What is a 55 gallon tank good for?
The 55 gallon is the most popular "big" tank. Four feet of length suits active schools, a pair of angelfish, or a starter cichlid tank. It is only 13 inches front to back, so large fish such as oscars cannot turn comfortably: for those, choose a 75.
How much water does it really hold?
The label says 55 gallons (208 liters). 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 55 gallon tank holds about 47 gallons (177 liters). Use that smaller number when you dose medicine or water conditioner. Work out your exact water volume
How much does a 55 gallon tank weigh?
An empty glass 55 gallon tank weighs about 90 lb (40 kg). Filled, with gravel and a few rocks, it weighs about 570 lb (260 kg). That is as much as two or three adults, so use a stand made for aquariums, not ordinary furniture. The load on the floor under the tank is about 131 lb per square foot (640 kg/m²). 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 190–280 GPH (700–1,050 L/h). 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) | 34 lb16 kg | 36 lb17 kg |
| 2 in (5 cm) | 67 lb31 kg | 72 lb33 kg |
| 3 in (7.5 cm) | 100 lb46 kg | 107 lb49 kg |
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 11.7 gallons (44 liters) for this tank. A big clean-up change is half: about 23 gallons (88 liters). Plan changes from your nitrate reading
How many fish can go in a 55 gallon 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 | up to 45 | 6 |
| Guppy | up to 25 | 3 |
| Bronze corydoras | up to 19 | 6 |
| Molly | up to 9 | 3 |
| Tiger barb | up to 18 | 8 |
| Pearl gourami | up to 3 | 1 |
| Bristlenose pleco | up to 3 | 1 |
| Yellow lab | up to 9 | 4 |
| Angelfish | up to 2 | 1 |
| Boeseman's rainbowfish | up to 7 | 6 |
Stocking ideas that work
Angelfish community: 2 angelfish, 10 rummy-nose tetras, 6 Sterba's corydoras. Stocking level 93%. Rummy-nose tetras are big enough to be safe with adult angels, and Sterba's corydoras enjoy the same warm water.
Rainbow and rasbora tank: 8 dwarf neon rainbowfish, 8 harlequin rasboras, 6 kuhli loaches. Stocking level 94%. An active, colorful tank that uses the full four feet of swimming length.
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 goldfish: grows to 12 in (30 cm) and needs at least 75 gallons (284 liters).
- Oscar: grows to 12 in (30 cm) and needs at least 75 gallons (284 liters).
- Common pleco: grows to 16 in (40 cm) and needs at least 150 gallons (570 liters).
- Bala shark: grows to 14 in (35 cm) and needs at least 150 gallons (570 liters).
Questions and answers
What are the dimensions of a 55 gallon tank?
A standard 55 gallon glass tank is 48 × 13 × 21 inches (122 × 33 × 53 cm), measured on the outside as length × width × height. Brands differ by up to half an inch.
How much does a 55 gallon tank weigh?
Empty, about 90 lb (40 kg). Filled with water, gravel and rocks, about 570 lb (260 kg). Add the weight of the stand to find the load on your floor.
What size heater does a 55 gallon 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 55 gallon tank?
It depends on the fish, not just the gallons. As the only kind in the tank, a 55 gallon tank carries about 45 neon tetras, or 25 guppies, or 19 bronze corydoras. Mixed tanks hold fewer of each.
How many liters is a 55 gallon tank?
55 US gallons is 208 liters. Once set up with gravel and decor, the tank holds about 177 liters (47 gallons) of water.
Other tank sizes
Dimensions are the common North American and European standard sizes; brands differ slightly. Weights assume standard glass of typical thickness, 4 cm of gravel and light rockwork. How we calculate