Start a Fish Tank » Fish Tanks

Glass Aquarium Sizes

lugnut22 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:43:29 +0000

Here is a handy chart listing popular glass aquarium sizes and their typical corresponding dimensions and weights. Please note that the “Filled Weight” measurements account for the weight of the glass aquarium itself and the maximum capacity of water for the aquarium. Actual finished weight will usually be higher as you add gravel, rock and other decorations.

For structural weight-bearing considerations, please don’t forget to add the weight of your aquarium stand, canopy, filters and any other aquarium accessories you will be including.

Basic Glass Aquarium Sizes & Weights

Small Glass Aquarium Sizes
Aquarium Size	Aquarium Dimensions (l x w x h)	Filled Aquarium Weight
2.5 Gallon	12 x 6 x 8	25 lbs
5 Gallon	16 x 8 x 10	55 lbs
10 Gallon	20 x 10 x 12	110 lbs
15 Gallon	24 x 12 x 12	160 lbs

Medium Glass Aquarium Sizes
Aquarium Size	Aquarium Dimensions (l x w x h)	Filled Aquarium Weight
20 Gallon High	24 x 12 x 16	205 lbs
20 Gallon Long	30 x 12 x 12	200 lbs
29 Gallon	30 x 12 x 16	295 lbs
30 Gallon	36 x 12 x 16	320 lbs
40 Gallon Breeder	36 x 18 x 16	430 lbs
40 Gallon Long	48 x 12 x 16	390 lbs

Large Glass Aquarium Sizes
Aquarium Size	Aquarium Dimensions (l x w x h)	Filled Aquarium Weight
50 Gallon	36 x 18 x 18	520 lbs
55 Gallon	48 x 12 x 20	530 lbs
75 Gallon	48 x 18 x 20	800 lbs
90 Gallon	48 x 18 x 24	940 lbs
125 Gallon	72 x 18 x 22	1,275 lbs
150 Gallon	72 x 18 x 28	1,675 lbs
180 Gallon	72 x 24 x 24	1,950 lbs
210 Gallon	72 x 24 x 28	2,250 lbs

Glass Aquarium vs. Acrylic Aquarium Features

lugnut22 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:45:52 +0000

When you select your first aquarium, you will be considering a number of factors, including size, shape and style. You will also need to decide between what material you want your aquarium made out of – do you want a glass aquarium or an acrylic aquarium? There are benefits to both types, and it really comes down to personal preference and budget when making your decision. Be sure to check out our chart of glass aquarium sizes to get an idea of the dimensions and weight of your finished tank.

Glass Aquarium Tank
Great for beginners, a glass aquarium is typically cheaper than its acrylic counterpart. All-glass Aquarium tanks are constructed with panes of glass sealed with nontoxic silicon, and framed with plastic molding (typically black or a simulated wood grain). The thickness of the glass pane will increase along with the size of the aquarium.

A glass aquarium is suitable for use with either saltwater fish or freshwater fish, and is recommended for the beginning aquarist due to their ready availability, scratch-resistance and price.

Glass Aquarium Features:

Long lasting
Readily available
More scratch-resistant than Acrylic
Usually cheaper than a similar-sized Acrylic Aquarium
Larger all-glass aquarium tanks become very heavy as they get larger

Acrylic Aquarium
An acrylic aquarium makes for a great show tank for your living or family room. Unlike a glass aquarium, an acrylic tank has rounded corners which enhances its look and viewing experience to see all your fish, plants and other decorative features. Since they are individually molded, acrylic tanks are available in more unusual shapes & sizes than a glass aquarium.

Acrylic aquarium features:

Lightweight
Curved Corners
Many Shapes available
Can be easily scratched during cleaning
More expensive than a Glass Aquarium
Less image distortion than a Glass Aquarium

What Size Fish Tank Should I Buy?

lugnut22 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:49:09 +0000

There are a number of shapes, sizes and types of material you can choose from for your first fish tank, but the best advice for the beginning fish-keeper is: Bigger is better. Simply put, depending on your budget and type of aquarium you would like to start, you will just have a better experience with a larger tank than with a smaller one.

Why is a bigger aquarium better?

A larger fish tank gives you more flexibility in making mistakes as a beginning aquarist. The larger volume of water is better able to absorb waste, is less susceptible to changes in temperature, provides a buffer for sudden changes in water conditions, and gives you more time to notice problems with the tank before they turn deadly.

A large aquarium means you can safely handle more fish (instead of over-populating your small aquarium) and usually gives you more time between required water changes. It provides sufficient space as your fish grow to their adult size, and gives you flexibility to add more tank features to enhance the beauty of your display. It also increases the types of fish you can keep, as both schooling fish and larger fish need more space to be happy and healthy in your tank.

For the saltwater aquarium, a larger tank is especially important, as clean and stable water condition is the most important factor in your success.

What size aquarium should I purchase?

While the size of your first tank will be dependent on its location and your budget, you should try to start with at least a 20- or 29-gallon tank for a freshwater tank (larger is still better), and a 55-gallon tank if you are starting a saltwater or marine aquarium.

What if I have a smaller tank?

Don’t worry, just because you have a smaller tank doesn’t mean you can’t be successful, it just means you need to be extra diligent in the care of your small fish tank. Follow these tips to increase your chances for success:

Resist the urge to overpopulate

Regardless of what size of fish tank you start out with, your chances of success are much greater if you don’t rush out and fill your aquarium full with fish. As a general rule, you should end up with no more than one inch of fish per gallon of tank. In addition, be sure to follow these general rules when starting up your tank:

Change water frequently (10-15% weekly)
Monitor water temperature daily
Test water quality weekly
Do not overfeed