
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,210
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Junk Drawer
- 1–4 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2023

2020
Rules assistance for 10 Gallon Tank
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
10 Gallon Tank is a board game released in 2020 for 2–5 players, 15–20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by David Smith and its main mechanics are Set Collection and I Cut, You Choose.
As a hobby aquarist, split and draft the best groups of fish for the most aesthetically pleasing aquarium. Meet the Aquarium Goal for bonus points and maybe snag the rare treasure chest. 10 Gallon Tank is played over a number of rounds based on the number of players. Each round consists of three phases: Set Up the School of Fish, Split School into Groups, and Take a Group for Your Aquarium. After all three phases, the round is over. If it isn’t the final round, the start player rotates clockwise for the next round. After the preset number of rounds, scoring occurs and the player with the most points after factoring Aquarium goals is the winner! —description from the publisher
10 Gallon Tank supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 10 Gallon Tank is 15–20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 10 Gallon Tank for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
10 Gallon Tank has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
10 Gallon Tank belongs to these categories: Animals and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and I Cut, You Choose. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 10 Gallon Tank are: David Smith. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 10 Gallon Tank as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.