Products recommended in this post contain affiliate links. If you buy something through our posts, we may receive a commission at no extra charge to you. See our full disclosures here.
If you are a beginner, it is best to choose a tank which is small enough to be installed easily but big enough to develop its own aqua-system in the shortest time possible. A 20 gallon aquarium meets these conditions to become the best tank size for a beginner who don’t have so much experiences to solve aquarium problems. A fish tank with 20 gallons of water can also take care of itself with the right support and occasionally maintenance, so you do not need to clean it often.
Following are some of the best 20 gallon aquarium kits for sale you can choose as your first tank.
Top Kits for 20 Gallon Aquariums
Check Offer Prices [Amazon]
Marina LED 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit - Nice starter Tank
Check Offer PricesHighlights
The Marina LED aquarium kit is the best option for everyone from starters to the advanced hobbyists. It has satisfied most customers with its very clear glass tank, powerful filter and many other features needed for beginning hobbyists.
The Marina Slim S20 (a Hang-On-Back filter) is very quiet, smooth and doesn’t take up much space in your tank because it is placed and works behind the tank. It is also the most powerful piece that everyone wants to talk about this high-quality kit.
The filter is able to keep the tank clean and water clear for a long period with only a little maintenance. Many customers have reported that their pet fish are very happy and healthy because of the very clean environment provided by the filter.
The kit doesn’t come with a heater; however, you can easily shop for a cheap one online. A 100-watt aquarium heater will perfectly fit the tank.
Pro Tip
Samples of fish food, Aqua Plus water conditioner and cycle biological supplement, a fish net, and a guide that are necessary for aquarium setup and maintenance are also included in the kit.
With its very affordable price and being easy to set up following an aquarium care guide included, beginners could easily venture into the wonderful hobby of fish keeping with this starter kit. I strongly recommend the kit for any starters.
Read What Other Owners SayAqueon 20 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit - Highly Durable
Highlights
This is a high-quality fish tank kit from Aqueon, it is a great choice for starter hobbyists, who want keep tropical fish.
The main tank is made of clear glass, its walls are sealed with epoxy resin. The construction is highly durable for many years of enjoyment.
It comes with a black plastic hood to reduce the fast evaporation of water and prevent the fish from jumping out. The lid features some pre-cut holes for positioning necessary equipment. It is very easy to open the lid to access inside the aquarium that makes setup and maintenance easier.
The package includes everything you will need to get started a tropical fish tank such as a LED light, filter, heater, and additives…
The LED lighting system, which is placed under the hood, provides bright white light to stimulate natural daylight from the sun.
The Quiet Flow 10 LED Pro power filter is the most powerful piece of this kit, it offers a strong but ultra-quiet water filtration system to keep the tank clean and clear. The filter features a LED indicator to remind you to maintain the filter cartridges after specific time periods.
Pro Tip
The package comes with a heater and thermometer for tropical fish tank setup. The 100W heater is preset at the constant 78 degrees Fahrenheit for tropical fish and you don’t need to adjust anything. The thermometer is helpful in daily temperature control that helps you know if the heater is working properly or not.
The package also includes a fish food sample, a water conditioner, and a fish net. The tank is carefully packed for preventing scratches or breakages upon coming.
SeaClear 20 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set
- Light and Beautiful
Highlights
SeaClear is a famous brand for its acrylic tanks with various sizes from 20 to over 50 gallons. SeaClear 20 gallon acrylic aquarium is made of clear acrylic with a durable construction and is a great choice for starters who love the clarity and beauty of acrylic tanks.
It has standard dimensions, so it is very easy for you to find and buy other equipment for your setup. Because of its being made of high-quality acrylic, it is safe for both fresh or salt-water applications. If you love the features of acrylic such as clearer, lighter, stronger, safer than glass, the SeaClear aquarium is a great choice for you.
The set don’t include a filter and a heater and you have to buy these equipment separately. It also don’t come with a lamp; however, the lid is built with a 15″ fixture with a reflector that is ready for setting up a lighting system.
Pro Tip
You can buy a small LED aquarium light (shorter than 15 inches) to attach it to the fixture or just throw away the lid and replace it with a 24-inch LED aquarium light (which has extendable brackets).
The clear acrylic top allows the light to go through, so you can use any types of LED lights you want. I have seen so many hobbyists upgrade SeaClear acrylic tanks by this way and their tanks look so great after applying an LED lighting system.
20 Gallon Standard Glass Tank Without Equipment -Very Solid And Heavy Duty
Highlights
If you want to choose your own filter, heater, and light, this blank fish tank is a very cheap and affordable option for you.
The tank has dimensions of 24 by 12 by 16 inches, which are common sizes of a 20 gallon tank. So you can easily find a 24-inch stand and a hood that perfectly fit the tank.
If the hood you choose isn’t built with an LED light, buy one separately. If you want to have photosynthetic organisms such as plants or corals in your tank, ensure that you provide an appropriate lighting for them to grow.
Pro Tip
For choosing a filter for this tank, choose one that can filter an amount of water that is 4 times more than the tank capacity. That mean the filter you choose should have a flow rate of over 80 gallons per hour. A filter with the right flow rate ensures the water constantly filtered and your fish happy.
If you are planning to build a tropical fish tank, a heater is an indispensable thing. A 100-watt heater is just enough for an aquarium with 20 gallons of water.
