Best Aquaponic Fish Tanks in 2022: Reviews with Comparisons
Best Aquaponic Fish Tanks in 2022: Reviews with Comparisons
Having an aquarium at home is a lot of fun. On that same note, growing your own plants can also be enjoyable, not to mention beneficial both for your home and the environment. What’s really cool is that you can do both at once – keep fish and grow plants. This is known as aquaponics – the practice of keeping fish and plants in the same tank and using the waste which the fish produce to fertilize and feed the plants. It’s its own little biosphere. If you want your aquaponic adventure to go the right way, you need the right fish tank. This article discusses the best aquaponic fish tanks.
Best Aquaponic Fish Tanks: Reviews
Comparison Chart
Penn-Plax Aquaponic Betta Fish Tank
- BETTA TANK & HYDROPONIC PLANTER: See nature in motion through our Aqua-Ponic Tanks! Each fish tank is made from ultra-clear plastic, and replicates nature’s metabolic cycle by providing a healthy and symbiotic environment for fish and plants.
- YOUR BETTA’S NEW HOME: Bettas are the most popular fish for our 0.5 Gallon Aqua-Ponic Tank. With that said, please decrease the water level about an inch, giving them enough space to breath from the water’s surface. Weekly partial water changes are highly recommended.
- SUGGESTED PLANTS: Most indoor house plants and kitchen herbs are suitable for planting atop. This includes Peace Lily, Chinese Evergreen, Lucky Bamboo, English Ivy, Mint, Watercress, Chives, or any leafy Lettuce. We recommend using established plants instead of starting from seed.
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Our Aqua-Ponic Tanks come with ceramic planting media, which retains water and supports root growth for any plant you chose. To add water into the tank, simply water the plant, as if it’s in a pot of soil. As for feeding your fish, you’ll need to lift the black plastic top.
- MEASUREMENTS: Overall = 5.9" (Dia) x 8.25" (H) / Tank Interior = 4.25" (Dia) x 7" (H) / Enclosed Pot = 5.9" (Dia) x 2.25" (H)
If you want something more decorative that can hold a single small fish and grow a small plant on top, the Penn-Plax Aquaponic Betta Fish Tank is a great option.
One thing that stands out is that this aquaponic fish tank is designed for beginners and for people with limited space. This tank measures 3 x 3 x 8.3 inches, so it is pretty small. It’s a suitable option if you want a small fish tank and plant to keep on a desk at work or at home.
The tank itself is rounded, and it is made of plastic. Realistically, it looks like a big glass. Based on its size and shape, it is safe to say that this tank is designed for a single betta fish or something similar. The fish waste from below is used to feed the plant, and the plant will purify the water below.
Be aware that there is no way to oxygenate or purify this water any further using electronic equipment such as an air stone or a filter. Therefore, it is only suitable for fish that have minimal maintenance needs, such as bettas. We like how the tank is made out of plastic because it is pretty durable and impact-resistant.
Pros
- Space-efficient
- Looks nice enough
- Quite durable
- No need for electronic equipment
- Affordable
Cons
Only ideal for a single small fish
Back to the Roots Water Garden
- YEAR ROUND WATER GARDEN: The Back to the Roots Water Garden Duo allows you to grow a succulent or houseplant garden all year round and comes with everything you need to get started - no green thum or big backyard needed.
- CONVENIENT AND EASY: Harvest organic microgreens from your aquarium in just 10 days; Your Water Garden becomes a self-cleaning fish tank that also grows fresh food up top; The fish waste fertilizes the plants on top and the plants clean the water.
- THE PERFECT LIVING HOME DECOR OR GIFT: Each Back to the Roots Water Garden Duo comes with a free STEM curriculum on aquaponic and hydroponic systems to encourage your kids to learn more about it; This award-winning ecoystem is also the perfect gift.
- COMPLETE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM KIT: This DIY aquaponic fish tank kit is fully equipped with everything you need to get started - radish and wheatgrass seeds, water conditioner, a growing medium for your seeds to take root, water dechlorinator, fish food, and even a fish coupon
The Back to the Roots Water Garden Tank is another excellent aquaponics fish tank that is designed to grow herbs on top. This model is a fair bit larger than the one we just looked at.
