-gallon Fish Tank	Glass	✔	✔	Check Price
5.	Koller Products 5-gallon Fish Tank with LED Lighting	Plastic	✔	✔	Check Price

The Top 5 Best 5-gallon Fish Tank

1. Marineland Portrait 5-gallon Fish Tank

Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The shape of this fish tank is different from the others you find on the market. It is rectangular and tall. That makes it the perfect fish tank to keep betta fish. This fish tank is advertised for betta fish, but you can keep a goldfish or another small fish species. 

Product Specifications

• Size: 9.5 x 9.5 x 14 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 12 pounds
• Made from glass
• Glass canopy
• 3-stage filtration system
• Hinged LED lighting

The design of this tank is sleek and has rounded corners. The clear glass canopy and frame ensure you enjoy unobstructed views from multiple angles. The fish tank comes with white LED lights; you can create a sunlight effect with them, while the blue LED lights can create a moonlight effect. The glass canopy is a sliding type that allows you to feed the fish and access the tank without a problem. The best part about this 5-gallon betta fish tank is its hidden filtration system. It filters water in three stages, ensuring that your betta has a clean and healthy living environment.

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2. Tetra Crescent 5-gallon Fish Tank Kit

Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This 5-gallon fish tank kit contains everything you need to start keeping your first fish. This tank can be used for small fish species, like mollies, danios, goldfish, bettas, dwarf gouramis, and dwarf corydoras. As a beginner fish owner, the kit helps you set up the tank with relative ease. 

Product Specifications

• Size: 16.6 x 11.2 x 13.2 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Made from acrylic
• LED lighting
• Comes with a filtration system

This fish tank is crescent-shaped and designed to house around three tropic fish or a single goldfish. You will find that the filter is silent and can clean the tank quite well. The tank is equipped with LED lights that are hidden. What we liked about this 5-gallon tank is that it is completely seamless, providing you with an unobstructed view of your fish. 

Pros

• Extremely silent filter
• Compact size fish tank
• The tank lid comes with two openings to fix the filter and water heater
• The LED light allows you to grow aquatic plants in the fish tank
• The unique shape of the fish tank gives unfettered views

Cons

• Adjusting the filter setting is tedious as it is located at the bottom of the filter. That means you would have to remove the filter if you want to change the settings
• Does not have biological filtration

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3. Fluval Chi 5-gallon Fish Bowl-Like Fish Tank

Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This 5-gallon fish tank looks great and will provide the perfect decorative element for your home or office. This fish tank is inspired by Feng Shui and has a fish bowl-like appearance, though it is rectangular and long. 

Product Specifications

• Size: 14.4 x 14.4 x 17.5 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 16 pounds
• Made from glass
• 17 LED lights
• Filtration system with filter media

The filtration system is present at the bottom of the fish tank, and it filters water and spews it out like a fountain. This creates a soothing feeling. The flow of the water stream is not too strong, making it perfect for fish species that need calm water. The clear glass gives unobstructed views of the fish from all four sides. 

Pros

• Uniquely designed 5-gallon fish tank
• Can calm you down with its fountain-like water stream
• Good filtration system
• Elegant-looking fish tank
• Perfect for beginner fish owners

Cons

• The filter and LED lights are connected. So, if one malfunctions, you have to buy the entire unit
• The LED lights are not strong enough to grow plants

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4. Penn-Plax 5-gallon Fish Tank

Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This compact 5-gallon fish tank is perfect for small and unused spaces, such as your desk, dresser, or the top of a cabinet. It is completely frameless and made from glass. The front corners are curved, providing unobstructed views of the fish from all directions. 

Product Specifications

• Size: 8 x 14 x 11 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 10.6 pounds
• Made from glass
• Hinged glass lid
• Internal filter
• LED lighting
• Mat

The Penn-Plax fish tank has an internal filter that can cycle around 70 gallons of water in an hour. It also has a refillable carbon cartridge as well as biological media. A child or adult can easily use the entire kit as it has everything one needs to start keeping fish. 

