What is a 120×50×50 cm tank good for?
A 120×50×50 cm tank holds 300 liters, close to a 75 gallon tank in American sizes. At this length it suits active schooling fish and medium cichlids, and it needs a stand built for aquariums.
How much water does it really hold?
The label says 300 liters (79 US gallons). That is the tank filled to the very brim, measured from outside the glass. In real life the glass, the gap at the top, the gravel and the decor take up room. A set-up 120×50×50 cm tank holds about 255 liters (67 US gallons). Use that smaller number when you dose medicine or water conditioner. Work out your exact water volume
How much does a 120×50×50 cm tank weigh?
An empty glass 120×50×50 cm tank weighs about 45 kg (100 lb). Filled, with gravel and a few rocks, it weighs about 360 kg (795 lb). That is as much as a grand piano, so use a stand made for aquariums, not ordinary furniture. The load on the floor under the tank is about 600 kg/m² (123 lb per square foot). Add your own stand and rocks
What size heater does it need?
The colder your room, the bigger the heater. These sizes hold the water at 78 °F (25.5 °C), right for most tropical fish.
| Your room | Heater to buy |
|---|---|
| Warm room, 73 °F (23 °C) | 2 × 75 W |
| Normal room, 68 °F (20 °C) | 2 × 150 W |
| Cold room, 63 °F (17 °C) | 2 × 200 W |
Check your own room and target temperature
What size filter does it need?
For a community tank, look for a filter rated at 1,000–1,550 L/h (270–400 GPH). That moves all the water through the filter four to six times an hour. Goldfish and big cichlids need more. Size a filter for your kind of tank
How much gravel or sand?
| Depth | Gravel | Sand |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in (2.5 cm) | 23 kg50 lb | 24 kg53 lb |
| 2 in (5 cm) | 45 kg100 lb | 48 kg106 lb |
| 3 in (7.5 cm) | 68 kg149 lb | 72 kg159 lb |
Two inches suits most tanks. Rooted plants like three. Work it out in bags
How much water to change
A normal weekly water change is a quarter of the water: about 64 liters (16.8 US gallons) for this tank. A big clean-up change is half: about 128 liters (34 US gallons). Plan changes from your nitrate reading
How many fish can go in a 120×50×50 cm tank?
It depends on which fish. The table shows how many of each the tank carries comfortably if that fish is the only kind in the tank. If you mix kinds, keep fewer of each.
| Fish | How many | Keep at least |
|---|---|---|
| Neon tetra | 60 or more | 6 |
| Guppy | up to 36 | 3 |
| Bronze corydoras | up to 27 | 6 |
| Molly | up to 13 | 3 |
| Tiger barb | up to 25 | 8 |
| Yellow lab | up to 13 | 4 |
| Angelfish | up to 2 | 1 |
| Boeseman's rainbowfish | up to 11 | 6 |
| Discus | 5 | 5 |
| Oscar | 1 | 1 |
Build your own fish list for this tank
Fish that need a bigger tank
These fish are often sold for tanks this size, but they outgrow it:
- Common pleco: grows to 16 in (40 cm) and needs at least 570 liters (150 US gallons).
- Bala shark: grows to 14 in (35 cm) and needs at least 570 liters (150 US gallons).
- Clown loach: grows to 12 in (30 cm) and needs at least 570 liters (150 US gallons).
Questions and answers
How many liters is a 120×50×50 cm aquarium?
A 120×50×50 cm tank is 300 liters brim-full (79 US gallons, 66 UK gallons). Set up, it holds about 255 liters of water.
How much does a 120×50×50 cm tank weigh?
Empty, about 45 kg (100 lb). Filled with water, gravel and rocks, about 360 kg (795 lb). Add the weight of the stand to find the load on your floor.
What size heater does a 120×50×50 cm tank need?
In a normal room at 68 °F (20 °C), 2 × 150 W holds 78 °F (25.5 °C). In a cold room use 2 × 200 W; in a warm room 2 × 75 W is enough.
How many fish can I put in a 120×50×50 cm tank?
It depends on the fish, not just the gallons. As the only kind in the tank, a 120×50×50 cm tank carries about 60 or more neon tetras, or 36 guppies, or 27 bronze corydoras. Mixed tanks hold fewer of each.
Other tank sizes
Dimensions are the common North American and European standard sizes; brands differ slightly. Weights assume float glass of typical thickness, 4 cm of gravel and light rockwork. How we calculate