The best goldfish tanks are long, wide glass tanks of at least 180 litres, with a big footprint for swimming and oxygen exchange and room for a large filter. In Australia they fall into three types: rimless open-top tanks, plain framed tanks and complete sets with a hood, filter and light. Goldfish are the reason to buy big, because they grow large, live for years and produce a lot of waste.
The number that matters is footprint, not just litres. INJAF says fancy goldfish need at least 120 x 50 x 50 cm, and common or comet goldfish at least 200 x 60 x 60 cm. Each pick below lists its real dimensions, so you can see how close it gets to those minimums.
It covers six glass tanks and sets sold in Australia, all researched rather than tested in my own home. It leaves out ponds and bowls. Coldwater fish other than goldfish are covered in the best coldwater aquarium fish, and the Tank Types & Brands hub has related guides.
The Bioscape 300 litre tank, at 121 x 51 x 50 cm, is the one that meets INJAF’s fancy goldfish minimum, and only the 500 litre Petworx tank comes close for common goldfish. The 180 litre tanks are a compromise for a pair of fancy goldfish at most. Whatever you choose, plan a large filter and a strong stand.
The Best Goldfish Tanks, Compared
| Tank | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioscape Ultra Clear 300 | Rimless glass tank | A group of fancy goldfish | 121 x 51 x 50 cm, 300 L, 10 mm |
| Petworx 500 Litre Aquarium | Framed glass tank | Common and comet goldfish | About 183 x 46 x 61 cm, 500 L, 12 mm |
| Bioscape Ultra Clear 180 | Rimless glass tank | A pair of fancy goldfish | 101 x 41 x 45 cm, 180 L, 10 mm |
| Aqua One Horizon 182 Tank | Framed glass tank | A long, low tank on a budget | 122 x 36 x 45 cm, 182 L |
| Aqua One LifeStyle Classic 182 | Complete set with hood | Buying everything in one box | 100 x 39 x 50 cm, 1100 L/hr filter |
| Juwel Rio 180 LED | Complete set with filter | A premium, matched look | 101 x 41 x 50 cm, 180 L, 200 W heater included |
How I Compared It
I have not kept goldfish in these tanks, so every pick is labelled Researched, as promised on the How We Test page. Dimensions and prices come from the live listings of Nature Aquariums and Hurstville Aquarium. Goldfish sizing comes from INJAF and from a Fishkeeping.co.uk article on goldfish size and life expectancy, which does not say whether its gallons are UK or US, so I assumed UK. Goldfish release facts come from Australian Geographic. ProductReview.com.au has no tank-specific listings for these models. Prices were checked on 29 September 2026.
1. Bioscape Ultra Clear 300 – Best tank for a group of fancy goldfish
At 121 x 51 x 50 cm, this Bioscape tank is the only one in this list that meets INJAF’s minimum for fancy goldfish of 120 x 50 x 50 cm. Nature Aquariums lists it at $659 for 300 litres of 10 mm low-iron rimless glass, with a black levelling mat included. It is tank only, so you buy the filter, lid and stand yourself. Fishkeeping.co.uk’s formula, assuming UK gallons, gives room for about four fancy goldfish in that volume.
Two costs to plan for. Water alone weighs about 300 kg, so read the best fish tank stands before you buy the tank. And it is dearer per litre than the Petworx below, at about $2.20 a litre against $1.49. Compared with the Bioscape 180 further down, the extra 120 litres and the deeper front-to-back footprint are what give goldfish room to turn.
Pros
- Meets INJAF’s 120 x 50 x 50 cm fancy goldfish minimum
- Low-iron rimless glass with a clear view
- Room for a small group by Fishkeeping.co.uk’s formula
Cons
- Tank only, so filter, lid, light and stand cost extra
- About $2.20 per litre, dearer than the Petworx
- Water weighs about 300 kg, so it needs a strong stand
2. Petworx 500 Litre Aquarium – Best big tank for common and comet goldfish
- Nature Aquariums lists it at $744.95 for 500 litres of 12 mm glass, or about $1.49 per litre.
- That is the cheapest litre here, and it is the only tank that gets near INJAF’s minimum for common goldfish of 200 x 60 x 60 cm.
- It still falls short: about 183 cm long and 46 cm deep, against 200 x 60.
