Colorful aquatic pets can be a great addition to anybodyâs family. Fishes are peaceful creatures, and they do not really intrude or interrupt that much, unlike other household pets like energetic dogs and cats. However, they are not like any other pets that you can leave alone. Fishes depend on you not only for food but also to maintain cleanliness and sanitation in their tankâ despite the best possible equipment, namely filters, containers, and especially foodâ caring for them can be quite therapeutic and low maintenance.
They thrive in spaces that mimic their all-natural environment and when they have ample room to move. When you keep them in an area well-maintained and can be sanitized regularly, they become as healthy as they can be. If you want to care for aquatic friends while taking note of the space they occupy, we recommend for you to start with the best 2-gallon fish tank.
Although there are numerous options to choose from, choosing the best 2-gallon fish tank can be quite taxing and stressful. This process might be easy for some people with fish-caring experiences. However, if you are a newbie in this avenue or just trying out a new hobby, it might be quite tricky for you to make the correct choice.
Fret not and take deep breaths as we got your back. We will provide you with all the information you need to make the informed and best purchase. We will also include a bunch of advice that you will certainly need as you go through the whole ordeal of choosing the best 2-gallon fish tank.
Cheap & Good | Our Favorite | Customers Choice | |
Koller Products BettaTank 2-Gallon Hex Fish Bowl | Koller Products AquaView 2-Gallon 360 Aquarium | Fluval SPEC III Aquarium Kit | |
Size | 9.5 x 9.25 x 9.25 inches | 10.25 x 10.25 x 10.5 inches | 15 x 13.5 x 16.3 inches |
Capacity | 2 gallons | 2 gallons | 2 gallons |
Weight | 0.5 lbs | 2 lbs | 4.9 lbs |
Color | Clear | Black | Black / White |
Our Rating | |||
The Best 2-Gallon Fish Tanks in 2023
The pandemic has made people discover different hobbies to divert their attention from stress or pass the time. Many people have turned to cooking as a new hobby. Some people became fond of gardening, while some tried out fostering pets they havenât tried before, such as fishes.
These creatures require similar environments to their natural habitat, and you would want to provide your pets a lovely home. Buying a quality fish tank can keep your pets secure and healthy and prevent headaches when you need to make costly repairs and purchases.
The following are reasons why you should try fish keeping. Keeping fish can be an exciting new hobby for people. But there are a couple of other reasons why you should keep fish. Listed below are some of the benefits of keeping fish.
They have significant health benefits. Many types of research show that keeping fish has a significant impact on health. Stress, blood pressure, heart rate reduction, and significant improvement of eating habits and behavior of people with Alzheimerâs disease are just some of the health benefits of keeping fish.
Fishes are quiet. They can help you relax when you are under a lot of stress. They are convenient for when you are in a work setting that requires a noise-free environment. Aside from relaxing, they can also help with your focus.
They take up a small space. Aside from not making any noise, they also take up little space. Modern homes are already getting smaller because of the increasing cost of living. There may even be homes or apartments that do not allow pets like cats and dogs, so fishes are ideal pets in these situations. Keeping a fish does not require much effort â all you need is a fish tank, food, and storage for your fish keeping needs.
Fishes are much cheaper than other pets. Keeping fish is an inexpensive hobby. The amount you spend will depend on the breeds and how many fishes you intend to keep. Unlike other pets, they only require maintaining a clean and healthy fish tank environment and giving the appropriate feeding schedule and amount to keep your fishes healthy.
Given these benefits, fish keeping is indeed an interesting hobby. To keep your fishes healthy, you will need a quality fish tank. To help you with this, listed below are the best 2-gallon fish tanks in 2023.
1st Koller Products AquaView 2-Gallon 360 Aquarium with LED Lighting and Power Filter
Specifications
- Dimensions: 10.25 x 10.25 x 10.5 inches (L x W x H)
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Color: Clear
- Comes With: Power filter and LED lighting.
Koller Products AquaView 2-Gallon 360 Aquarium with LED Lighting & Power Filter boasts its power filter feature and energy-efficient LED lighting. This feature allows complete filtration with a flow rate of twenty-five gallons per hour, purifying the water from organic pollutants. Unwanted odor and scum are effectively removed with this feature. The lighting allows for good viewing, even in dark settings. Its replacement filter cartridges (AQ05FC-30) are available on Amazon.
