Contents
Are you looking to buy a 20 gallon fish tank but not sure where to start? You are not alone.
Since you have landed on this page you've probably realized that there are more 20 gallon fish tanks out there than you first realized.
Which brand? Do you start out with a modestly priced one our pick a premium brand such as aqua one?
We have put together this list of 20 gallon tanks (75 litres) that we really like, each tank can be bought online and delivered straight to your home. This list will not have every single 20 gallon model available just the ones we really like.
Marina LED Aquarium Kit
The Marina 20 U.S Gallon fish tank is an absolute beauty.
It comes with everything you need to get started and is backed with great support and its Marina are a trusted brand in the aquarium world.
- Slim Filter - easy and quick to clean and replace
- LED Lighting - One of the tanks main selling points
- Temperture Gauge - Simple strip that sticks to the tank
- Nutrafin Max Food - Food that fish love
- Marina Care Guide - Basic instructions on how to look after and care for your new fish
- 20 U.S. gallon glass aquarium
- Includes a Marina Slim S20 clip on filter with quick change filter cartridges
- Includes everything you need to get your aquatic home started
- Measures: 24 inches L x 12.5 inches W x 16.5 inches H
Aqueon Aquarium Starter Kit
This starter kit is a great option for beginner fish tank owners. It's relatively easy to set up and use.
Plus, this tank is equipped with an Aqueon QuietFlow filter that provides filtration in four stages. This helps to ensure crystal clear water for healthy and thriving fish.
The LED system offers white light to illuminate your tank and the kit comes with all kinds of little samples you may need. The Aqueon Team have thought of everything that a beginner would need. They have also included a very handy filter that has a patent pending LED on top which will let you know the perfect time to change the cartridge!
Included in this kit is the
- 20 Gallon Glass Tank (24-1/4" x 12-1/2" x 16-3/4") Made In USA - Wisconsin
- LED Lighting
- Quiet Flow Pro filtration with a medium cartridge
- 100 Watt heater that will keep your water at a constant 78 degrees
- Premium Fish Food
- Water Treatment
- Small Fish Net
- Thermometer
- Designed With Your Aquatic Pets Safety And Health In Mind
- Materials Designed In The Usa
- Quality driven, Competitive Price and Ease of use with Aqueon
Marineland LED BIO-Wheel
Marineland LED BIO-WheelThis kit comes with everything you may need to get your 20 gallon fish tanks adventure started.
One of the coolest features is that this tank has LED lighting built into the lid. You can even choose between three different lighting styles, from daylight to cool moonlight.
It can work as a freshwater or saltwater tank, though the lights built in will prevent coral growth if you go the saltwater route.
The stand out features of the Marineland 20 gallon aquarium are
- Designed for easy access to feed and maintain your fish
- Energy efficient, Mercury free LED
- 3 LED Settings - Night Mode - Day Mode - Blue Light Mode
- The Penguin® BIO-Wheel® Filtration system
- Lifetime Warranty
More information on their fantastic LED system can be found here.
- 20 U.S. gallon glass aquarium
- Includes a Marina Slim S20 clip on filter with quick change filter cartridges
- Includes everything you need to get your aquatic home started
- Measures: 24 inches L x 12.5 inches W x 16.5 inches H
Tetra Twenty Gallon Aquarium Kit
This is one of the coolest 20 gallon fish tanks out there. Plus, Tetra is well known in the fish tank world for reliable quality and great products.
This tank has a Whisper filtration system that will keep your water clean using a three-stage filtration process: filter floss, activated carbon, and Biofoam.
In addition, the ColorFusion model will cycle through different lighting colours or let you choose just one to illuminate your tank.
All Tetra aquariums are made in the USA to the highest standard possible. The Whisper filter is a must have for those who have fish tanks in their bedrooms and struggle to sleep. Everything needed to get started is included with your tank
- 20 Gallon Glass Tank (24.2" L x 12.4" W x 16.7" H)
- LED Lighting Built Into The Hood
- Whisper Quiet Filter
- Water Treatment
- TetraMin Food
- Digital Thermometer
- Four Artificial Plants Your Fish Will Love
- Tetra Mini Heater
- Artificial Wooden Floor Mat
- Small Fish Net
- Energy efficient hidden LEDs illuminate your aquarium
- The Mechanical filter pulls water from the aquarium and pushes it through the filter cartridge where the dense, dual-sided mesh catches debris and waste
- The Tetra Crescent Acrylic Aquarium Kit uses Ultra Activated carbon for superior removal of odors and discoloration.
Fluval Vista Aquarium Kit
This kit is also slightly off of the 20 gallon mark at 23 gallons, but its seamless sweeping design makes it one of the most loved tanks out there.
The built-in lighting system consists of a soft start lamp that takes some time to reach full brightness. This slow progression helps to minimize the initial light shock of the day to your fish.
