Before you purchase a new home aquarium, you need to know its overall dimensions to ensure it will be a perfect fit for you. This article will discuss the dimensions of a 55-gallon fish tank along with some other important information.
A 55-gallon fish tank is one of the most commonly used sizes for a home aquarium. One of the main reasons why it is so popular is due to the fact it isn’t a small aquarium but it’s not too large to be overwhelming. You can keep small and large fish in this size aquarium.
What Are The Dimensions Of A 55 Gallon Fish Tank?
The dimensions of a standard size rectangular 55-gallon fish tank are 48″ L x 13″ W x 20″ H. These dimensions are just for the tank itself including the trim and does not include the canopy, lighting, or any other equipment.
Although a standard size 55-gallon fish tank is 4 feet long, it’s possible to have a 55-gallon tank with different dimensions that are custom-made. Regardless of the dimensions of the 55-gallon aquarium, it will still hold the same amount of water.
For example, if you purchase a store-bought standard size 55-gallon aquarium, it will have the dimensions of 48″ L x 13″ W x 20″ H. There are several companies that build custom aquariums with a variety of dimensions to suit your needs.
You may be interested in a 55-gallon aquarium but the dimensions of a standard tank won’t work with your space. You can ask one of these companies to build you an aquarium with different dimensions but still hold 55 gallons of water.
An aquarium with dimensions of 36″ L x 18″ w x 20″ H will hold 56 gallons of water. Same volume just different dimensions.
If you decide to special order a custom aquarium with dimensions that are different from standard, expect to pay more for it.
How do you calculate aquarium volume?
Aquariums are available to purchase in a variety of sizes. If you are in the aquarium hobby or plan to buy a new fish tank, you will know that aquariums are normally sold by the volume of water they will hold.
Aquarium volume is measured in either gallons or liters and can easily be calculated by using a formula.
Once you know the dimensions of the tank, you can calculate the volume by using the following formula.
Length x width x height (in inches) / 231 = volume of water in gallons.
Using the dimensions for a 55-gallon aquarium simply multiply the numbers together and divide by 231.
48 x 13 x 20 = 12,480/231 = 54.02 gallons.
Regardless of the aquarium size, you can use this formula to calculate volume.
A 55-gallon aquarium has the dimensions of 48″ L x 13″ W x 20″ H
How much does a 55-gallon aquarium weigh?
The weight of a 55-gallon aquarium can vary depending on the materials it is made with. Most aquariums are made with glass but many are made using acrylic which is considerably lighter than glass.
A 55-gallon aquarium is considered to be a medium-sized tank and can be difficult to carry by yourself. It’s possible but it’s best to have another person help you.
When empty, a 55-gallon aquarium will weigh around 80 pounds. Once filled with water, it will weigh close to 456 pounds. The weight of water is 8.3 pounds per gallon.
If you are planning to have a saltwater aquarium, it will weigh closer to 465 pounds. Once filled with gravel, decorations, and equipment it will weigh even more.
It’s important to have an approved aquarium stand or custom-built cabinet that can hold this amount of weight.
How many fish can you keep in a 55-gallon aquarium?
One of the advantages of keeping a 55-gallon aquarium over smaller aquariums like a 10-gallon is you can keep more fish in the tank. Larger tank sizes will allow for a variety of fish types that are not suitable for smaller tanks.
Although there is no set rule as to the amount of fish you can keep, many people will only keep smaller fish less than 6 inches in a 55-gallon tank and no more than 1 inch of fish per gallon tank size.
There are several variables to this rule but it gives you something to go by.
For example, in a 55-gallon aquarium, you may choose to have 10 fish that are all less than 5 inches in size. This would be considered a normal stocking level for a tank of this size.
In a 10-gallon aquarium, it’s common to see 5-6 fish that are around 1 inch in size.
Keeping your fish stocking levels low is important for keeping a healthy aquarium. Overstocking a fish tank can lead to several problems and will require more maintenance.