The best budget aquarium - Chicago Tribune

Aquariums are only as expensive as you want them to be. Excellent budget aquarium kits are readily available and make an excellent addition to your child's bedroom, your living room or even your home office. (BestReviews)

Fish make excellent starter pets for families with young children, people who live in buildings that don't allow pets, adult aquarium hobbyists and people looking to add some zen to a living space. When selecting an aquarium, you might find that the options are almost limitless and the price point can seem unusually high. However, there are many excellent budget-friendly aquariums on the market that provide everything you'll need and more.

The Tetra GloFish 1.5-Gallon Aquarium Kit has a whisper filter for quiet filtration and an extremely easy setup with beautiful blue LEDs for nighttime enjoyment, making it a great aquarium kit for beginners.

What to know before you buy a budget aquarium

Fresh water vs. salt water

Most people begin with a small freshwater tank because they're significantly easier to set up and take care of. You can usually fill a freshwater aquarium with water from your kitchen sink, then let it reach a comfortable temperature before adding your new fish to the tank. It's also a good idea to test your water for chemicals and put some aquarium treatment in the tank before introducing fish for their safety and longevity. Most pet stores have treatment drops or tablets on hand for freshwater tanks and staff are usually well-versed in explaining everything you'll need.

Saltwater tanks are largely meant for tropical fish who thrive in a saltwater environment. While the cost of the aquarium itself in a freshwater or saltwater tank doesn't necessarily differ tremendously, the upkeep of a saltwater tank is more expensive, as are the fish themselves. Tropical fish can be quite an investment and aren't typically suitable for children or beginners, as they have more specific needs that can be harder to meet without experience. That said, saltwater tanks are beautiful when well-maintained and can be a very luxurious and interesting addition to your home.

Reef tanks

Reef tanks are similar to saltwater aquariums in some respects, but they also typically contain live corals, marine invertebrates and tropical plants in an attempt to recreate the environment of a natural coral reef. A reef aquarium also requires specific lighting and strong water currents that mimic the movement of waves in the ocean. Reef tanks are typically populated by expert aquarium hobbyists, as a thorough understanding of marine compatibility and water pH is expected.

Budget aquarium features

Filtration

While some aquariums include a filtration system, others may not. Filtration is extremely important in an aquarium. Filters keep your water clean by reducing particles, chemicals and bad bacteria from the water that could make your fish sick, in some cases very quickly. Generally speaking, there are three types of filters:

• Mechanical filters allow water to pass through the filter as it removes dirt and particles.
• Chemical filters help reduce the chlorine content from your tap water, as well as other chemicals it may contain that could damage the health of your fish.
• Biological filters use existing bacteria to help break down the waste produced by your fish in the tank, helping to prevent a nitrogen buildup.
  

Ensure when selecting your aquarium that you purchase a filter separately if it isn't already included with your kit. It will keep your tank looking cleaner and your fish healthier.

Heat

Some fish, like bettas and goldfish, may not need a heater in the tank to be comfortable, particularly if you live in a milder climate or if you keep your home at room temperature consistently. However, tropical fish require a heater in the tank to survive. Tropical fish are happiest at temperatures ranging from 77-85 degrees. To guarantee the water is warm enough, an internal or external aquarium heater is needed. Internal heaters work by warming up the water from inside the tank, while external heaters heat the aquarium through the exterior of the tank which radiates heat inward, usually with a heat mat or other similar system.

Lighting

Lighting is another important factor in tending your new aquarium. For one thing, aquatic plants still require light for photosynthesis and can't survive without it. For another, lights bring out the bright colors of your fish to make your tank look much more attractive. Some aquarium kits include an LED lighting system, while others may include fluorescents. Some tanks don't include lighting and you'll need to purchase it separately. Once you've chosen your aquarium lights, limit their use to specific times to discourage overgrowth of algae.

Budget aquarium cost 

An aquarium can cost as little as $20 or it can easily cost thousands. Don't let that discourage you, however, as excellent budget-friendly aquarium kits for beginners and even enthusiasts sit comfortably under $50 and give you almost everything you need to get started, apart from the fish.

Budget aquarium FAQ

Can I put other fish in the tank with my betta?

A. Betta fish typically need to remain isolated in their own individual tank, as they're territorial and likely to fight one another. Bettas usually only need a small tank, they enjoy having a plant or ornament to hide behind and require regular water swaps to stay healthy.

Can I grow live plants in a fish tank with my fish?

A. Absolutely. Many aquatic plants thrive in the healthy environment of a properly tended aquarium. Aquatic plants require nutrients, clean water, light and substrate. Aquaculture is a very rewarding hobby, albeit a complex one. Ensure the plants you select and the fish in your tank can survive in the same microclimate you're building in your aquarium. An excellent example of this is the symbiotic relationship of betta fish and bamboo.

Which budget aquarium should I get?

Best of the best budget aquarium

Tetra GloFish Aquarium Kit: available at Amazon

Our take: This aquarium kit by Tetra is a dual-purpose gift for your children who want a pet fish, as it also functions as an attractive nightlight.

What we like: This kit contains almost everything you'll need to get started with its LED lighting, whisper filter, attractive black background and low-voltage power adapter.

What we dislike: If you wish to include glofish specifically, you'll need to purchase a heater.

Best bang for your buck budget aquarium

Koller Products Aqua View 3-Gallon 360 Aquarium: available at Amazon

Our take: This unique 3-gallon, 360-degree tank makes a visual statement on your desk or in your child's bedroom for a truly great price.

What we like: This tank has a decent capacity of 3 gallons, includes LED lights with seven different color functions and also includes a power filtration system.

What we dislike: Some reviewers felt that an additional filter was a smart purchase for this tank, as the included filter might not keep up with a larger number of fish.

Honorable mention budget aquarium

Tetra Hexagon Aquarium Kit with LED Bubbler: available at Amazon

Our take: This high-quality, budget-priced aquarium kit by Tetra comes with an interesting hexagonal-shaped tank and boasts a color-changing light disc.

What we like: This 1-gallon tank includes an air pump Tetra whisper filter, a hole on the clear canopy for easy feeding and a bubbling LED disc with a rainbow of colors.

What we dislike: Some people felt it was a little more complex to put together than expected.

Ashley Britten is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.