The tank also comes with a heater and thermometer, and is recommended for freshwater use only.
Twenty gallon fish tanks are an excellent choice for new aquarium owners. Easier to maintain than smaller tanks, 20 gallon fish tanks provide enough space to accommodate a variety of interesting fish species.
Keeping water quality consistent is often easier in a 20 gallon fish tank than in a smaller sized tank. These tanks come in a range of shapes and designs, which means you can select a tank that can fit easily into the space you have available for your home aquarium.
Choosing a tank
Before you select a 20 gallon aqua one aquarium for your home, think carefully about where you will locate the aquarium. This will dictate the shape of tank that suits you best. Remember, you do not have to stick with traditional rectangular fish tanks. You can also select a tall fish tank to slot into a narrow gap. Some 20 gallon tanks are curved, which means you can have even more flexibility when selecting the perfect tank for your home.
Both glass and acrylic 20 gallon fish tanks are available. Acrylic is a type of plastic that is much lighter than glass and can be used to make tanks in a much greater range of shapes compared to glass. The main disadvantage of acrylic is that it scratches easily, whereas glass resists scratching. Acrylic tanks are also typically more expensive than glass tanks.
Setting it up
Many 20 gallon fish tanks come in a complete kit which contains everything you will need to set up the tank and begin your life as a proud aquarium owner. If you buy a 20 gallon aquarium kit, all you need to do is follow the instructions to get your fish tank set up.
If you buy a standalone 20 gallon fish tank, you will also need to buy support equipment before you can use the tank. Essential support components include a suitable filtration system, appropriate lighting, and a water heater. Tropical fish thrive in temperatures of between 24 and 27 degrees centigrade, so you will need a heater that can provide this much heat.
In addition to support equipment, you will probably also want some accessories for your 20 gallon fish tank. For example, you will need gravel to line the bottom of the tank, plants to help clean the water and provide oxygen for your fish, and ornaments to create an interesting environment.
Before setting up your fish tank, it is a good idea to rinse everything that you plan to place inside it, including the gravel. Use plain water with no soap or detergent—these are toxic to fish.
Once all your materials are clean, put the gravel into the tank. Use a plate or saucer to weigh the gravel down, and then pour water onto the plate or saucer until the tank is about one third full. Next, hook up the airlines and other equipment, and arrange the ornaments and plants in your tank in a way that looks pleasing.
Finish filling the tank but leave the lid off. You now need to leave the tank for three days before you can add fish. During this time, chlorine in the water will naturally gas off, leaving the water safe for your fish to live in.
Which fish?
Twenty gallon fish tanks make good homes for freshwater fish such as guppies, platies, and neon tetras. You can also add some bottom feeding fish, such as cory catfish and bristlenose catfish. These fish are all quite hardy and good for beginners, including children, to look after.
If you choose to stock your tank with colorful neon tetras, be sure to purchase at least five or six individuals, as these fish feel most comfortable in the company of their own species. In the wild, neon tetras live in schools of thousands of fish.
Avoid selecting any fish that are too large or too aggressive for your 20 gallon fish tank. Some people try to keep tiger barbs in 20 gallon tanks, but these aggressive fish can nip the fins of other species. They are really only suitable for tanks of 30 gallons or larger.
Keeping it clean
In order to keep your fish healthy, you will need to keep your tank clean and ensure that the water quality remains sufficiently high at all times. Before you add fish to the tank, it is a good idea to use testing strips to check the pH and nitrogen levels of the water. Ensure that the test results you achieve match the living conditions of your chosen fish. You will need to repeat these tests regularly. For example, you can do them during your regular water change process.
Once your tank is set up and your fish are happily swimming around, you can begin your regular maintenance schedule. Roughly once every two weeks, you need to replace roughly 10-15% of the water in the tank to keep it clean. You should also vacuum the gravel during this time to remove uneaten food residue and other waste. Rinse your filter inserts and clean the aquarium walls with filter floss.
Simply watching your fish feed can be a good way of checking up on the health of your tank. Look for behavioral changes, such as aggression, floating, or fish swimming on their sides. These can indicate health problems, which may result from non-optimal conditions in your tank. Also, be sure to count your fish—if any die and go unnoticed, they may quickly decompose, causing nitrite levels to spike.
By paying careful attention to your 20 gallon fish tank, you can be sure that it will provide a healthy environment in which your fish can thrive. This size of tank is perfect for beginners, including kids, to get their first taste of aquarium ownership. Choose your tank today so you can get started with the fun task of selecting fish with which to stock it
Final Thoughts
We really liked the Marina 20 gallon - its a solid tank with a lot of extras. If you decide to go with this tank we would recommend reaching out to confirm which model the tank is (US or EU) as you may need to buy a power adapter.
Last update on 2023-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API