20 Gallon Long Aquarium, 30-Inches Long- wonderful tank
Highlights
A long fish tank is always better for stocking fish than a higher one in the same size because it provides more surface for gas exchange. This 20 gallon long fish tank with its longer profile is a great choice for hobbyists who want to keep fish or aquatic turtles in their new tanks.
Please note that this is only a glass fish tank without any equipment and you have to buy your own equipment. The tank is compatible with a variety of aquarium equipment on the market, so it is very easy for you to find ones fit for the tank.
Pro Tip
The tank is 30 inches long and you have to choose a stand and a hood that features a length a bit larger than 30 inches. The filter and heater are chosen as for a standard tank.
Because the tank is fairly expensive, even more than the previous kits, I give it four-star for my rating. I strongly recommend you to consider a full kit with a filtration system and LED lighting.
Tetra 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit - Color fusion Tank
Highlights
This nice glass tank from Tetra comes with most things you need to get started. The product quality and wholehearted service from the leader in underwater wonder – Tetra® USA will surely satisfy you.
The tank is made of scratch resistant glass, so you don’t need to worry about scratches that usually appears after cleaning a fish tank. It is covered with a hinged canopy that is very convenient for you to access inside the tank for cleaning.
The LED lighting system is stylishly hidden under the hood and provides natural daylight for brightening up the entire tank.
Pro Tip
The Tetra Whisper 20 filter provides a very powerful yet silent water flow to keep your aquarium circulated and filtered.
The kit also comes with some artificial plants for decorating the tank if you don’t like to grow live plants. A heater, thermometer, and other supplies are also included for you to complete your aquarium installation. It is ideal for setting up a planted aquarium with the kit.
Tetra Glofish Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon - Amazing and vibrant
Highlights
Coming with some essential equipment like the previous kit; however, the Tetra Glofish aquarium kit is intended for bringing out the most fluorescent lighting from Glofish. The blue LED light and the different glow factors that come with the kit give GloFish an exciting fluorescent look. Besides, some other supplies and decors needed for setting up a Glofish tank are also included such as Glofish plants and Glofish Yellow Anemone.
More details: http://lovefishtank.com/20-gallon-glofish-aquarium-kit/
Pro Tip
The kit comes with most things you will need for setting up a tropical Glofish tank. The heater is also included for keeping the temperature ideal for Glofish because they are tropical fish and need a warm temperature of 72-80°F (22-27°C). Everything you need is to add gravel and fish to complete your aquarium.
Tetra Color Fusion 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit - Color Fusion tank
Highlights
Like two previous kit, this wonderful kit comes with a special LED light that is capable of cyclical color change. You can also pause the cycle on any color you like to fully customize your aquarium. Everything looks very lively under the Color Fusion LED.
Pro Tip
The Tetra Color Fusion kit comes with two wonderland plants that come to life under the glow of Color Fusion LED. A Blooming White Anemone is also included that sways with filter current and give the tank a great view under the colorful lighting effects. Let the LED light from the color fusion aquarium kit transform your tank with each color change.
Marineland 20 Gallon Half Moon Aquarium Kit - great lighting effects
Highlights
If you have bored with traditional rectangle fish tanks, this half-moon shaped aquarium will make you love it. The tank features a 180-degree seamless view and a black plastic framed bottom. With its half-moon shape, the kit will be a great piece of any home decor that attracts anyone who visits your home the first time.
The tank with all of its equipment is designed for providing the most wonderful experience for its owner. It comes with a LED light with 42 white and 3 blue LEDs. The light features a 3-position switch for on, off and blue settings, which provide great lighting effects for day and night time enjoyment.
Pro Tip
Although a filter isn’t included, the clear cover is designed with a pre-cut hole for a filter. The manufacturer recommends a Penguin 150 or a Tetra EX30 filter for the tank. You may also need a heater if you want to keep tropical fish in the tank.
Make your sound decision if you are attracted by its half-moon shape and beauty.
Marineland Biowheel Aquarium Kit, 20-Gallon - LED really nice
Highlights
The product includes most essential equipment including a hood with LED lighting, a Penguin bio-wheel filter, a 200W submersible heater, a thermometer, a fish net, fish food and water care samples, and a setup guide.
The most special thing that can’t be ignored in this kit is the Penguin bio-wheel filter, which includes a spinning wheel for superior biological filtration.
Pro Tip
When the filter is turned on, the wheel will spin that increases the aeration in its surface and supports the build-up of nitrifying bacteria. These helpful bacteria, when being crowded, will eliminate nitrogenous toxins (ammonia and nitrite) produced by fish waste and uneaten fish food that is harmful to aquarium lives.
If you are a fan of Hang-On-Back filter with Bio-wheels, this aquarium kit is for you.
Top Editor's Choice on 20 Gallon Fish Tank Kit
[amazon bestseller="20 Gallon Fish Tank Kit" filterby="price" filter="30" filter_compare="more" filter="available" orderby="percentage_saved" order="desc" template="list" items="10" tracking_id="tnk0c-aawp-cro-b-20"]
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest tips and news of our blog.
Great article! We just picked up a 20 gallon tank for our office, Teng and Co. This helped us a lot in deciding which fish to get and how many we can put in the tank. We will probably be placing some tetras in our tank since they seem to be very low maintance. Tetras would be a perfect match with out product of slim wallets. Can a recommend a heater that would be best for the fish?
Hi Marissa!
I’m very happy to know my article can help you. For choosing your heater, my recommend is Aqueon Pro heater 50W that you can find in this guide of mine.