Before buying any kind of aquarium such as desktop nano aquarium, you have to check out the reviews first. Both freshwater and saltwater aquariums come in many different models and you need to carefully choose the top-rated model to get the best results. No matter, how expensive or reliable an aquarium, all of them needs regular maintenance for their proper and consistent functioning. That is the reason now most of the people prefer buying self-cleaning fish tanks.
Here, we are not just talking about those simple and easy clean fish tanks that make you free from any cleaning task. We are talking about those fish tanks that will be your dream tanks and considered as exceptional for cleaning dirt in a quick manner. If you have any experience in taking care of fish in your aquarium then you can understand the importance of a high-quality self-cleaning tank.
Who Needs It?
Practically talking, a self-cleaning fish tank is for everyone.
Only a person who has got plenty of time for cleaning fish tank does not need this. Or who enjoy the cleaning process of aquarium. More power to those people who enjoy cleaning. But for most of the people, cleaning a fish tank is never easy. A self-cleaning tank is the most precious gift and invention of the creation that is a must-have for every aquarium lover.
A self-cleaning fish tank is perfect for you if:
So, in nutshell, it is important to have for almost everyone to avoid any kind of mistake in the aquarium cleaning process.
Different Types of Self-Cleaning Tanks
Depending upon the type of its maintenance process and functionality, self-cleaning fish tank are divided into two main categories.
The first type is gravity based and the second one is the water garden approach.
The gravity-based tank pulls out the dirty water from pump when you add clean water. Plus, you do not have to worry about that it will also pull out the fish while cleaning. This is because its power is not strong enough to pull out the fish from the tank along with water. Process is entirely simple and all you need to do is to just keep adding fresh water and put a container by the pump to collect the dirty water.
In the garden water approach, a small garden floats at the top of water. This garden helps in preventing the water to get dirty by using the fish dirt as a fertilizer for the plants.
Benefits
Now, let's talk about the main benefits of using this type of fish tank.
It saves you lots of efforts and your energy as well. It is best for those people who feel very lazy to do the cleaning process. And they usually complete the cleaning process frequently without really cleaning the tank in a good way.
Second, it saves you lots of time. People who are really busy and hardworking they tend to put their entire time and focus on their work. They usually do not get much time to do the cleaning tasks as they do not have extra time on their schedule.
Moreover, a self-cleaning tank is great for the health of your fish as it will always keep the water clean.
Drawbacks
The main drawback of using a self-cleaning fish tank is that most tanks don’t really work in a proper manner.
If they don’t clean the water accurately and you rely on their cleaning process then it will surely lead to the death of your fish.
Top 8 Self-Cleaning Tank Reviews
1. As Seen on TV My Fun Fish Tank
Pros
Cons
If you are thinking about gifting a fish tank to a child on his birthday then this tank is the best choice. It is a freshwater tank with the water capacity of half-gallon and looks like a transparent plastic pitcher. It measures are 4.5 inches from all the sides with a height of 10 inches. You can put a single fish in a tank and it will work properly.
Though it does not look like a simple empty pitcher as it already contains aquaroium rocks and aquatic plants. It comes with 2 AA batteries and also contains an LED light system that you can easily turn on and off.
For self-cleaning, it uses gravity cleaning technology. You simply need to put clean water in it on a regular basis and the dirty water will be thrown out from the disposable tube.
Just make sure or tell your kids to keep a water container below the tube so that it can catch dirty water.
2. Back to the Roots Water Garden
Pros
Cons
It is both a self-cleaning and highly sustainable fish tank. This means you can literally make your own small ecosystem on the top of this tank that will help to grow food with the principles of aquaponics.
You will get all the essential items along with the tank during purchase.
It has the capacity of 3 gallons and comes with water pumps, organic seeds 5 grow pots, natural aquatic supplies and fish food. It also offers a discount coupon with the purchase so that you can easily buy a betta fish for your tank.
To run the ecosystem, the dirt produced by fish is used as fertilizer and that helps in preventing the water from getting dirty and keeping the fish toxins free as well. This means there is no need to replace the water as the plants will do the cleaning task for you. You just have to make sure that you feed your fish in a timely manner.
3. NoClean Aquariums New GravityFlow Self-Cleaning
Pros
Cons
It is a gravity-based model and it is quite bigger than the My fun Fish Tank as its height is 11 inches. It is made of glass and it was the one the first self-cleaning aquariums as well. Though, with the rising competition in the market, its improved version is also available.
It is made from heavy-duty glass material and offers a clear view of inside. It can easily carry the high weight of water so there is no possibility of glass breakage due to water weight.
