More and more people are getting into the fish keeping hobby with each year that goes by and over the last three years, there has been a huge surge in the number of people trying their had at fish keeping.
WIth Aqueon and Marineland both being two of the most popular brands in North America where most of our readers live, we have noticed a number of people reaching out and asking for a dedicated Aqueon vs Marineland comparison article.
After publishing a similar article going over if Top Fin are a good brand or not, we have decided to make the subject of today’s article a dedicated overview of the Aqueon and Marineland line up to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Overview
Although it is not always correct in every situations, the general way that we look at the Aqueon vs Marineland comparison is that Aqueon offer excellent quality products relative to their price point in the market but they do tend to target the lower price point for aquarium tanks and accessories.
On the flipside of this, we have Marineland who offer expensive aquarium tanks and accessories but the quality of their range really does reflect the price tags as they are often the best available.
Still, Aqueon do still make some excellent products that can definitely get the job done with thousands of people within the fish keeping hobby using the Aqueon range and using it without issue.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Tank Build Quality
The first thing that we want to look at is the build quality of each range as this can be a make or break for some people, particularly if you are looking for a larger aquarium tank.
In terms of smaller tanks below 20 gallons in size, both Aqueon and Marineland do an excellent job with their build quality and it is really hard to split the two.
Where things start to differ is when you get into the larger aquarium tanks as Marineland have what we would consider a better build quality, particularly with their glass thickness being greater than that of Aqueon.
Of course, this does come at a cost with Marineland’s larger aquariums being more expensive but if you are looking for a tank that is going to last a lifetime, Marineland is definitely the way to go.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Accessory Build Quality
The build quality of the accessories is something that a lot of people tend to overlook but it is definitely something worth considering, especially if you are looking at products like filters and heaters.
In terms of the build quality of the accessories, we would say that Marineland have the edge over Aqueon as their products just feel better made and more substantial.
Of course, this does not mean that the Aqueon accessories are bad by any means as they still do a great job but if you want the best of the best, Marineland is definitely the way to go.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Prices
We want to look at the prices of each range as this is often the deciding factor for a lot of people, particularly if you are working to a budget.
In terms of pricing, Aqueon definitely has the edge as their products are generally cheaper than Marineland across the board.
Of course, this does not mean that Marineland are expensive in all situations as they are still very competitively priced and offer an entry level range but if you are looking for the best value for money, Aqueon is definitely the way to go.
If you are not on a budget and want the absolute best though, Marineland will usually be the better option over Aqueon in most cases.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Glass Or Acrylic
This is something that a lot of people tend to overlook but it is definitely worth considering as it can have a big impact on your fish keeping experience.
In terms of glass or acrylic, we would say that glass is the way to go as it is more durable and looks better than acrylic.
Of course, this does come at a cost with glass being more expensive than acrylic but it is definitely worth the investment if you can afford it.
Both Aqueon and Marineland offer glass tanks and acrylic tanks within their range with the glass tanks often having the higher price point no matter the brand.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Silicone Lines
The silicone lines of each aquarium are something that a lot of people tend to overlook but it is definitely worth considering as it can have an impact on the aesthetics of your aquarium.
In terms of silicone lines, we would say that Marineland have the edge over Aqueon as their lines are usually much cleaner and neater.
Of course, this is not always the case and it is down to personal preference in the end but Marineland definitely have the better silicone lines in our opinion.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Filtration
Filtration is an important aspect of any aquarium and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
In terms of filtration, we would say that Marineland has the edge over Aqueon as their products tend to be more reliable and offer better filtration in general.
Of course, this does come at a cost with Marineland’s products being more expensive but if you are looking for the best possible filtration, Marineland is definitely the way to go.
In some cases, you can actually use Aqueon or Tip Fin filters and canisters in a Marineland aquarium tank to help save some money. Many of the Marineland tanks do come as a bundle though and will come with a filter included.
Some people will actually sell their included Marineland filter on the secondary market and swap it out for a filter that has cheaper canister refiles though so keep this in mind.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Tank Lid
The tank lid is often overlooked but it is definitely worth considering as it can have an impact on your fish keeping experience.
In terms of tank lids, we would say that Marineland has the edge over Aqueon as their lids tend to be more durable and offer better coverage.