- Delivery is pick-up in store or Melbourne metro only, and the listing says shipping is not calculated at checkout.
Common and comet goldfish grow to about 25 cm and can reach 30 cm, and Fishkeeping.co.uk says they live around 20 years, which is why the volume matters. By its formula, 500 litres holds about six common goldfish. I found no owner reports for this tank, and the listing gives few details. Compared with the Bioscape 300 above, it costs $86 more for 200 litres more, with a plainer look.
Pros
- Cheapest per litre in this list at about $1.49
- 500 litres, so it fits a proper group of common goldfish
- 12 mm glass on a very long tank
Cons
- Pick-up or Melbourne metro delivery only
- Still under INJAF’s 200 x 60 x 60 cm minimum
- Listing gives no brand, warranty or owner reviews
3. Bioscape Ultra Clear 180 – Best budget rimless tank for a pair of fancy goldfish
This is the cheap way into rimless glass: $399 at Nature Aquariums for 101 x 41 x 45 cm and 180 litres, tank only. Bioscape suggests pairing it with a Juwel Rio 180 cabinet. That size is an honest compromise: by Fishkeeping.co.uk’s formula it holds one fancy goldfish with a little room to spare, and under INJAF’s footprint minimum it is too small for the group INJAF recommends.
So think of it as a home for a pair of small fancy goldfish at most, not a lifetime tank. Compared with the Bioscape 300 above, it saves $260 but takes fewer fish and a shorter footprint. A better fit for a long-term tank might be the 300 litre version, but this one suits a small budget.
Pros
- $399 for low-iron rimless glass
- Fits a matching Juwel Rio 180 cabinet
- Manageable 180 litres to move and stand
Cons
- Under INJAF’s fancy goldfish footprint minimum
- Holds only one to two fancy goldfish by the formula
- Tank only, so filter, lid and light cost extra
4. Aqua One Horizon 182 Tank – Best long, low tank on a budget
The Horizon 182 is a plain 4ft-long glass tank at $275 from Hurstville Aquarium, 122 x 36 x 45 cm. Length is what INJAF asks for: it says shallow tanks are acceptable provided the fish can upend itself completely when grubbing in the substrate. Fishkeeping.co.uk gives a minimum length of 3ft for fancy and 4ft for common goldfish, and this tank meets both.
The $599 starter kit version adds a stand, a hang-on filter, a heater, a light and a lid, but goldfish do not need the heater. I also flagged in the stands guide that ProductReview.com.au rated the Aqua One brand 1.8 out of 5 from 72 reviews when I checked, mostly for tanks cracking and warranty problems, so ask the shop about the warranty. Against the LifeStyle set below, you pay less and get no hood.
Pros
- 4ft length meets Fishkeeping.co.uk’s minimum for common goldfish
- $275 for tank only
- Depth of 36 cm still allows fish to upend
Cons
- ProductReview.com.au rates the Aqua One brand 1.8 out of 5, mostly for cracks and warranty disputes
- By the formula it holds only two fancy or one common goldfish
- Pick-up only, and the tank is tank only
5. Aqua One LifeStyle Classic 182 – Best complete set with a hood and strong filter
This is the one that lets you buy everything in one box. Hurstville Aquarium lists the set at $550 with a glass tank, an integrated LED light with white and moonlight settings, an integrated filter with biological, mechanical and chemical filtration, and a hinged hood. The listing gives the filter as 1100 L/hr, about six times the tank volume every hour, which matters because INJAF says goldfish need large filters.
The matching cabinet is $280 extra, and a glass heater is sold separately, so a goldfish owner saves on that one. Its 100 x 39 x 50 cm footprint is shorter than the Horizon above, and by the formula it holds two fancy goldfish. Compared with the Juwel Rio below, it is $345 cheaper, and the filter moves almost twice as much water.
Pros
- 1100 L/hr filter, about six turnovers an hour
- Hinged hood and LED light included
- $345 cheaper than the Juwel Rio 180
Cons
- Matching cabinet costs $280 extra
- 1 metre length is under the 4ft goldfish guidance for commons
- Same Aqua One brand warranty concern as the Horizon
6. Juwel Rio 180 LED – Best premium matched set
The Rio 180 LED is $895 at Nature Aquariums, 101 x 41 x 50 cm, in four colours, with a safety base frame, MultiLux LED lighting, a Bioflow M internal filter and a 200 W heater. The heater is the odd part: goldfish do not need one, so you pay for equipment you leave switched off. The build is German and the range is well known, and Juwel says its lighting meets European safety standards.
