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9 Best Nano Tanks For Shrimp in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Lindsey Stanton Profile Picture

By Lindsey Stanton

two shrimps inside the tank

There is some debate regarding what exactly qualifies as a nano fish tank, with some claiming a capacity of less than 30 gallons and others using a stricter 10-gallon maximum.

Regardless of your chosen definition, these tiny tanks are ideal for keeping shrimp with some species, like the Cherry and the Crystal Red Shrimp, which can survive in something as small as a 10-liter tank.

It is important to remember that the greater the volume of water in the tank, the easier it is to keep conditions stable. With that in mind, we have compiled reviews of 10 of the best nano tanks for shrimp.

wave dividerA Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit
  • Compact design
  • Everything included – even the filter media
  • 7500K LED lamps improve visibility
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit
  • Cheap
  • Features a bubble curtain with LED lighting
  • Feeding hole in the lid
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Kit Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Kit
  • 24-hour day/night light cycle
  • Made from glass
  • Quiet filter
  • Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit
  • Kit includes tank
  • heater
  • filter
  • and several extras
  • LED light informs you when it is time to change the filter
  • 10-gallon tank is a generous size
  • Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit
  • Looks good
  • Decent price
  • Rounded corners are easier to clean
  • The 9 Best Nano Tanks For Shrimp

    1. Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit – Best Overall

    Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit

    Check Price on Chewy
    Capacity: 2.6 gallons
    Tank type: Tropical freshwater
    Material: Glass

    Most species might be saltwater shrimps, but there are some excellent freshwater shrimp. The Red Cherry, Blue Tiger, and Ghost shrimp are some of the species you will be able to keep in this freshwater tank setup.

    The Fluval Spec comes in 2.6 and 5-gallon models, with the smaller of the two capable of fitting on desks and corner shelves. LED lamps ensure you can see in and watch the inhabitants, while the circulation pump has an adjustable nozzle and a 3-stage filter system that keeps the water and tank clean. The prices of both sizes are reasonable, and with some adjustments, you can ensure ideal water flow for your little crustaceans.

    Since it’s easy to set up, adjustable to your shrimps’ requirements, and incorporates everything you need, including the filter media, the Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit is the best overall nano tank for shrimp.

    Pros
    • Compact design
    • 7500K LED lamps improve visibility
    • Everything included – even the filter media

    Cons
    • Freshwater setup not suitable for all shrimps
    • Light needs removing when cleaning tank


    2. Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit – Best Value

    Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit

    Capacity: 3 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Plastic

    If you’re looking for an inexpensive nano tank, your best option is a plastic tank. They don’t look as premium as a glass tank, but they cost less, weigh less, and should still last you for a few years. The Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit includes a 3-gallon plastic tank, a color-changing LED light, and a Tetra Whisper filtration system.

    The tank is quick and easy to set up, and it provides 180° of clear vision into the tank. The plastic canopy has a convenient feeding hole so that you don’t have to remove the whole cover at feeding time. Tetra claims that the filtration system includes a bubble curtain, but it is directly linked to the filter, and it can take a lot of fiddling to get the intake and bubble output just right.

    While the filter is called Whisper, it is louder than some of the more expensive models. However, at half the price of most of the alternatives, the Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon Aquarium Kit is the best nano tank for shrimp for the money.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Features a bubble curtain with LED lighting
    • Feeding hole in the lid

    Cons
    • Plastic is not as durable as glass
    • Bubble curtain is fiddly to master
    • The filter is quite loud


    3. Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Kit – Premium Choice

    Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Kit

    Capacity: 16 gallons
    Tank type: Saltwater, Freshwater
    Material: Glass

    The Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Kit is a premium tank, pushing the limits of what is called a nano tank with its 16-gallon capacity. However, as well as being made from durable glass, the tank is suitable for saltwater and freshwater inhabitants.

    It has LED lighting with a choice of three colors and has a 24-hour timer to enable better mimicking of a day/night cycle. The timer even has 30 and 60-minute set and rise features. The filter is submersible, which means that the water muffles a lot of the noise and vibrations that it creates.