The Marineland lids also tend to have a smoother internal design for them offering fewer areas where your fish is able to get trapped in the lid if it does jump out of the water.
Although it may sound unlikely, we see a surprisingly high number of people reaching out to ask about their fish disappearing only to find out that it jumped out of the water and got caught on something in the internal deign of the lid.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Lighting
Lighting is another important aspect of any aquarium and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
In terms of lighting, both Aqueon and Marine land offer excellent products within their range so we have to call this one a tie. Both quality and price for both brands are very similar when it comes to their lighting units and their range of lights should definitely include something to meet the needs of your tank.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Heater
The heater is often overlooked but it is definitely worth considering as it can have an impact on your fish keeping experience.
Marineland definitely take the lead when it comes to heaters as they tend to be more accurate and reliable even though they are more expensive.
Although it is difficult to prove, we have seen some people on social media report that their Aqueon heaters control dial was not accurate or the heaters out put was not consistent.
As you can probably guess, the changes in water temperature can easily cause problems for some of the more sensitive fish but these reports are definitely a minority and most people using Aqueon heaters don’t have problems in their tanks.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Pump
Pumps are another important aspect of any aquarium and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
Aqueon can pull slightly ahead of Marineland when it comes to pumps as their range tends to be cheaper while offering very similar levels of performance to the Marineland range.
This is one of the only areas where Marineland seem to be dropping the ball while still trying to charge their higher price tags. We hope that marine land will either lower the prices of their pumps in the future or improve the quality of their pump range to justify the prices.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Noise Level
Noise levels can be an important consideration for some people and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
In terms of noise levels, both Aqueon and Marineland are very similar with neither brand offering any real advantage over the other.
Some of the older models from both brands may be slightly louder but the newer models should all be very similar in terms of noise output.
No matter the brand that you go with, we would always recommend that you go with the quietest aquarium model possible usually forcing you to go with the newest equipment.
This is due to sound being a huge contributor to the amount of stress and anxiety that your pet fish experience in your tanks and stress should be avoided at all costs. There are a number of common problems in fish that have been directly linked to stress so try to go with a modern, quiet tank setup if possible.
In addition to helping your fish, you will also often find that a quieter tank will also offer you benefits too depending on the room of your home that you plant to keep the tank in.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Tank Sizes
Tank sizes can be an important consideration for some people and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
In terms of tank sizes, Aqueon definitely has the advantage with their range of tanks starting at 2.5 gallons all the way up to 125 gallons.
This gives you a lot more options when it comes to setting up your perfect aquarium.
Marineland are definitely focusing on the quality over quantity approach and although they do offer less tank sizes, they still offer something to fit the vast majority of peoples needs.
This one can definitely be classed as a draw as Aqueon offer more niche sizes for specific setups while Marineland focus on the best possible quality tanks for the more commonly used sizes still offering something for everyone.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Setup And Installation
Setup and installation can be an important consideration for some people and it is definitely something worth considering when choosing a brand.
In terms of setup and installation, we would say that Aqueon has a slight advantage over Marineland as their products are generally very easy to install and get up and running.
This is especially true for their aquariums which can be up and running in a matter of minutes in some cases.
Marineland products are still very easy to install and setup but we feel that Aqueon just about has the edge in this department.
Aqueon vs Marineland – Community Reputation
Both Aqueon and Marineland have excellent reputations within the fish keeping community with both brands reputations continuing to go from strength to strength.
As we mentioned back at the start of the article, for the most part, you will often find that the best brand for you will be relative to your budget.
Advantages Of Aqueon
- Lower price tags.
- Extensive range of sizes.
- Easy setup and installation.
- Excellent community reputation.
Advantages Of Marineland
- Higher quality tanks.
- Best accessories on the market.
- Better reputation among fish keepers for quality.
- Innovated with their products.
Conclusion
That brings our Aqueon vs Marineland comparison article to an end. Both brands are great and offer excellent quality products so you will usually not go wrong with picking up a product from either brands.
As we have touched on a couple of times throughout the article, Aqueon tends to be the more budget friendly brand with their quality reflecting their price where as Marineland usually aim to offer the best possible product available and charge an appropriate, higher price tag.