This tank measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 9.5 inches, making it quite a decent size. We like this size because it’s small enough to fit on a table or office desk, yet it’s also large enough to house a couple of fish. Of course, how many fish it can house will depend on the size of the fish.
This tank is made of plastic, which is much lighter than glass and more impact-resistant. A plastic tank can scratch pretty easily, but if you’re careful, it should be fine.
You get the seeds for various herbs that you can grow on top of this fish tank. The waste from the water below feeds the plants on top, and those same plants help clean the water below.
Like the previous model, this one also doesn’t allow for further water oxygenation or filtration. Therefore, it’s only ideal for fish that have minimal filtration needs, such as bettas fish. So while this is great for growing herbs on top and for having a fish or two below, it’s not something you would get for a whole community of fish.
Pros
- Good size for a couple of fish
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Comes with everything you need to get started
- Reasonable price
- Looks pretty cool
Cons
- Not ideal for a whole community of fish
- Plastic tank scratches fairly easily
Landen 30C 7.1 Gallon Rimless Low Iron Aquarium Tank
- [Rich Landscape Application] Rich landscape design, suitable for all kinds of scenes.
- [Ultra-white Glass] 10mm thick heavy-duty glass with high light transmittance and low iron, 91% transparency, bezel-less design, and wide vision brings you an immersive viewing experience.
- [High Quality Standard] Standard right Angle, mirror edge grinding, accurate size, uniform joints, smooth feel.
- [Fish Tank Specification]11.8" L × 11.8" W × 11.8" H (30cm x 30cm x 30cm); 5 mm thickness.Approx 6.55gallon
- [packing, transportation and gifts] net weight: 13.89, packing weight: 15.21; Free EVA material fish tank cushioning pad; Professional packaging, transportation safety is guaranteed.
Until now, we have looked at aquaponic fish tanks designed just for this purpose. However, many people like to build their own aquaponic fish tanks from scratch, in which case you need to start with the right tank. This tank by Landen is a very simple and affordable tank that makes for a great starting point for an aquaponics operation.
First and foremost, this tank is made of glass. While glass is not overly impact-resistant and not lightweight, it looks great; most people agree that glass fish tanks look a bit more sophisticated than plastic models. Moreover, this is a rimless tank that helps add to its aesthetic appeal.
Keep in mind that all you get is the glass tank and nothing else, so you will have to buy your substrate, seeds, and other materials for your aquaponic operation. This tank also comes in various sizes to suit your needs. There are five sizes e, with the smallest one being 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inches and the largest being 35.43 x 19.69 x 19.69 inches.
Pros
- High-quality glass tank
- No rim
- Scratch-resistant
- Comes in many sizes
- Low iron glass
- Super transparent
Cons
Tank only
AquaSprouts Garden
- Self-sustaining aquarium & garden
- Transform any 10-gallon aquarium (20" x 10" x 12")
- Grow your favorite veggies, herbs and greens anywhere, all-year-round
- Perfect tool to explore how our natural environment works
In terms of aquaponic-specific fish tanks, the AquaSprouts Garden tank is the largest and fanciest on our list, not to mention the most expensive.
First off, this tank measures 28 x 8 x 17 inches, making it quite sizeable but a good mid-range size for most applications. Except for the fish, this tank comes with everything you need to get started. There’s a special clay soil media that replaces soil; it never needs to be replaced.
There’s also a pump and timer you can set to specific time intervals. This pump filters the water through the plant roots and clay media for increased water purification. There’s plenty of room on top for a variety of plants, up to five small herb bundles, we would say.
There’s also a standard light bar to provide the light your plants need to grow. Although there is not much room for a fish inside, we think this is one of the best-looking aquaponics fish tanks.
There’s also the fact that you get a lot of value for your money, mainly because it comes with a light bar, a pump, and other accessories included in the purchase.
