Kmart’s 12 L, 19 L and 20 L tanks are budget starters for one betta or a few tiny fish, and only once you add a heater and a test kit. None comes near the RSPCA’s 50 L minimum for goldfish, even though Kmart’s own 20 L manual lists one small goldfish.
This Kmart fish tank review is desk research, not a hands-on test. I read Kmart’s own manuals for its 12 L, 19 L and 20 L tanks, the RSPCA’s care guidance and what owners report online. The short answer: they’re worth it as a cheap, small start for one betta or a few tiny fish, as long as you add a heater and test your water. They’re not worth it for goldfish, and none of them is a set-and-forget kit.
Kmart sells these under its Anko label and the range changes, so treat the details below as correct. For the wider picture, see the Tank Types & Brands guides and the Tank Setup guides.
Kmart Fish Tank Review at a Glance: The Range
| Model | Capacity | Material | In the box | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20L Aquarium Starter Kit (Anko) | 20 L | Glass with a plastic base | Internal filter (sponge and carbon), gravel, artificial plant, background, lid, net | Light, heater, water conditioner |
| 12L Betta Fish Tank (Anko) | 12 L | Glass per the product listing (not confirmed) | Hinged lid, LED light, pump and filter, USB adaptor | Heater (Kmart says a 50 W is required) |
| 360 Degree Hexagon LED Aquarium | 19 L | Plastic, per the manual | 2 W pump and filter, touch-control LED, USB adaptor | Heater (Kmart recommends a 50 W) |
Specs come from Kmart’s manuals, including the 20 L kit manual, and from product listings where a manual wouldn’t load. The 20 L kit carries a one-year limited warranty that excludes the sponge and carbon filters. I didn’t read the warranty terms for the other two.
1. What the Box Doesn’t Fix
Kmart’s manuals tell you to wait 24 hours before adding fish to the 20 L kit and 72 hours on the hexagon. That covers dechlorinating and running the pump. It isn’t a finished nitrogen cycle, the process where beneficial bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate, which commonly takes four to six weeks.
Read that gap as the main risk of any Kmart fish tank kit. A beginner who follows the box literally adds fish to a tank with no bacteria yet, and ammonia builds fast in 12 to 20 litres. A liquid test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is the missing piece.
Tap water is the second gap. Kmart’s 20 L manual mentions a water ager, which only addresses chlorine. Sydney Water, for one, adds chlorine and, in some longer pipelines, ammonia, and that combination forms chloramine. Check your own supplier, then choose a conditioner whose label names chloramine. The Water Care guides cover the basics.
2. Which Fish Fit a Kmart Fish Tank
The RSPCA’s betta guidance gives ideally 20 L or more, with 10 L as the absolute minimum, water at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius from a submersible heater, and a filter with adjustable, low flow. So the 12 L tank scrapes past the minimum, and the 19 L and 20 L tanks sit just under the ideal. Every one of them needs a separate heater for a betta.
Goldfish are the trap. The RSPCA puts the minimum tank volume for goldfish at 50 L and says bowls are too small. Kmart’s own 20 L manual still lists one small goldfish as a fish for the kit. I’d follow the RSPCA figure: 20 L is well short of it.
The same manual suggests one betta with five neon tetras. That’s Kmart’s suggestion, not something I’ve verified, so research each species’ temperature and temperament before mixing anything in 20 litres.
Legality note: keeping, and especially releasing, some ornamental fish is restricted or illegal in parts of Australia. The rules differ by state and change over time, so check your state Fisheries or Biosecurity department before you buy.
3. What Owners Report
Honestly, not much, and I won’t dress that up. ProductReview.com.au lists a single Kmart tank, the Anko 12L Betta Fish Tank, at 1.0 out of 5 from one review. That reviewer liked the shape, hinged lid, light and filter, but said the lid’s thin support rods broke on two separate units. One review is an anecdote, not a trend.
I found no usable data on leaks, cracked glass, pump noise or light quality, so I’m not going to guess at them. I also couldn’t read the Reddit or Facebook threads that exist, only their titles. I searched for a Kmart aquarium recall and found none, but the ACCC recall database wouldn’t load for me, so check productsafety.gov.au yourself.
Who Should Buy One, and Who Shouldn’t
- Buy it if: you want one betta in the 19 L or 20 L tank, you’ll add a heater and a test kit, and you accept that it’s a starter, not a long-term setup.
- Buy it if: you want a low-stakes way to try the hobby and you’re happy to cycle the tank for several weeks before any fish arrive.
- Skip it if: you want goldfish. Start at 50 L or more, and look at a starter-kit roundup instead.
- Skip it if: you want a betta tank with real room to swim. Aim for 20 L or more with a heater and gentle filter.
- Skip any tank under 10 L: it can’t meet the RSPCA’s betta minimum, and small volumes leave no margin when a filter or heater stumbles.
Related Guides
Keep reading on the same topic:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kmart fish tanks good for beginners?
They’re fine as a cheap start for one betta or a few tiny fish, but the missing heater and test kit catch out most first-timers. Kmart’s waiting times of 24 to 72 hours are far shorter than a real nitrogen cycle, so cycle before you add fish.
Can I keep a goldfish in a Kmart fish tank?
No, not long term. The RSPCA sets a 50 L minimum for goldfish and calls bowls too small, and every Kmart tank I checked holds 20 L or less.
Does a Kmart fish tank come with a heater?
No. The 20 L kit lists none, and Kmart’s 12 L and 19 L manuals say to buy a 50 W heater separately. Kmart sells an Anko 50 W heater listed for tanks up to 35 L.
Are Kmart aquariums made of glass?
It depends on the model. The 20 L kit is glass with a plastic base, the 19 L hexagon is plastic, and a listing for the 12 L betta tank says glass, which I couldn’t confirm from a manual.
What warranty does a Kmart fish tank have?
The 20 L kit has a one-year limited warranty, excluding the sponge and carbon filter cartridges. I didn’t read the terms for the 12 L or 19 L tanks, so check the manual in the box.
How I Compared This
This is research synthesis. I have not set up or run a Kmart tank. On 29/09/2026 I read Kmart’s manuals for the 20 L and 19 L tanks and a product listing for the 12 L tank. I also read the RSPCA’s betta and goldfish pages and Sydney Water’s fish-care sheet. kmart.com.au blocked my fetch, and the review evidence is one ProductReview.com.au entry, so I’ve said where the evidence runs out.
Are Kmart fish tanks worth it? Yes for one betta in the 19 L or 20 L tank, provided you budget for a heater, a test kit and a proper cycle. No for goldfish, or for anyone who wants to skip that homework. The tanks themselves aren’t the problem. The box quietly leaves out the parts that keep fish alive.