    While this is a good quality tank with useful lighting features and enough room for your shrimps, it is very expensive compared to other tanks of a similar size.

    Pros
    • 24-hour day/night light cycle
    • Made from glass
    • Quiet filter

    Cons
    • Very expensive
    • Large for a nano tank


    4. Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit

    Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit

    Capacity: 10 gallons
    Tank type: Saltwater, Freshwater
    Material: Glass

    Although there are cheaper tanks on this list, the Aqueon LED Fish Aquarium Starter Kit may well present the best value of all. It includes virtually everything you need, other than the shrimp themselves, to get up and running. As well as a 10-gallon glass tank, which is considered the upper limit of a nano tank, you get an LED hood, a heater, and a QuietFlow LED Pro Power Filter with a cartridge.

    The kit even includes premium fish food, but it is unlikely to suit your shrimp. The water conditioner helps maintain good quality water for the tank inhabitants, and there’s a convenient net to catch the swimmers. As well as a feeding door on the front, the LED hood includes a storage area at the back for extra accessories.

    Although the kit is convenient and competitively priced, there have been a lot of instances of excess sealant on the glass, as well as a few cases of scratched glass panes so there are quality control issues.

    Pros
    • Kit includes tank, heater, filter, and several extras
    • 10-gallon tank is a generous size
    • LED light informs you when it is time to change the filter

    Cons
    • Quality control issues
    • Lid is flimsy


    5. Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit

    Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit

    Capacity: 5 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Glass

    The Marineland Portrait Blade Light Aquarium Kit includes a 5-gallon glass tank with rounded edges. Rounded edges are easier to clean because you can get a cloth or other cleaning material in more easily than you can with straight corners.

    It also includes a three-stage filtration system to keep the water clean and an adjustable filter pump so that you can manage the water turbulence for your shrimp. The LED lighting can be set to white or blue, providing a day or nighttime feel. The lid is a sliding glass canopy rather than a plastic lid.

    This kit looks good, and the rounded edges are indeed easier to clean but the integrated filter is close to the back of the tank and very difficult to clean behind while the pump operates loudly after a few weeks. Removing the lid to feed is more frustrating than with a plastic lid, and it tends to cause water to splash the surrounding area.

    Pros
    • Looks good
    • Decent price
    • Rounded corners are easier to clean

    Cons
    • Removing the lid is a hassle
    • The pump is not quiet
    • Difficult to clean behind the pump


    6. Marineland Contour Rail Light Aquarium Kit

    Marineland Contour Rail Light Aquarium Kit

    Capacity: 3 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Glass

    The rounded corners of the 3-gallon glass Marineland Contour not only make it easier to clean inside the glass but also ensure better viewing from any position. The kit also includes a hidden 3-stage filtration system to keep the water clean, as well as an adjustable filter pump. Even on the lowest setting, the pump can be a little vigorous, and it isn’t ideal for gentle swimmers.

    The LED lighting system emits white light to emulate daytime and blue light for evenings, enabling you to offer a natural day/night cycle to the tank inhabitants. The size and dimensions make it suitable as a desktop tank, but Marineland does not sell replacement parts, which means that a broken motor can lead to you having to replace the whole aquarium.

    Even though this is a modestly priced kit, the ongoing cost of replacing the parts can increase the price.

    Pros
    • Contoured corners improve viewing
    • White/blue lights offer a day/night cycle
    • Decent price

    Cons
    • No replacement parts
    • The pump is strong, even at the lowest setting


    7. Koller Tropical 360 View Aquarium Starter Kit

    Koller Products Tropical 360 View Aquarium Starter Kit

    Capacity: 3 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Plastic

    The Koller Tropical 360 View Aquarium Starter Kit includes almost everything you need to start your shrimp aquarium on a budget.

    The 3-gallon plastic tank offers full visibility right around the aquarium, making it a good choice for desks and in central locations. Although plastic is not as clear as glass, the Koller is aided in part by the LED lighting. With seven color choices, including white and blue, the light is billed as energy efficient but doesn’t offer much in the way of tank illumination.

