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Presets:

Tank Shape

Length (cm)

Width (cm)

Height (cm)

Diameter (cm)

Bow Depth (cm)

L-Section Length (cm)

L-Section Width (cm)

Glass Thickness (mm)

Water Type

Gross Volume —

Net Water Volume —

Water Weight —

Glass Weight —

Total Weight (est.) —

Recommended Glass —

Surface Area —

Glass Area (total) —

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About

Miscalculating aquarium volume by even 10% cascades into incorrect dosing of dechlorinator, fertilizers, and medication - potentially lethal concentrations for livestock. Glass thickness errors risk catastrophic failure: a 200L tank exerts roughly 200kg of hydrostatic force on its base alone, and under-spec panels bow, seal, then burst. This calculator derives net water volume V_net from gross internal dimensions minus glass displacement, substrate volume, and an equipment displacement factor. Glass thickness follows DIN 32622 guidelines with a safety factor of 3.8×. Stocking density uses species-specific bioload data rather than the outdated "one inch per gallon" rule, which ignores body mass, metabolic rate, and territorial behavior.

Heater wattage is scaled to the required temperature differential ΔT between ambient room temperature and target tank temperature, not a flat watts-per-liter assumption. Filter turnover recommendations distinguish freshwater (4 - 6× per hour) from marine systems (6 - 10×). Note: this tool approximates weight assuming uniform water density of 1.0kg/L for freshwater and 1.025kg/L for saltwater at 25°C. Real salinity and temperature variations alter density by up to 3%. Always confirm structural floor load capacity before placing tanks exceeding 300kg total weight.

Formulas

Gross water volume for a rectangular aquarium:

V_gross = L × W × H1000

where L, W, H are internal dimensions in cm and V_gross is in liters. For a cylindrical tank:

V_gross = π × r² × H1000

Net water volume subtracts glass displacement and substrate:

V_net = V_gross − V_glass − V_substrate − V_decor

Water weight calculation:

W_water = V_net × ρ

where ρ = 1.0 kg/L (freshwater) or 1.025 kg/L (saltwater).

Glass thickness per DIN 32622 simplified approach:

t = √F_s × ρ × g × H_w × L_span³σ_allow

where F_s = 3.8 (safety factor), g = 9.81 m/s², H_w is water height, L_span is the longest unsupported panel edge, and σ_allow is the allowable bending stress for float glass (6.7 MPa). In practice, a lookup table is used for standard dimensions.

Heater wattage estimation:

P_heater = V_net × ΔT10

where ΔT = T_target − T_room in °C. This yields watts roughly equal to liters for a 10°C differential. Filter turnover rate:

Q_filter = V_net × k

where k = 4 - 6 for freshwater and 6 - 10 for saltwater, giving flow in L/h.

Reference Data

Tank Preset	Dimensions (L×W×H) cm	Gross Volume L	Min Glass mm	Weight (full) kg	Heater W	Filter Flow L/h	Suitable For
Nano Cube	20×20×25	10	4	~14	25	40-60	Shrimp, snails, single betta
Mini Desktop	30×20×25	15	4	~20	25	60-90	Shrimp colony, micro rasboras
10 Gallon	51×26×31	38	4	~48	50	150-230	Small tetras, guppies, betta
20 Gallon Long	76×31×31	75	5	~92	75	300-450	Corydoras school, dwarf cichlids
29 Gallon	76×31×46	110	6	~132	100	440-660	Community tank, angelfish pair
40 Gallon Breeder	91×46×41	150	6	~180	150	600-900	Medium cichlids, larger community
55 Gallon	122×33×41	208	8	~248	200	830-1250	Rainbowfish, medium plecos
75 Gallon	122×46×51	284	10	~338	250-300	1130-1700	Discus, large community
90 Gallon	122×46×61	340	10	~400	300	1360-2040	Oscar, large cichlids
125 Gallon	183×46×56	473	12	~555	2×200	1890-2840	Arowana, large plecos, tang community
180 Gallon	183×61×64	680	12	~790	2×300	2720-4080	Large predators, marine FOWLR
Marine Nano (AIO)	35×35×35	43	5	~56	50	260-430	Soft corals, clownfish pair
Marine Reef 60	60×45×45	122	6	~155	100-150	730-1220	Mixed reef, gobies, wrasses
Paludarium	60×30×60	~54 (half-fill)	5	~75	50	216-324	Crabs, newts, riparium plants
Cylinder 40cm×50cm	∅40 h50	63	5	~78	50-75	250-380	Planted showpiece, shrimp

Frequently Asked Questions

Hydrostatic pressure increases linearly with depth (P = ρgh), but the bending stress on a glass panel is proportional to both the pressure AND the cube of the unsupported span length. Doubling water height does not simply double the required thickness - it increases it by roughly a factor of 1.41 (square root of 2). This calculator uses a DIN 32622-derived lookup with a 3.8× safety factor. For tanks taller than 60cm, always use tempered or laminated glass and consider cross-bracing.

That rule treats a 2.5cm neon tetra (body mass ~1g) identically to a 2.5cm juvenile oscar (which grows to 35cm and 1.4kg). Bioload - ammonia output per gram of body mass per hour - varies by species by up to 300%. This calculator uses species-specific minimum volume requirements and adds incremental volume per additional specimen, accounting for schooling needs and territorial behavior.

Use net water volume (V_net). Substrate, rocks, and equipment displace water but do not require heating - only the water mass transfers heat to the environment. A 200L gross tank with 15L of substrate and 10L of hardscape holds only ~175L of water. Over-sizing the heater by 15% wastes electricity and risks overheating during warmer months. This calculator also scales wattage to your actual room-to-tank temperature differential rather than assuming a fixed 10°C gap.

Substrate deeper than 7cm creates anaerobic pockets where hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) accumulates - toxic at concentrations above 0.002mg/L. For rooted plants, 4 - 6cm of nutrient substrate capped with 1 - 2cm of inert gravel is optimal. This tool calculates both the volume and weight of your substrate layer. Remember that substrate displaces water: 5cm of gravel in a 60×30cm footprint displaces roughly 5.4L, which affects dosing calculations.

Total weight includes: water (V_net × ρ), glass panels (float glass density 2500kg/m³), substrate (gravel ~1600kg/m³ bulk density), hardscape (~5 - 20kg), and the stand itself (~20 - 80kg). A filled 75-gallon tank totals approximately 380kg concentrated on ~0.56m². Standard residential floors support 150kg/m² (US) to 200kg/m² (EU). Place tanks exceeding 250kg perpendicular to floor joists and near load-bearing walls.

Open-top tanks lose 1 - 3% of volume per week to evaporation depending on surface area, room humidity, and air circulation. Evaporation removes pure water but leaves dissolved minerals behind, raising TDS and salinity. This calculator provides gross and net volumes. For top-off, use the net volume figure and plan for 5 - 10% weekly replacement with RO or dechlorinated water. Lidded tanks reduce evaporation by 80 - 90% but may require additional gas exchange via surface agitation.