Pros:Â
- Comes with a trendy design
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Offers seven energy-efficient lighting colors that go well with its clear color, allowing optimum viewing.
- Made of impact-resistant plastic
Cons:
- Pump going out of commission after a few months
- XS pump is not sold individually by its manufacturer, Tetra. They only come in sets.
- Replacement may be expensive
2nd Koller Products AquaScene 1.5-Gallon Fish Tank with LED Lighting
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 9 inches (L x W x H)
- Weight: 2.5 pounds.
- Color: Clear
- Comes With: Energy-efficient LED lighting and a built-in timer for them.
Its energy-efficient LED lighting comes in seven colors: daylight white, blue, green, amber, aqua, purple, or red. It is built of clear impact-resistant plastic with one-piece construction. This ensures strength and durability and prevents any possible leakage. It is suitable for fishes of all life stages. Its built-in aquarium light timer sets the LED light to turn on at the same time every day automatically. You can choose to schedule your light to come on at an interval of two, four hours, or continuous on.
Pros:
- Seven energy-efficient LED-lighting colors to choose from
- Impact-resistant, durability, and strength assured
- Suitable for fishes of all life stages
- Built-in light timer for convenience
Cons:
- Complaints of lights not working after a few uses
- The lid can be too hard to open to feed
3rd Fluval SPEC Aquarium Kit, Aquarium with 3-Stage Filtration System and LED Lighting, 2-Gallon
Specifications
- Dimensions: 15 x 13.5 x 16.3 inches (L x W x H)
- Weight: 4.9 pounds
- Color: Clear glass and a black waterproof casing to encourage plant growth and vibrant fish colors.
- Comes With: High-output 7000K LED lighting, and circulation pump with output nozzle, foam filter block with handle, safe, activated carbon insert, low-voltage transformer, BioMax insert, and a honeycomb wrap
Fluval SPEC Aquarium Kit, Aquarium with LED Lighting, and 3-Stage Filtration System boast of its energy-efficient lighting system and a powerful filtration system that removes organic pollution from your tank. Its additional features ensure ease of operation and give you security from its features.
Pros:
- Energy-efficient LED-lighting
- High priority on a clean and healthy tank with a powerful filtration system
- Energy-efficient motor system
- Clear glass and a black waterproof casing to encourage plant growth and vibrant fish colors
- Honeycomb wrap conceals the rear filtration compartment.
Cons:
- The base protrudes that makes the structure unstable and hard to handle.
- The sponge appears to be too thick for good flow.
- Suction cups donât secure the pump properly when lowered to the narrow compartment.
- Loud noises have been observed from the motor.
- Motor strong enough to encourage flow from thick media.
4th Aquarium Tank, Glass, 2-1/2 Gal
Specifications
- Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 8 inches (L x W x H).
- Glass thickness: 3.32 inches.
- Color: Clear
- Comes With: Impact-resistant glass welded together with silicone rubber
Although its design is simple, it boasts of its all-glass sides with a floor of triple-strength, clear glass welded together with silicone rubber. It lasts for years and is built of materials that are nonreactive with seawater. This ensures a strong, leak-proof aquarium for your pets and can save you a lot of money in the long run. This is ideal not just for fishes, but also for other pets like salamanders. The strong, clear glass allows you to view them and not worry about breakage or leaking.
Pros:
- All-glass sides with a bottom of triple-strength
- Clear glass welded together with silicone rubber
- Nonreactive with seawater
- Versatile
Cons:
- No additional features
- You can install these features according to preference, but it will cost you additional money.
5th Penn Plax Prism Nano Aquarium Kit With LED Light and Filter, Desktop Size, 2 Gallon
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.15 x 10 x 10.5 inches
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
- Color: Black
- Comes With: Plastic lid, Integrated Filtration (Quiet Power), LED light with 18 bulbs, energy-efficient LED light, a cube design with a black background, and a built-in water filter
This aquarium kit is perfect for those who want a fish tank that can fit small spaces such as desks and dressers. It is recommended for those who do not want noisy fish tanks. This is made possible by its Quiet Power Integrated Filtration system, which also helps keep the fish tankâs cleanliness and healthy. Its LED light with 18 bulbs enables you to see through the plastic lid because it provides ample illumination.