    Also, the aquarium is rounded, which some owners say gives them a distorted view of the fish no matter where they view from, so it can take some getting used to. Despite being one of the lowest-priced options on the list, the poor battery life, low-power lighting, and distorted view of the tank inhabitants mean that there are better options.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Energy efficient
    • Full visibility all around the tank

    Cons
    • The light is very dim
    • Fish can appear distorted
    • Poor battery life


    8. Tetra LED Cube Kit Fish Aquarium

    Tetra LED Cube Kit Fish Aquarium

    Capacity: 3 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Plastic

    Plastic tanks cost a lot less than glass ones, typically coming in at around half the price. While good quality plastic is strong enough to work as an aquarium material, it doesn’t look as premium as glass, and it can distort the viewing of your shrimp and other swimmers.

    The Tetra LED Cube Kit Fish Aquarium is a 3-gallon plastic tank. It has a cube design, and the 10-inch square tank sits atop a pedestal base that does an excellent job of dampening vibrations through the desk or other surfaces. It does have an LED light, and it only illuminates a bright white, so it isn’t suitable for nighttime.

    The kit, which also includes a Tetra Whisper filter, is reasonably priced and could represent a good foray into shrimp ownership. However, as well as lacking a nighttime lighting option, the kit does not include a heater, and you will likely have to buy one to complete your setup.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive aquarium
    • The pedestal base dampens vibrations

    Cons
    • No heater
    • No nighttime light option


    9. Fluval Chi Aquarium Kit

    Fluval Chi Aquarium Kit

    Capacity: 5 gallons
    Tank type: Freshwater
    Material: Plastic

    The Fluval Chi Aquarium Kit is a combination of an aquarium and water feature. The tall rectangular tank’s filter emits bubbles from a filter that is above and out of the water. This does mean that the tank makes a bubbling noise whenever the filter is in use, which it needs to be for the LED light to work.

    While the price is higher than the budget brands on our list, it is a plastic aquarium and is expensive for a low-cost option. The filter resides in a cube in the center of the tank. The cube can be rotated to give access and to make cleaning easier. Despite being labeled as a 5-gallon tank, it is a small unit and likely only suitable for use as a 3.5-gallon aquarium, with some of the space taken up by the central filter cube.

    Pros
    • Looks attractive
    • The cube rotates for easier cleaning

    Cons
    • Expensive for a plastic tank
    • Smaller than billed

    fish divider

    Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Nano Tanks For Shrimp

    A nano tank is a small fish tank that can be used to hold reefs, plants, decorations, small fish, and, of course, crustaceans like shrimps. They’re ideal for small spaces, suitable if power access is limited, and cost-effective because they don’t take as many fish or decorations to fill.

    Most brands come with filtration systems and LED lighting as part of a nano aquarium tank kit. Read on to find out more about the best nano tanks for shrimp and how to choose the right one for you.

    Benefits of a Nano Tank

    • Cheaper – Because there’s less material used to make small tanks, they cost less to purchase. While a large 100-gallon tank can cost upwards of several hundred dollars, a reasonable 10-gallon tank can be had for less than $100. Also, because there’s less water and fewer fish in a small tank, you do not require as much equipment, and you will save on items like pumps and lights. Whether you’re just starting and are unsure whether keeping shrimp and other aquatic wildlife is right for you, or you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a setup, the cheaper cost of nano tanks is a benefit.
    • Smaller – Whether you consider the maximum size of a nano tank to be 10 gallons or 30 gallons, they are a lot smaller than the 100-gallon behemoths. They require much less space. Some of the tanks are 3-gallon tanks, which should be small enough to fit on a corner shelf or even a desk.
    • Lighter – The smaller size of the tank means that it also weighs less. This is important when trying to move the tank and if you want to place the tank on a shelf or you’re worried about it getting knocked over. The weight of the water is usually the biggest consideration with a fish tank, but small 3-gallon plastic tanks weigh less than glass ones of the equivalent size, so if weight is a strict issue, look to the plastic units first.
    • Easy Maintenance – Whatever size tank you choose, you have to perform a partial water change at least every couple of weeks. Removing and replacing 25% of the water in a 5-gallon tank is quicker and easier than changing the same portion of a 120-gallon tank. There’s also less tank to clean and fewer decorative items that will need occasional cleaning.