You also put some polished stones and Illuma Flex LED light inside it. Its cleaning is very simple and fast that can be done in just one minute by a child as well. You can easily collect the dirty water which can be used to water and fertilize your garden.
It can also be used to enrich the look of your desk or living room and can be easily handled by children as well.
4. EcoQube Aquarium
Pros
Cons
If you are a kind of person who does not want any maintenance headache then this fish tank is perfect for you. It is basically a desktop aquarium kit which is specifically made for betta and can be easily placed in your home and office as a decorative piece.
According to manufacturers, it is the best low-maintenance aquarium of all time. However, it is hard to believe this fact.
This fish tank comes with a unique aqauponics filter that can work efficiently without your help. Your work is only to feed fish 6 times a week and in a month or twice a month. There is no need to change the water or filter.
5. BiOrb FLOW 8 Gallon
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for a simple fish tank for keeping just a small fish or two then this is the right tank for you.
It contains all those important things that you need for its good functionality. It is made of an acrylic tank with a total capacity of 8 gallons and contains an air pump, transformer, and airstone as well.
It also comes with a ceramic media of two pounds which is superior to smooth gravel. It offers a highly effective biological filtration system that efficiently keeps the water oxygenated and clean. Then its filter cartridge collects the excess water.
6. BiOrb Aquarium Kit
Pros
Cons
For many people, putting water into the tank every day is not a pleasing task. For them, this BiOrb aquarium kit is perfect.
It entirely looks like a traditional fishbowl and has a water capacity of 4 gallons. It is very small in size with a diameter of 13 inches but it is also available in 8-gallon and 16-gallon version. Its silver rim adds more fineness to its overall look.
Though it is a kind of old fashioned fish tank, it also contains some modern features. Its filtration system is very unique as it works on a 5-stage cleaning method including mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
It comes with precise instructions and essential supplies that you need to manage it. It also contains beautiful light that makes it look very pretty at night.
7. AquaSprouts Garden
Pros
Cons
It is the best aquaponics option for a 10-gallon tank but you need to buy the tank separately. It is very popular as it was also covered by the New York Times. Plus, with Kickstarter, it became a huge commercial item.
It contains both plant and fish that makes the cleaning process entirely natural done by plants.
If you are an aquarium lover or admires exotic gardening then it is best for you, teachers, and students as well.
8. ECO-Cycle Aquaponics Kit w/Dual T5Grow Light
Pros
Cons
This kit is suitable for teaching students about eco life conversation and can be easily used by teachers in a classroom setting. To use this, you need a standard tank of 20-gallon or an aquarium with a 12 by 24-inch footprint.
After that, it can be easily used to create a real garden in a barren setting. To raise plant life and fish together in the aquarium, it works on the principle of aquaponics. That turns the waste product of fish into healthy nutrients for plants.
Moreover, many teachers have written great reviews about it as it works as an effective educational tool. This is the best way to learn the learning of ecosystem and works great for raising basil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you are new to the aquarium world then you might have some questions. Here are the answers to the most common questions asked by people: (Also Check Out - How to Choose Aquarium Fish Tanks – Comprehensive Buyers Guide)
Does water have to be treated?
Water has to treat only if you want to add it to your aquarium. This is because tap water can kill your fish.
What is the right way of keeping water warm?
Keeping the water temperature warm is not at all difficult especially when it comes to betta fish. All you need to do is to just buy the Marina Betta Submersible Heater and it will do the work properly. This is best for tanks with very less water capacity of up to 1.5 gallons.
It is an 8-watt heater and emits the consistent level of heat. However, its complete effect depends upon the size of the tank.
Is it right to use aquatic plants?
Aquatic plants are absolutely perfect if you have bettas in your fish tank and they will also make your tank look beautiful.
But the main question is what type of plants you should use, real or plastic. On the internet, there is quite a debate on this issue and to get an exact idea, you can Google what other aquarium users are saying.
However, if you are a beginner aquarium owner or giving it to kids, then it’s better off with plastic plants. It is quite difficult for beginners to manage things.
My Pick
In our opinion, the best self-cleaning fish tank that is most suitable for newbies or for kids is MY Fun Fish Tank.
This is the best tank that can be used for starting your aquarium experience. The best thing is that it is very inexpensive that makes it affordable for everyone. It is not good to spend a high amount of money on a new hobby when you really don’t know whether it is going to work for you or not.
If changing water in aquarium seems a difficult or boring task to you then it is definitely not a hobby for you. Other self-cleaning fish tank options are quite expensive.
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