Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit Review

The Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit is the style of large aquarium that can provide a great upgrade to new aquarists or fit the specific needs of experienced fish-keepers.

It contains all the needed accessories to make your aquarium a raging success from day one without having to buy extras, while also not overwhelming you with tools or decorations you don’t need.

Boasting of ample space and crystal clear glass walls, you’ll find that your fish will be happy, healthy, and in prime view.

Of course, the point of this Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit review lies in also finding the downsides of what seems to be a kit made in heaven.

While the size is clearly one of its biggest pros, keep in mind you’ll need to fit it into your existing living room or office. If you live in an apartment with tiny rooms, this aquarium may bring you closer to the ‘packed sardines’ mindset than you’d like.

What other advantages does it have? Where does it fall short? We’ve gathered all the good and the bad right here, so you can make the best buying decision.

Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit: The Details

Specs

• Weight: When empty: 62 lbs. When full of water and before adding gravel or decorations: 521 lbs.
• Dimensions: 51.9 x 16.4 x 24.4 inches.
• Capacity: 55 gallons.
• Lighting: LED lighting included.
• Glass or Acrylic: Glass.

Included accessories are:

• One 55-gallon tank.
• EasyBalance Plus.
• TetraMin.
• AquaSafe.
• Six-inch fishnet.
• 200W heater.
• WPF 60 filter.
• Stick-on digital thermometer.
• Two 24-inch Tetra hinged hood.
• Two plant multipacks.
• One boxwood plant.
• TetraCare brochure.
• Instruction sheet.

Features

Large Capacity

Often when you’re shopping for a starter kit, you’ll only be recommended smaller aquarium sets that can hold maybe ten gallons – if you’re lucky.

While those are great for some people, the real fun starts when you find a 55-gallon aquarium. With 55 gallons of possible fun, this aquarium screams to be used to the fullest.

The large space makes it possible to host a wide variety of fish species, as well as to invest in landscaping their surroundings completely to your liking.

As such, you’ll find it’s easy for the this Tetra aquarium to become either the centerpiece of a room or a tasteful backdrop feature.

Plenty of Extras

Getting a starter kit means cost-savvy convenience. You’ll spend less time and money hunting down individual pieces of equipment to outfit everything to your heart’s desire.

While this is certainly a plus, those who own other aquariums may not need all these extra accessories.

Nonetheless, whether you’re already fully stocked or just getting started, having some spare equipment has yet to hurt anybody.

Sturdy Glass

Few things are as gorgeous as a glass aquarium. The bigger the aquarium, the more you realize just how much the glass material adds to its beauty.

However, isn’t glass fragile? Lucky for you, this tank is specially designed to take a few bumps, as long as you don’t go about it too wildly.

We’re also happy to note that its low-iron build makes it lack the well-known green sheen that other glass aquariums possess, making it a more attractive option when compared to rival starter kits.

Tasteful LED Lighting

Attractive lighting is important, especially so when you’re working with larger aquariums that will become centerpieces in your home or office.

The best large aquarium is one where you can enjoy a lighting that seems natural, while it still brings out the best features of your fish and decorations.

The added LED lights are optimized to help you achieve this, and while there is certainly room for customization, many of our testers found that the lighting itself was just what they needed to get started.

Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit Review

The Positives

Plenty of Creativity Allowed

We’ve all had the chance to see the ‘standard’ goldfish bowl. It’s usually tiny and comes with a toy castle and maybe some greenery. It gets the job done, but it’s so much more fun to really go wild in our hobby.

With 51.9 x 16.4 inches of floor space to work with, it’s no surprise that it pays to get creative. You can get plants to aid in your ecosystem, as well as decorative gravel and other items to make things pop.

Whether you want a statement piece or just something tasteful to draw the room together, it’s all a piece of cake when you have ample space.

Attractive Base Available

A large aquarium is a wonderful thing to behold, but finding a place for it can be more than daunting.

Once it’s filled with water, the Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit boasts a remarkable weight that may not mesh well with any of your existing furniture.

If you don’t want to take any chances with your furniture sagging under the weight of your aquatic friends, Tetra offers a matching base for sale. It’s perfectly tailored to this aquarium in a classic black color, making it a certain fit for your set-up.