Pros

• The glass lid covers the entire top of the fish tank
• The protective mat helps to ensure that you do not damage furniture
• Aesthetically designed fish tank
• The filtration system is highly effective
• The hinged lid makes it easy to feed the fish and get access to the tank

Cons

• The LED light does not have a power button. So, if you want to switch it off, it needs to be unplugged from the power outlet
• The light has to be pushed out of the way to open the lid

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5. Koller Products 5-gallon Fish Tank with LED Lighting

Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Although this fish tank is made from plastic, it offers crystal clear clarity. When you admire your fish, you will not notice that it is made from plastic. The tank is extremely to set up as well as maintain. The user guide will help you set up the tank in no time. 

Product Specifications

• Size: 16.5 x 10 x 11.8 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Made from plastic
• LED light with seven colors
• Internal filter with filter cartridge
• User set up guide

The Koller 5-gallon fish tank has LED lighting, which is energy efficient. The light has seven different colors that you can use to simulate different lighting conditions, including daylight and moonlight. The filtration system is internal and quite effective. It can cycle 45 gallons of water per hour. The filter cartridge can easily get rid of discolorations and odors. 

Pros

• Offers great value for money
• Ideal fish tank kit for beginners
• An effective and efficient filtration system
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Easy to set up

Cons

• The LED light does not have a timer
• The tank is made from plastic

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Related: How many fish can you keep in a 5 gallon fish tank?

Buying Guide for 5 Gallon Fish Tanks

When there are so many different brands of 5-gallon fish tanks, choosing one that is right for you can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are a few factors that you can consider when you are shopping for a 5-gallon fish tank.

Some of these are as follows:

Material

You will find that 5-gallon fish tanks are made either from glass or acrylic. Many fish owners prefer glass as it offers clear views of the fish. However, glass is fragile and can break quite easily. On the other hand, acrylic is durable and can withstand force without breaking or cracking.

If you have kids and/or pets, you should go in for an acrylic 5-gallon fish tank. 

Price

Generally, 5-gallon fish tanks are not that expensive, even if you choose a fish tank kit. However, you must remember that these fish tanks may come with lighting and filtration systems but will not have heating, decorations, live plants, or gravel. You would have to spend additional money to get these items when you buy the fish tank. That will add to the cost. So, while these fish tanks can be more affordable than bigger-capacity tanks, you should consider all the costs before buying a tank. 

Filtration System

Look for a 5-gallon fish tank that has a filtration system. That way, you will not have to spend money to get one. Ensure that the filtration system is effective and thoroughly cleans the water. So, make an effort to read customer reviews to learn more about the filtration system that comes with the fish tank. The last thing you need is an ineffective filter, as it will compromise the quality of the water, leading to harmful organisms in the water, which could cause your fish to die. 

Lighting System

Most 5-gallon fish tanks come with an in-built lighting system. However, some tanks have more efficient and better quality lighting than others. Look for a fish tank with LED lighting as you need it to help your fish thrive and for growing live plants in the tank. LED lights are energy-efficient and do not harm the fish. 

Related: See the best LED lights for colorful fish

Design

5-gallon fish tanks are one of the smallest tanks you will find on the market. They are designed for small fish species and keep a few of those species. They are a perfect choice if you want to keep fish but have limited space. Make sure you check the design of the fish tank. It should be the right one for the space you have in mind. Also, ensure that the design is right for the fish species you want to keep. Some fish tanks are specifically designed for bettas, while others can house other kinds of small tropical fish.  

Fish Tank Lid

You can get fish tanks with and without lids. It is best to find a tank with a lid, especially if you are bettas. This fish species tend to jump out of the fish tank. Also, having a fish tank lid is a good idea if you have cats as pets. That way you will not have to worry about the family cat eating up your fish!

FAQs

Interested in more small fish tanks? Read our guide to 3 gallon fish tanks