Tank sizes US, UK, EU

[gwenny]

Hi,
I did spend the last months looking through postings and realisted several times, that tank sizes have been missunderstood. Some people (mainly from the US) write 20l and refere to 20gallons. For a european 20l means 20liter. Which is quite a differents. So I thought I do a quick comparison with all the standard tank sizes available hear in europe and around the world.



30cm*15cm*20cm = 9liter = 2.5mini gallons
40cm*20cm*25cm = 16liter = 5 US gallons

50cm*25cm*30cm = 38liter = 10 US gallons
50cm*50cm*50cm = 125liter = 33.02 US gallons
50cm*25cm*45cm = 57liter = 15 high US gallons

60cm*20cm*20cm = small 2foot tank UK = 24liter = 6.34 US gallons
60cm*30cm*30cm = 2foot * 1foot * 1foot UK = 54liter = 15 US gallons
60cm*30cm*40cm = 76liter = 20high US gallons
60cm*30cm*50cm = 95liter = 25 US gallons

75cm*30cm*22cm = 140liter = 37 US gallons
75cm*30cm*30cm = 76liter = 20 long US gallons
75cm*30cm*45cm = 110liter = 29 US gallons

80cm*30cm*30cm = 72liter = 19.02 US gallons
80cm*40cm*40cm = 128liter = 33.81 US gallons
80cm*40cm*50cm = 160liter = 42.26 US gallons
80cm*50cm*50cm = 200liter = 52.83 US gallons

90cm*30cm*40cm = 113liter = 30 US gallons
90cm*30cm*60cm = 170liter = 45 US gallons
90cm*45cm*30cm = 113liter = 30 breeder US gallons
90cm*45cm*45cm = 189liter = 50 US gallons
90cm*45cm*60cm = 246liter = 65 US gallons

100cm*40cm*50cm = 200liter = 52.83 US gallons
100cm*50cm*50cm = 250liter = 66.04 US gallons
100cm*50cm*60cm = 300liter = 79.25 US gallons

120cm*33cm*30cm = 125liter = 33 long US gallons
120cm*33cm*50cm = 208liter = 55 US gallons
120cm*45cm*50cm = 284liter = 75 US gallons
120cm*45cm*60cm = 340liter = 90 US gallons
120cm*50cm*50cm = 300liter = 79.25 US gallons
120cm*50cm*60cm = 360liter = 95.10 US gallons
120cm*60cm*60cm = 454liter = 120 US gallons

150cm*50cm*50cm = 375liter = 99.06 US gallons
150cm*60cm*60cm = 540liter = 142.56 USgallons




For the US standard tanks I will need your help, as I'm living in europe.
And I need as well the nicknames for the UK market.
So if you could help that would be great!

[san-ho-zay]

I don't know if this helps ...

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/tanks-us.htm
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/tanks-uk.htm

[plaalye]

I'm in the U.S. and when I write 20l, I'm referring to my 20 long.

[Diana]

If a tank is measured in cm multiply L x W x H then divide by 1000 = liters.
If a tank is measured in inches multiply L x W x H then divide by 231 to figure American gallons. Or divide by about 275 to get Imperial Gallons.

To convert between Metric, Imperial and American gallons:
There are roughly 4 liters in either sort of gallon. For a quick estimate of tank capacity divide liters by 4, or multiply gallons (either sort) by 4.
To convert between American gallons and Imperial gallons just remember that Imperial gallons are about 20% bigger. A tank that is 100 Imperial gallons would be not far off from 120 American gallons. (and roughly 450 liters)

Some standard American tanks are called by names that do not reflect their actual capacity. Maybe the box they came in could hold that much, but not the tank! Many American tanks are even intervals of feet, such as 4', 5', 6' long, by 1', 1.5' or 2' high and wide.

A Long tank is often the footprint of the next size up, but not as tall.
A 20 Long is the same as a 29 gallon, 2.5' x 1', but not as tall. The standard 29 gallon is 1.5' tall, a 20 Long is only 1' high.

Gallons or liters is related to how much waste can be diluted in the tank, how much oxygen it can hold and similar things. Simplest formula: a bigger tank can dilute the waste of more or bigger fish.

Length and width relate more to the social and physical structure of the fish, as well as gas exchange capacity. A tall tank but not very much floor or water surface area is not very good for the fish, especially bottom dwellers like most Loaches, Catfish and Cichilds. The smaller surface area permits less gas exchange. Net result is that you can keep fewer fish in a tall tank than you could in a standard or shallow (long) tank.

Yes, this is also a reminder to anyone posting to specify the units and the conventions they are using to keep the posts clear. Many measurement systems are used throughout the world. Make sure your post states what system you are using. Converting to metric may make the post more understandable to more people.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Nice explanation Diana!

I live in a country that ONLY uses metric units. Inches, foots, gallons, Farenheit sounds like alien mesures to me. It´s very hard to understand them.

Dealers and manufacturers of aquarium products should use METRIC units as priority because it´s an internationally understandable unit.
I know most of you spent your lives using both systems of units and can deal with both easyly but if there is an international metric system it should be priority in use while this is an international Forum, right? It would be far easiest for me...

[Diana]

I agree with you, Marcos, if every thread at least comments breifly what the metric equivilant is that would be great.
I grew up with feet/inches/American gallons... and I still think in these terms, and use the feet/inches every day in my work. (Landscape Architecture)
I studied the metric system in school, and this is used in science too, so I did have to become familiar enough with it while in school, but it really is not used commonly here in the USA.
I am pretty comfortable converting, though.

Note: I have changed my sig to reflect the metric system.

[gwenny]

I'm in the U.S. and when I write 20l, I'm referring to my 20 long.

That's exactly what I mean. If I read 20l, I refer to 20liter as the small l is the SI letter for liter...

I did update the list on the top to get a quicker guild to look up the tank size.

@Diana Great explanation.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

BTW gwenny,

Small l is not the SI letter for liter. Big L is!

[jwyfk]

This is my favorite site for conversion:

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/volume

What surprises me the most is when I read about people from the UK mentioning how many liters their tank is, instead of gallons. Do they sell both over there?

[Dutch]

I live in a country that ONLY uses metric units. Inches, foots, gallons, Farenheit sounds like alien mesures to me. It´s very hard to understand them.

I use a very simple trick, Word. I just type in units in Word and it gives me a list of US and UK conversions. Works like a charm!

[random2]

Google has recently introduced calculator and unit conversion (and even currency) with its search.

you can just type something like - (24 x 12 x 12)cubic inches to UK gallons
and it will give the right result.

In terms of aquarium tanks in India, its pretty old style. It is usually built by LFS and any size even in 0.5inch variation can be ordered (though glass prices are calculated in steps of 6").

It gives lot of flexibility but at the same time have to be on the lookout for quality tank builders and the dreaded scratches.


Deepak

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi jwyfk, Dutch and random2,

I´m not having any trouble converting units. I do have an excelent software for convertions. My problem is to think in non SI units as in my country all are expressed in metric units.
That´s why I asked you (didn´t I?) to use metric units as you understand both.

Marcos