The invention relates to a small experimental circulating water tank which comprises a water tank body, and the water tank body comprises a test section (1), an upper expansion section (17), a power section (15), a connecting section (12), a third-stage guide section (11), a lower expansion section (10), a second-stage guide section (7), a first-stage guide section (5), a rectification section (4)and a contraction section (3) which are connected in sequence to form a loop, wherein the the test section (1) is horizontally arranged, the first-stage guide section (5), the second-stage guide section (7) and the third-stage guide section (11) are arranged at corners, a honeycomb rectifier (401) is arranged in the rectification section (4), and a plurality of flow deflectors (6) are arranged inthe first-stage guide section (5), the second-stage guide section (7) and the third-stage guide section (11). Compared with the prior art, the experimental requirements can be met, the flow field speed is adjustable, flowing is uniform and stable, the flow velocity distribution of the test section is uniform, and advection and turbulence can be controlled.