Pros:
- Noise-free fish tank
- Bright lighting, modern
- Trendy cube design
Cons:
- It may be too small for some.
- May not be able to hold enough space for many fishes
6th FREESEA Betta Aquarium Fish Tank with Filter Pump and LED Light
Specifications
- Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 8.3 inches
- Shape: Square
- Color: White
- Comes With: Two decorative aquatic plants (plastic), LED lights, and a free complete filtration system
This fish tank is great for those who want it to fit into small spaces such as desks. It gives off a calming feeling with its built-in decorations. It comes with a free complete filtration system that is hidden well behind the tank. This is a removable system to accommodate fishes like betta fishes that survive better without filters.
Pros:
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Free decorative plastic aquatic plants
- A free complete filtration system
- Removable filtration system to maximize space
- Removable filtration system to accommodate fishes that survive better without it
Cons:
- It may be too small for some.
- May not be able to hold enough space for many fishes
7th Koller Products BettaTank 2-Gallon Hex Fish Bowl
Specifications
- Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.25 x 9.25 inches
- Shape: Hexagonal
- Weight: 8 Ounces
- Color: Clear
- Comes With: Shatterproof plastic
This fish tank is ideal for those who prefer a fish tank that can look good wherever it is placed, even when itâs only a small place. Even though the product is made of plastic, it offers crystal clear clarity to better view your pets. Its clarity resembles that of glass, plus it is shatterproof, so it gives you the benefits of plastic and glass in one. You need not worry about leakage and breaking it, as it is very durable. It comes in a plain design, so you can add plastic aquatic designs and led lights if you want them to fit your preferences.
Pros:
- Space-saving
- Shatterproof
- Clear viewing
- Trendy
Cons:
- Some may find it plain.
- Small space if you have many fishes
Why Should I Choose a 2-Gallon Fish Tank?
A 2-gallon fish tank can be called a Nano tank. In general, any tank under 5 gallons is known to be a Nano tank. They can add a sophisticated feel to the small spaces in your home or your office. You can place this compact 2-gallon fish tank in any place without much deliberation on your part.
There are many advantages of choosing a 2-gallon fish tank. First, small tanks are easy to manage and are best for amateurs. Second, because of the size, they are significantly affordable compared to larger tanks. Third, it does not require many plants and decorationsâ smaller tanks, fewer decorations such as aquatic figurines and plants. This will also help reduce the cost. Fourth, the compact design fits best if you have a small apartment or office without cramping the whole area.
Next, water changing is made easier. However, this does not change the fact that we need to change the water regularly, but doing so will require less water. Usually, you may need six to ten gallons every water change; but you may only need 2 gallons or less for optimum aquarium health with smaller tanks. Lastly, they weigh less than larger tanks. This means that you can place them in places that cannot support heavier tanks. It is needed to place larger tanks in spaces with a solid foundation, but with 2-gallon tanks, you have more freedom when choosing where to put it.
How Do I Choose the Best 2-Gallon Fish Tank?
To make your decision making manageable, we will list down things you need to consider before purchasing your very own fish tank:
Materials
Fish tanks are usually made out of two materials. You can choose between acrylic and glass tanks. However, both have pros and cons. Glass fish tanks are always prone to breakage than sturdy acrylic tanks with more robust durability. Although visual wise, glass tanks are hyaline, which means they appear translucent, but acrylic is still more durable. If you have kids or pets, we recommend you to go for acrylic fish tanks, especially if you plan to place the tanks in a high traffic area where there is maximum human contact. Still, the choice is up to you.
Lighting
Fish tanks often come with colorful LED lights on their lids. However, if you plan to grow live plants, it might be best to personally set up your lighting. Lighting plays a huge part in building the best environment for your fish. Not only that they are there for your viewing pleasure, but they provide both oxygen and energy that contributes to the holistic well being of your pets and any photosynthetic plants and organisms in your fish tank. Lighting is essential in ensuring that the corals, plants, and fishes in your tank are thriving and healthy.
