Aquarium sizes and weights

Aquariums: Standard Sizes and Weights (US Units)

The following is a list of basic glass aquarium sizes and weights.  Custom glass or acrylic aquariums can be made to nearly any aquarium size specification.  Glass aquarium sizes over 1000 gallons are rare due to the thickness of glass required which makes them very heavy in comparison to acrylic.  Acrylic aquariums are lighter and stronger, but acrylic scratches more easily than glass.  Acrylic is a much better material for really tall aquariums.

*Weights are for glass aquariums; acrylic aquariums will weight less.

SMALL AQUARIUMS (not recommended for beginners)
Tank Size L x W x H Filled Weight
2 1/2 gallon 12″ x 6″ x 8″ 27 lbs
5 gallon 16″ x 8″ x 10″ 62 lbs
10 gallon “Leader” 20″ x 10″ x 12″ 111 lbs
15 gallon 24″ x 12″ x 12″ 170 lbs
15 gallon High 20″ x 10″ x 18″ 170 lbs
MID-SIZED AQUARIUMS
Tank Size L x W x H Filled Weight
20 gallon High 24″ x 12″ x 16″ 225 lbs
20 gallon Long 30″ x 12″ x 12″ 225 lbs
25 gallon 24″ x 12″ x 20″ 282 lbs
29 gallon 30″ x 12″ x 18″ 330 lbs
30 gallon Breeder 36″ x 18″ x 12″ 348 lbs
40 gallon Breeder 36″ x 18″ x 16″ 458 lbs
40 gallon Long 48″ x 12″ x 16″ 455 lbs
LARGE AQUARIUMS
Tank Size L x W x H Filled Weight
50 gallon 36″ x 18″ x 19″ 600 lbs
55 gallon 48″ x 13″ x 21″ 625 lbs
65 gallon 36″ x 18″ x 24″ 772 lbs
75 gallon 48″ x 18″ x 21″ 850 lbs
90 gallon 48″ x 18″ x 24″ 1050 lbs
125 gallon 72″ x 18″ x 21″ 1400 lbs
150 gallon 72″ x 18″ x 28″ 1800 lbs
180 Gallon 72″ x 24″ x 25″ 2100 lbs

Aquarium Shapes and Sizes

aquarium shapes Aquariums are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Glass fish tanks are most often rectangular in shape, but do come in hexagons, bow-front rectangles, and cylinders. Other shapes are manufactured, but are much less readily available.

Acrylic is much more easily formed into different shapes, so acrylic aquariums come in a much wider variety of shapes. While rectangular tanks (usually with rounded corners) are the most common shape for acrylic fish tanks, the variety of production shapes of acrylic aquariums is astounding, and the variety of custom shapes in acrylic fish tanks boggles the mind.

Rectangle Aquariums
Size (inches) Volume (Gallons) Thickness (inches)
Body Top
20 x 10 x 12 10
24 x12 x 16 20
30 x 12×18 29 1/4″ 3/8
36 x 13 x 16 35 1/4 3/8
36 x 18 x 20 56 1/4 3/8
36 x 18 x 24 65 3/8 3/8
48 x 13 x 20 55 1/4 3/8
48 x 18 x 20 70 1/4 3/8
48 x 18 x 24 90 3/8 3/8
48 x 18 x 30 110 3/8 3/8
48 X 24 X 24 120 3/8 3/8
60 x 18 x 20 100 3/8 3/8
60 x 18 x 24 125H 3/8 3/8
60 x 18 x 30 135 1/2 3/8
Rectangle Aquariums [Square Corners]
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
60 x 24 x 24 150 3/8 3/8
60 x 24 x 30 180 1/2 1/2
72 x 18 x 20 125 3/8 3/8
72 x 18 x 24 135 3/8 3/8
72 x18 x 30 165 1/2 3/8
72 x 24 x 24 180 3/8 1/2
72 x 24 x 30 215 1/2 1/2
72 x 24 x 36 260 3/4 1/2
96 x 24 x 24 240 1/2 3/8
96 x 24 x 30 300 1/2 1/2
96 x 24 x 30 ** 300 **3/4 3/4 3/4
96 x 24 x 36 350 3/4 3/4
96 x 36 x 36 525 3/4 3/4
96 x 48 x 48 950 1 3/4
120 x 24 x 24 290 3/4 1/2
120 x 24 x 30 360 3/4 1/2
120 x 24 x 36 435 3/4 1/2
120 x 24 x 48 580 1 3/4
120 x 36 x 36 650 1 3/4
120 x 36 x 48 870 1 3/4
Hexagon Aquariums
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
17 x 15 x 24 20
21 x 18 x 20 28 1/4 3/8
28 x 24 x 24 55 1/4 3/8
28 x 24 x 30 75 3/8 3/8
36 X 31 X30 105 1/2 1/2
Flat Back Hexagon Aquariums
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
36 x 13 x 16 30 1/4 3/8
48 x 16 x 20 60 1/4 3/8
60 x 18 x 24 100 3/8 3/8
72 x 18 x 24 125 3/8 3/8
72 x 18 x 30 150 1/2 3/8
Pentagon Aquariums
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
24 x 24 x 24 50 3/8 3/8
24 x 24 x 30 60 3/8 3/8
30 x 30 x 24 75 3/8 3/8
36 x 36 x 24 95 3/8 3/8
36 x 36 x 30 120 1/2 3/8
48 X 48 X 24 150 3/8 3/8
48 x 48 x 30 180 1/2 1/2
1/2 Cylinder Aquariums
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
36 x 18 x 30 60 3/8 3/8
48 x 24 x 30 120 1/2 1/2
60 x 30 x 30 180 1/2 1/2
1/4 Cylinder Aquariums
Size Gallons
24 X 24 X 24 50
27 X 27 X30 70
27 X 27 X 36 90
36 X 36 X 30 130
36 X 36 X 36 150
Bow Vu Aquarium
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
48 x 17 x 20 65 1/4 3/8
60 x 18 x 24 120 3/8 3/8
60 x 24 x 24 140 3/8 3/8
72 x 24 x 24 160 3/8 3/8
72 x 24 x 30 190 1/2 1/2
IFS Aquarium complete with built-in wet/dry filter, protein skimmer, and pumps
Size Gallons Material
Body Top
14 X 14 X 14 12
24 x 16 x 16 25 1/4 3/8
24 x 16 x 16 Treasure Chest 1/4 3/8
36 x 20 x 20 45 1/4 3/8
48 x 20 x 20 65 1/4 3/8
36 x 20 x 20 40 F/B Hex 1/4 3/8
48 x 20 x 20 60 F/B Hex 1/4 3/8
48 x 17 x 20 65 Bow Vu 1/4 3/8
30 X 19 X 20 30 1/2 Cyl. 1/4 3/8

Nano cube aquarium There are other standard aquarium sizes not listed and they vary based on the manufacturer.  One such example is the Nano Cube and Red Sea Max Aquariums. The Red Sea Max aquarium sizes are currently 34 gallon and 65 gallons and the aquarium shapes are rectangular with curved glass corners.  The JBJ Nano cube aquarium sizes are typically 12 gallons and 28 gallons with a fairly square aquarium shape, rounded glass corners, and curved front glass.  These aquariums are plug-n-play units that contain built in filtration etc. Learn more about Nano Reef Aquariums.

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