If you’re worried about your aquarium ruining your stylish decor, there’s no need. The Tetra Aquarium Kit will be sure to keep you aesthetically pleased.

An attractive base does well when accompanying the low-iron glass. Your crystal clear tank will be able to shine freely atop its new placement.

Stress-Free Fish

Speaking of tiny fish bowls, it’s important to keep in mind that each type of fish has its own needs when it comes to personal space.

Some fish need a lot more space than most owners realize, and if you’re looking to recreate a colorful aquarium with plenty of fish, a small tank won’t suffice.

With this amount of room, it’s fairly safe to say that your fish won’t be encountering any stress due to lack of space. Just be sure to research which species cohabit well, and you’re sure to only have happy fish in your care.

Great Value

Many customers commented on how great the price is for the Tetra Aquarium Kit. Larger aquariums are usually more expensive given not only the size, but you’ll also require accessories that are compatible with a bigger tank.

This kit saves you money by including everything you need right in the box. If you have your decorations and fish on hand, there’s no need to head to your local pet store for necessities to get this tank going.

You’ll have everything from LED lights to two aquarium hoods included with this purchase. Those on a budget will enjoy having an all-in-one kit for an affordable price.

Warranty

Tetra advertises that all of their 55G glass aquarium tanks come with a lifetime warranty! This is great news for any fish owner, especially those who are worried about making the move to a glass aquarium.

This makes the affordability of this fish tank even better. Should you find any faults in the make-up of your aquarium, you’ll simply need to contact Tetra’s customer service where they promise to replace or repair your aquarium.

You’ll need to register your new purchase online on their website, so be sure you’re purchasing from one of their authorized retailers.

A lifelong warranty shows that this company really stands behind their products and shows their customers that they care.

Great for Beginner Hobbyists

The fact that the Tetra Aquarium Kit is affordable, easy to set-up, and has everything included makes this a great choice for those just starting out in this hobby.

Not only are you saving money right off the hop, but Tetra makes it easy to transition into the craft by making this product accessible and well-made.

Access to a warranty means there’s less to worry about, and your tank will be big enough to accommodate all sorts of underwater ideas.

The Negatives

Heavy

While there is a lot of room for playing around in this tank, you’ll have to keep in mind that every gallon of water and every grain of sand contributes to the weight.

This means you won’t be moving this aquarium out of the way for some light cleaning at the drop of a hat.

When choosing a spot for this kit, be sure to check if you’ll be able to clean easily, and if the furniture it will be placed on can support said weight.

For that matter, if you live on the second or third floor, be sure to check what the load-bearing capacity of your floor is!

Filter Results Vary

While a filter is obviously included in this aquarium kit, it is important to note that different types of fish have different levels of hygienic needs.

As such, the accompanying filter may not be enough to serve your needs.

Equipping the tank with a different filter is easy, but be sure you have the extra money available to get an appropriate model if the need arises.

Overall Verdict

The Tetra Aquarium Kit is an excellent buy for anyone who feels they’ve outgrown the kiddie pool.

With ample space for fish and decorations, a tasteful glass finish, and an optional base made solely for this tank, you will find that getting started with this 55-gallon aquarium is a cinch. The hardest thing to do will be deciding how you want to decorate.

However, despite all the highlights, it’s important to keep in mind that it will not be a good fit in smaller rooms.

Equally important is placing it where you can still perform occasional maintenance without having to move the entire aquarium. While it would make for a great workout, it’s not exactly optimal and can be dangerous.

All in all, this is a great aquarium that’s a joy for anyone who feels like bigger really is better.

Where to Buy the Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit

Tetra is no newbie to the world of fish and aquatic products with a vast line of items under their belt.

It’s clear they’re dedicated to making quality items, thanks to the positive response they’ve received from their customers.

Their success has caused them to become a popular brand, so popular that their products can be found through a variety of outlets. It’s no surprise that the Tetra 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit is available both in-store and online.

It’s usually best to check pet, fish, and aquatic stores, but you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Wal Mart (from $249)
• Pet Supermarket (from $239)
• Pets Warehouse (from $255)

And of course, you can also find this large aquarium on Amazon.

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That’s a wrap on our Tetra Aquarium Kit review. Curious to give it a try?