Shape
There is a massive array of options for the shapes of fish tanks these daysâmaking the process of choosing the right one difficult. The basic rectangle is still one of the most popular shapes for fish tanks. You can also find other forms such as the âLâ shaped, hexagons, and square cubes. However, there is a new trend nowadays, which is the bow-front fish tanks. These are rectangular tanks but with a bowed out front side that, if seen from above, will resemble the letter âD.â
A little reminder that the tank shape can affect the fish that you will put in it. It may seem like getting ahead of oneself, but it is also essential to think about what kind of fish you would like to keep in the tank before choosing one. You can put most types of fish in orientated rectangular tanks that have more width than height. This allows the water a wider surface area and improves oxygenation. We recommend avoiding bowl-shaped or similarly shaped tanks, as they distort the outside view of the fish living inside the tank, which can be taxing and disorienting for them.
Lid/Hood
The lid or hood of fish tanks is often overlooked. Regardless of what other people might say, the fish tanksâ lid or hood serves several essential purposes. Although an open-top adds a multi-dimensional feel to your fish tank as well as another viewing angle, placing covers or hoods have more advantages than disadvantages. The first and most important purpose is that it prevents the fish from escaping. Second, it prevents random items from falling into the tank and protects your fish from other curious and nosy pets. By sealing the top of the aquarium, you can decrease water evaporation speed from your tank. It reduces both the frequency of adding water into the tank and evaporation that adds to your roomsâ air humidity. Lastly, these lids or hoods usually come with a barrier between water and light fixtures, ensuring safety and sanitization. Lids and hoods are made out of different materials and serve varying purposes.
Generally speaking, glass lids are more effective, robust, and versatile cover types. They have the perfect fit that prevents fast evaporation. They are easy to clean, but they are also significantly more durable than plastic ones. Although they can be quite expensive, they are worth the additional cost. However, it is essential to note that when you purchase one, make sure that it includes a vinyl back strip that will allow you to add personalized cutouts for different accessories such as filters and others.
On the other hand, the hood functions as a covering to handle the light fixture. It usually comes with a plastic lid. However, as we mentioned before, plastic lids have several disadvantages. Most notable is that they do not fit snugly as much as glass lids, increasing the speed of evaporation of tank water. Thus, hoods work better with glass lids compared to plastic ones that get brittle over time. If you plan to purchase a hood, we recommend checking for the light fixturesâ quality and specifications because low priced hoods usually have low-quality lights. Also, take note of the type and light wattage before purchasing.
Stand
A stand for fish tanks is a piece of furniture that can support the tankâs weight along with its equipment and supplies needed to care for your aquatic pets and their tank. In choosing one, there are four options. First, you can use an existing or pre-loved cabinet with an adequate foundation. Second, you can purchase a ready-made stand that works for you. Third, have them custom-made according to your space and preferences.
You need to consider a few things when it comes to choosing the best fish tanksâ stand. First and foremost is the weight of your tank. The fish tankâs actual weight depends on the material used. Glass tanks weigh double compared to acrylic ones. Regardless of the tanksâ material, the real problem to look into is its total weight when you finally add the water and fish.
Next, make sure that it provides full and even support. Different tank materials require varying support; this is one thing you should remember when choosing a stand. Acrylic has the advantage of being lightweight, but it requires full bottom support because it tends to be flexible. Meanwhile, glass tanks are heavier, but they do not budge. Because of this, they only need outer edge support. Nonetheless, a full support stand is the best option when working with fish tanks of any size.
Another factor to consider is the even and leveled support that stands provide. In an instance where one corner of the tank hangs over, or the whole tank is not correctly balanced, it will be taxing to that one specific edge. As time flies, the added pressure can cause the said edge to fail, causing the tank to leak. Thus, always see to it that your fish tank is leveled. When purchasing a stand, keep these things in mind to buy the one that provides the best support.
Conclusion â Best 2-Gallon Fish Tank
It is always important to choose the best fish tanks for your pets. Doing so will keep them safe and healthy and prevent more costly repairs and purchases in the future. You may use the best 2-gallon fish tanks in the 2023 list to reference your fish tank purchasing needs.
Do you need more space for your fishes? Maybe 15-gallon fish tanks or 20-gallon fish tanks are better for you.