The filter is the weak point for goldfish. The Eccoflow 600 pump moves 600 litres an hour, about 3.3 turnovers on 180 litres, compared with roughly 6 for the Aqua One set above. And I noted in the stands guide that Juwel cabinets are chipboard that can swell after a leak. Against the Bioscape 180 above, you pay $496 more for the filter, light and heater.
Pros
- Complete matched set with safety base frame
- Four colour options
- Quiet internal filter and LED lighting
Cons
- $895, the most expensive 180 litre option here
- Includes a 200 W heater goldfish do not need
- Filter moves about 600 L/hr, about half the LifeStyle’s
How to Choose
Start with fish, not tank. Decide whether you are buying fancy goldfish, which top out around 20 cm, or common and comet goldfish, which reach 25 to 30 cm, then pick the largest footprint you can afford and stand. If you have only a small space, it is kinder to keep a smaller fish species instead; see the best fish for small tanks for options that suit compact tanks.
Then plan the equipment. Goldfish make a lot of waste, so buy a strong filter, and check the water often with a proper test kit. For big tanks, a canister filter is the usual answer. If your tank did not include a heater, you can skip one, but a thermometer is still worth having.
Goldfish are a common pet in Australia, and a real pest once they leave the tank. Researchers found goldfish the size of a football in the Vasse and Wonnerup estuaries in Western Australia, able to tolerate salt water for months. I could not confirm each state’s rules for keeping goldfish, because the NSW DPI page would not load for me, so check your own state’s fisheries agency. Never flush or tip a goldfish into a drain, creek or pond. Nature Aquariums lists Melbourne metro delivery for its largest tank, and Hurstville Aquarium in Sydney sells the Aqua One sets.
Goldfish Tank Guides
Set up the tank with a strong filter and a base of the right gravel or sand. If you want cool-water companions or a different coldwater species, see the best coldwater aquarium fish, and for stocking rules see the best community fish. The Tank Types & Brands hub lists the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a tank does a goldfish need?
Bigger than most shops suggest. INJAF says fancy goldfish should have at least 120 x 50 x 50 cm, and common or comet types at least 200 x 60 x 60 cm. Fishkeeping.co.uk gives 30 gallons for the first fancy goldfish plus 10 for each extra, and 40 plus 12 for commons. Treat those as minimums, not targets.
Can a goldfish live in a bowl?
No. INJAF strongly discourages bowls, because goldfish are large, long-lived fish that produce a lot of waste and need surface area for oxygen. Fishkeeping.co.uk puts the life expectancy of a common goldfish at about 20 years and a fancy at about 12. A bowl cannot hold the water volume or the filter that those years need.
Do goldfish tanks need a heater?
Usually not. Goldfish are a coldwater fish, and Aqua One sells its LifeStyle sets for coldwater or tropical use, with a heater as an optional extra. Some starter kits include a heater you will not need, so check the box contents. Put a thermometer in the tank anyway and watch it during heatwaves and cold snaps.
How many goldfish can I keep in a 182 litre tank?
Not many. Fishkeeping.co.uk’s formula, assuming UK gallons, gives two fancy goldfish or one common goldfish in about 182 litres. INJAF adds that goldfish should not be kept alone and suggests at least three at adult size, which needs a much larger tank. If you want a small group, choose the 300 litre tank or bigger.
What should I do with a goldfish I cannot keep?
Do not release it. Researchers found large invasive goldfish in the Vasse and Wonnerup estuaries in Western Australia, and warned that people flushing pet goldfish is part of the problem. They advised returning unwanted goldfish to a reputable aquarium shop. Rehoming through a shop, a club or a friend is the responsible option.
For most Australian keepers who want goldfish done properly, buy the Bioscape 300 litre tank, or the 500 litre Petworx if you have common or comet goldfish and a strong floor. Choose the Aqua One LifeStyle Classic 182 only if you want a complete set and will keep just two fancy goldfish. Whatever you buy, budget for a large filter, a proper stand and a plan for a fish that will outlive the tank’s warranty.
