29 gallon aquariums: dimensions, equipment and which fish fit

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Stock checked on October 7, 2026

Top rated

Tetra 29 Gallon Glass Aquarium, Rectangular Fish Tank 8.8 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.8 out of 10 See price

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Tetra 29 Gallon Complete Tropical Fish Tank Kit 8.1 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.1 out of 10 See price

Best value

LANDEN Aquarium 60H 30 Gallon Ultra Clear Glass Rimless Fish… 8.4 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.4 out of 10 See price

29 gallon aquariums comparison, in stock

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Why choose a 29 gallon aquarium

Going from 15 to 29 gallons changes more than you might think. With almost twice the actual water, a feeding mistake or a dead fish you didn't spot takes far longer to affect water quality, and the temperature barely moves. The 30-inch front also gives active schools room to swim and lets you combine two or three species without crowding.

The price jump over a 15 gallon is modest, but think about weight: filled, it comes in around 300-330 lb (135-150 kg). A proper aquarium stand is a must, ideally placed against a load-bearing wall or on a solid floor.

Common dimensions and real volume

"Around 100 liters" covers several formats. Listed volumes are nominal: substrate and decor take 10-20% away.

Format	Dimensions	Nominal volume	Pros and cons
29 gallon	30 × 12 × 18 in	29 gal (110 L)	the US classic; tall enough for plants, easy to find stands for
30 gallon breeder	36 × 18 × 12 in	30 gal (114 L)	large footprint, great for bottom dwellers and aquascapes
European 80 cm	31.5 × 14 × 16 in (80 × 35 × 40 cm)	29.5 gal (112 L)	balanced shape, easy to maintain
Cube	20 × 20 × 16 in	about 26 gal (100 L)	very decorative, but little front length for active schools

What equipment it needs

• Filter: 80-130 GPH (300-500 L/h). Kits usually include a hang-on-back filter that is fine for fish; if you want more biological media and less hardware in the tank, a canister filter is the most common upgrade.
• Heater: about 100 W, or two 50 W units on opposite sides for even heating and a backup if one fails.
• Lighting: a 30-inch LED on a 6-8 hour timer. For a planted tank with carpeting plants, choose a stronger fixture.
• Lid: with access doors. At this size you can keep jumpier fish such as danios and rasboras.

Aqueon, Marineland, Fluval and Tetra all sell kits in this range on Amazon, some with matching stands. Check whether a heater is included and how much media the filter really holds.

Which fish fit in 29 gallons

With roughly 24-25 gallons of real water you can build a full community. Three rough examples:

• South American: 12-15 cardinal tetras, 6 corydoras and, once the tank is mature, a pair of German blue rams (they need 79-82 °F / 26-28 °C and very stable water).
• Asian: 12-15 harlequin rasboras, a honey gourami and shrimp or nerite snails.
• Livebearers: a group of platies with corydoras; be warned, they breed readily.

For algae cleaning, pick a bristlenose pleco (about 5-6 in / 12-15 cm) instead of a common pleco, which grows past 12 in (30 cm). What doesn't fit: oscars, common plecos, bala sharks or groups of goldfish. Angelfish are borderline: they need height and ideally 40-55 gallons. To plan your stocking, see our guide to how many fish fit in a tank.

Common mistakes with a 29 gallon tank

• Assuming 29 gallons means anything goes: stocking still depends on adult size and temperament.
• Setting it on furniture that isn't an aquarium stand, or on a questionable floor.
• Undersizing the heater in a cold room.
• Buying a common pleco "to clean" that will end up over a foot long.
• Skipping weekly water changes because "there's a lot of water".

We compare spec sheets, verified reviews and real-world criteria, but we do not physically test the products: use the models above as a starting point and check each listing for dimensions, volume and included equipment.