10 Best Aquarium Starter Kits 2026: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Aquarium Starter Kits

Jump to the list

How we created this aquarium starter kit list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best aquarium starter kit.
We scanned thousands of customer reviews and ratings and scored each product based on its performance against each of the key considerations. We then considered how popular a product is with Chewy customers and combined that with its key consideration scores to create the list of the best aquarium starter kits.

Key aquarium starter kit considerations

Filtration System

Lighting

Tank Size

Water Quality Testing

1
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal
Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal

Aqueon LED MiniBow SmartClean Fish Aquarium Kit, Black, 5-gal

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
137
$72.99Chewy Price
($14.60/gl)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code NEWYEAR

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.6/5
Excellent

Lighting

4.4/5
Great

Tank Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Water Quality Testing

4.5/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Acrylic, Plastic

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

5-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Goldfish
2
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal
Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal

Marina 10G LED Aquarium Kit, 10-gal

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
64
$96.21Chewy Price
($9.63/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.4/5
Great

Lighting

4.6/5
Excellent

Tank Size

4.7/5
Excellent

Water Quality Testing

4.5/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

10-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Discus
3
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal
Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal

Fluval Flex Aquarium Kit, White, 9-gal

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
63
$116.99Chewy Price
($13.00/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.5/5
Great

Lighting

4.5/5
Great

Tank Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Water Quality Testing

4.4/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

9-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Discus
4
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
150
$74.49Chewy Price
($14.90/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.2/5
Great

Lighting

4.3/5
Great

Tank Size

4.1/5
Great

Water Quality Testing

4.1/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

5-gal

Fish Type

Betta, Tropical Freshwater
5
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal
Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal

Fluval Aquarium Kit, 16-gal

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars
27
$239.99Chewy Price
($15.00/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.8/5
Excellent

Lighting

4.5/5
Great

Tank Size

4.7/5
Excellent

Water Quality Testing

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

16-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Discus
6
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal
Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal

Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit, 10-gal

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
139
$99.98Chewy Price
($10.00/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.1/5
Great

Lighting

4.2/5
Great

Tank Size

4.3/5
Great

Water Quality Testing

4.1/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

10-gal

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater
7
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
61
$124.99Chewy Price
($25.00/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.5/5
Great

Lighting

4.3/5
Great

Tank Size

4.8/5
Excellent

Water Quality Testing

4.2/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

5-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater
8
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal
Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Marina iGlo 5G Aquarium Kit, 5-gal

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
16
$89.99Chewy Price
($18.00/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.1/5
Great

Lighting

4.1/5
Great

Tank Size

4.1/5
Great

Water Quality Testing

4.1/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

5-gal

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Discus
9
Zoo Med Betta Habitat Kit, 3-gal

Zoo Med Betta Habitat Kit, 3-gal

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
5
$79.98Chewy Price
($26.66/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

4.4/5
Great

Lighting

4.1/5
Great

Tank Size

4.4/5
Great

Water Quality Testing

4.4/5
Great

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

3-gal

Fish Type

Betta
10
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal
Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal

Lifegard Clear Glass Bookshelf Aquarium with HOF-4 Hang On Filter, 8-mm, 22-gal

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
4
$352.49Chewy Price
($16.03/gl)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Filtration System

3.5/5
Good

Lighting

4.1/5
Great

Tank Size

4.1/5
Great

Water Quality Testing

3.7/5
Good

Is this aquarium starter kit right for my pet?

Material

Glass, Plastic

Aquarium Type

Saltwater, Freshwater

Capacity (Max)

22-gal

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Tropical Freshwater