    Reasons to Avoid a Nano Shrimp Tank

    Nano tanks are compact, convenient, and lightweight, but they’re not the best option for all owners.

    • Too Simple – If you’ve dreamed of having an aquatic wonderland packed with plants and a host of different aquatic species, the nano tank isn’t ideal. Its minimal space and restricted water flow mean that you will be limited when choosing what you can put in a nano.
    • Harder to Manage – With a nano tank, there is very little room for error. A slight change in tank conditions can lead to a significant change in water pH or mineral levels, which can have a devastating effect on the aquarium’s population. You have to be meticulous about cleaning and managing the tank, more so than with a larger tank.

    What to Look For

    If you’ve decided that a nano tank is the right option for you, having weighed the pros and cons, there are factors to consider before choosing which is the best tank to buy.

    Glass vs Plastic

    Nano tanks are either glass or plastic, and there are benefits to both:

    Glass is very durable, and it is crystal clear, so there is less distortion when looking through the panes. It doesn’t stain or pick up dirt and grime as easily as plastic, either. However, glass is also heavier than plastic, which might be an issue if you’re concerned about shelf load. While it is harder to chip or scratch glass, once it becomes damaged, it is challenging to repair and might require replacement. Glass is also the more expensive material.

    Plastic is lightweight and easy to move. It is also more malleable during the manufacturing process, and there is a much wider range of sizes and shapes available. You can even customize plastic tanks by cutting holes and adding your accessories to them, but you need to ensure that you don’t diminish the integrity of the tank by doing so. The bottom can be weak, so the tank needs a flat surface to prevent it from breaking, and there tends to be some distortion when looking through plastic.

    ghost shrimp in a tank
    Image Credit: Jacobmwhitney1, Pixabay

    Capacity

    Some consider a tank to be nano if it has a capacity of less than 10 gallons, while others adopt a broader definition that includes aquariums up to 30 gallons. There is a big difference in the size of the tanks, so measure the space you want your tank, allow a little room for movement to allow you to get in and easily clean, and buy an appropriately sized nano tank.

    Shape

    Glass aquariums are square or rectangular. They have flat edges and sharp corners and come in fairly standard sizes. The standard sizes are handy if you’re looking to buy a new filter or other accessories, but they limit your design options. Plastic can have rounded corners, and there are fully rounded plastic tanks that make it possible to view the contents of the tank from any angle. If your tank will sit on a shelf or in a corner, it is easier with a rectangular tank, but if it is going to sit on a desk, rounded tanks provide greater visibility.

    Aquarium Kits

    Most of the items on our list are aquarium kits rather than tanks. They include the pump, a filter, and usually LED lighting. Buying a kit is convenient because it negates the need to look for everything individually. They are cheaper than buying separate items, too, and you can be sure that the pump and lighting are a proper fit for the size and dimensions of the tank. Some kits even include a water conditioner, which helps ensure a clean living environment for your shrimp.

    wave tropical divider

    Conclusion

    Shrimp are fascinating aquatic animals. They’re fun to watch, relatively easy to care for, and they can flourish even in small tanks. If you are looking for a compact but comfortable habitation for your shrimps, the reviews and guide above should help you narrow down your options and find the best.

    The Fluval Spec Aquarium Kit includes a 2.6-gallon tank that is reasonably priced for a glass aquarium, and its LED lamps do an excellent job of illuminating your shrimp, but it can be difficult to clean properly. For those on a budget, the Tetra ColorFusion Half Moon costs less, is made from plastic, and provides 180° of easy viewing.


    Featured Image Credit: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

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