Planning your area earlier than establishing a fish tank entails quite a few issues, particularly the tank’s ultimate weight. Underestimating the water and structural weight can spell catastrophe while you put your aquarium on a poorly supported stand or if anybody tries to regulate its place. Though they weigh lower than 100 kilos out of the field, a totally loaded 55-gallon fish tank can weigh over 600 kilos when filled with water, gravel, and options!
Evaluating tank weights earlier than ordering your fish’s new dwelling can forestall aggravation. We’ll make it easier to make the only option in your dwelling as we take a look at how a lot a 55-gallon fish tank weighs and the way that compares to numerous alternate options.
How A lot Does a 55-Gallon Fish Tank Weigh?
Most 55-gallon fish tanks include glass panels and silicone with plastic framing. The typical tank will measure roughly 48” x 21” and weigh 75–100 kilos when empty. For a better value, you may improve to an acrylic tank that can reduce the burden virtually in half.
Filling the tank provides important weight. Recent water weighs 8.34 kilos per gallon, placing the whole water weight at roughly 459 kilos if the tank holds 55 gallons. Saltwater is barely heavier at round 8.55 kilos, including 11–12 kilos to a 55-gallon tank.
A 55-gallon fish tank filled with water is kind of hefty at roughly 525–550 kilos. Water-filled fish tanks typically weigh round 9–10 kilos per gallon.
In fact, you doubtless gained’t go away the tank brimming full, and even when you do, there will probably be loads of displacement from gravel, rocky options, and different equipment. Following the pound of gravel per gallon of water rule, you’ll add about 55 kilos of gravel to the tank.
Additionally, you will doubtless use stone hideaways, castles, and different ornaments which can be a lot denser than the water. With the whole lot concerned, the ultimate weight of the fish tank can vary from 600 to 650 kilos.
| Quantity | Dimension | Empty Weight | Stuffed Weight |
| 20-gallon | 30” L x 12” W x 12” H | 25 lbs. | 225 lbs. |
| 29-gallon | 30” L x 12” W x 18” H | 43 lbs. | 320 lbs. |
| 40-gallon | 36” L x 16” W x 16” H | 55 lbs. | 440 lbs. |
| 55-gallon | 48” L x 13” W x 21” H | 80 lbs. | 625 lbs. |
| 65-gallon | 36” L x 18” W x 24” H | 125 lbs. | 750 lbs. |
| 75-gallon | 48” L x 18” W x 21” H | 140 lbs. | 850 lbs. |
| 90-gallon | 48” L x 18” W x 24” H | 160 lbs. | 1050 lbs. |
How Many Fish Can Go In a 55-Gallon Fish Tank?
A full 55-gallon tank can put important pressure on a desk and probably the underlying flooring. Understanding the burden, chances are you’ll need to double-check your necessities to make sure you want a tank this measurement.
The 1-inch-per-gallon rule is a straightforward option to ballpark the variety of fish that may slot in a tank. By this generalization, a 55-gallon tank can maintain sufficient fish to equal 55 inches in size. It’s a very simplistic method with a number of points and primarily solely works with smaller group fish. Nonetheless, some folks discover it a viable start line.
Extra essential than something is contemplating the sorts of fish you need to inventory to make sure they’ll create a wholesome surroundings and co-exist peacefully. Too many fish will overload the aquarium with waste that helpful micro organism gained’t be capable to cycle rapidly sufficient, inflicting an overload of poisons within the tank.
As with every tank, you must begin your 55-gallon aquarium with only some fish and add extra after 2–3 weeks when you already know you’ve got manageable nitrate ranges.
Advantages of Utilizing a 55-Gallon Fish Tank
Whereas the burden will be difficult, a 55-gallon fish tank presents a number of benefits over small and medium-sized aquariums as soon as you identify a sturdy sufficient stand. Because it’s lengthy and slender, it’s versatile sufficient to inventory quite a few colourful fish whereas supplying you with a greater viewing expertise.
With extra water, the circumstances are typically extra secure, staying comparatively balanced via minor environmental modifications and requiring much less frequent water adjustments.
Last Ideas
A 55-gallon tank is a heavy and probably hazardous piece of apparatus when stuffed. Will probably be immovable as soon as in place, and its stand will want additional reinforcement and anchoring to make sure the load gained’t tip or break the help. Earlier than investing in a tank this measurement, double-check your area and assess your wants to make sure it’s one of the best match.
Featured Picture Credit score: hedgehog94, Shutterstock