Pros
- Good size for most people
- Plenty of room for plants
- Nice pump and timer
- Decent light bar
- Quite durable overall
- Very low maintenance
- Looks super cool
Cons
- Not all that much space for fish
- A bit of assembly is required
Huamuyu Aquaponic Fish Tank Seed Sprouter
- Fish Tank & Seed Sprouter: The fish waste fertilizes the plants, and the plants clean the water for fish.
- Self Cleaning System: Plants consume fish dung as nutrients, so the tank requires 50% fewer cleanings than traditional fish tanks.
- Siphon Oxygen Supply: The water level of the tank is tidal-like fluctuation, and the roots of the plants can breathe regularly, no need watering or fertilizing. Meanwhile a natural oxygen supply is brought to the fish.
- Educational Product: Use the system at home or in a classroom. Let kids learn germination and teach concepts like food sustainability, aquatic environments, and animal care.
- Great Gift: A wonderful gift for kids, parents, teachers, foodies and gardening lovers. (Note: Search B08BR8H72X for the pump spare parts.)
This is a small and simple aquaponic fish tank by Huamuyu is designed for keeping one or two small fish below and sprouting seeds above.
You might like this tank because of its relatively small size. It measures 12.2 x 7.7 x 11.0″, making it large enough for a couple of small fish and small enough for tight spaces. In addition, this is another plastic tank, which is lightweight and impact resistant.
The seed starter tray uses the water below for nourishment for the seeds, while the seeds, as they sprout, also help clean the water below.
That said, keep in mind that small starter plants aren’t going to do the best job in terms of water filtration. However, you can put many different kinds of seeds in the starter trade.
The bottom edges of this fish tank are rounded, which looks neat, but keep in mind that it doesn’t help in terms of the tank’s stability.
Pros
- Space efficient
- Looks nice
- Low maintenance
- Affordable
- Durable
Cons
- Not overly scratch resistant
- Not much room for fish
Buyer’s Guide
Before you shop for a tank for aquaponics, let’s take a look at some of the most important factors to consider.
All-in-One or Separate?
If you want an all-in-one aquaponics fish tank kit that comes with everything included, you need to get started, or you want to buy everything separately.
If you get an all-in-one kit, you’ll probably save a bit of money, but that said, the individual components might not be the highest quality, or they might not suit your needs. Buying the components separately is going to cost more, but you can get exactly what you want.
Tank Material
Something else to consider is what the tank itself is made of. There are two choices: glass and plastic. Plastic tanks are also known as acrylic tanks. Glass fish tanks look stunning, and most people agree they look better than plastic tanks.
Also, glass tanks are more scratch-resistant than plastic fish tanks. However, acrylic fish tanks are more impact-resistant than glass fish tanks, and they’re lighter in weight.
Tank and Grow Bed Size
As a rule of thumb, the tank and the grow bed should be roughly the same size; if the tank can fit 2 gallons of water, the grow bed should fit 2 gallons of grow media. This balance between water and grow media is essential for water filtration and oxygenation, and the nourishment of the plants.
FAQ
Aquaponic fish tanks provide an excellent opportunity for children to learn the principles of aquaponics while also teaching them how to take care of a living creature. In addition, they make an attractive focal point in any room or office, and watching a fish swim around can be relaxing.
Some of the fish are considered best for aquaponics. Include tilapia, bluegill, catfish, carp, fancy goldfish, various ornamental fish, as well as betta fish.
Many plants can be grown with the aquaponic method, including tomatoes, lettuce, watercress, peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, strawberries, and more or less any kind of herb that you can think of.
Conclusion
Our recommendation for the best aquaponics fish tank is the AquaSprouts Garden. It might be the most expensive on our list, but it’s also the best looking, and it comes with everything you need to get started – except the fish.
- Self-sustaining aquarium & garden
- Transform any 10-gallon aquarium (20" x 10" x 12")
- Grow your favorite veggies, herbs and greens anywhere, all-year-round
- Perfect tool to explore how our natural environment works