biOrb Tube 30L Black Aquarium with MCR LED Lighting

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You might think fish are relatively easy pets to care for, but if you really want them to flourish, purchasing the best fish tank you can afford will improve their health and wellbeing. In fact, unlike with a pet dog or cat, there are far more considerations when purchasing a new aquatic home for your fish. All the fish tanks listed below are suitable for either freshwater or saltwater fish, and, even if you’re only planning to have the one fish, you’ll want a capacity of at least 23 litres (or five gallons) so they can enjoy a decent habitat.

Tower tanks however are not the ideal home for most fish. Fish in general do not live in deep water and the pressure at the bottom of a 4, 5 or 6ft tank will be too high for them.

As a result, a good rule of thumb is to get a fish tank which has one litre of cold water per 0.5cm (excluding tails and fins) of fish. For instance, a 50 litre tank could safely house two 10cm and one 5cm fish. Or, alternatively, you could accommodate six 4cm fish. You could probably squeeze a couple more in, but this will all vary depending on the types of fish you want to keep, alongside other tank components such as plants, lights and filters. If in doubt, bigger is always better. Fish will grow in size, which is something to be mindful of in these calculations, but if you are unsure it’s always best to enquire at your local fish emporium for advice. Make sure to ask how many of a particular breed would be a suitable number for your tank, and which combinations of breeds are a good match. What other features are important to a fish tank? The Tetra Starter Line is a great choice for – as the name suggests – those looking for their first tank. If you want to future proof your aquatic set up, this 252 litre tank from Fluval is a great option. The tough, borosilicate glass tank sits on top of a Hampshire Oak (or Slate Grey) cabinet that makes the perfect centrepiece to any room. Having a cabinet built in means you won’t have to risk placing your new tank on your existing furniture – plus, messy cables can be hidden away out of sight.

Tank maintenance can also be a nightmare as it is impossible to get your hand to the bottom of a tank that is as tall, or taller than you. This can be solved however by buying specialized cleaning brushes for tower fish tanks. Advice For Owning Column Aquariums Aeration can also be a problem in the taller of these tanks. A water flow system must be able to move the oxygen rich water to the bottom of the tank. This usually proves to be no problem when a tank is not taller than it is wide. The tower tanks however can have 6 feet depth for the flow system to cope with. Low oxygen in the bottom of the tank will result in a breakdown of fish waste building up noxious gases which can be harmful to the fish. Ultimately, owning a tower tank can be easy and well worth the experience as long as you can keep up with it and care for it properly. Understanding what type of water environment and pressure the fish of your choice prefers and can handle is also going to go a long way in the process of setting up your tank correctly.

Fancy yourself as something of an aficionado? These are the finest fish tanks and aquariums suitable for a wide range of budgets

These tanks can be ideal for those who want a larger capacity tank but do not have the space. They create a really good 360 degree view of the fish in the tank. Care must be taken though not to place them in direct sunlight. PROS: Cylinder Fish Tanks & Column Aquariums This premium-priced tank has all the high-quality extras you could possibly ask for. The 307 external filter is both efficient and powerful enough to keep the water clean, and the 300W heater is ample to accommodate any tropical beauties in your tank. Key specs – Tank dimensions (HWD): 62 x 33 x 37cm; Water capacity: 54 litre; Other sizes? 30 litre & 105 litre; Tank extras: Filter, heater, light In terms of features, you get a top-of-the-line adjustable filter to keep things clean – something Fluval is known for. Meanwhile, a powerful LED light keeps things bright with a 6500K temperature and 120° beam that evenly illuminates all the plants and fish in the tank. The day and night illumination modes mimic natural patterns, too, which is a nice touch. There’s also a feeding door for easy access, but sadly there’s no in-built heater.

If you have small space to work with and want to avoid taking up so much room, tower tanks can be the answer. They can easily be placed in a corner out of the way allowing you to make the most of the room it's placed in. Not only that but they look stunning and add a touch of flair and ambiance to your home. We’ve searched high and low for the best value fish tanks and aquariums on the market. Whether you’re looking to house hundreds of fish in an aquarium built for the ages or an inexpensive option for beginners, there’s something for everyone down below. If you’re not sure what suits you best, then read on and our buying guide will explain all the basics.READ NEXT: Best pet insurance The best fish tanks you can buy 1. Tetra Starter Line: Best value tank for fish newbies For tropical fish, you can accommodate more fish per litre: the ratio is 1 litre per 1cm of fish. So, you could safely hold two 10cm fish, three 5cm fish and five 3cm fish safely in a 50 litre tank.