5 Gallon tank dimensions
16×8×10inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 40.6 × 20.3 × 25.4 cm.
A standard 5 gallon aquarium is 16 inches long, 8 inches front to back and 10 inches tall. By the numbers it holds 5.5 gallons to the brim, which is more than the name says. Once you add gravel and leave a gap at the top, expect a little less water than that.
How much a 5 gallon tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 7 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 62 pounds, before rocks, wood or equipment.
A weight like this is fine on any sound floor, but it needs a stand built for aquariums: ordinary furniture is not made for a load that never moves.
| Empty tank | about 7 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (5 gallons) | 42 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 14 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 62 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 70 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 16 by 8 inches. A stand has to support the whole bottom frame, so it can be bigger than the tank but never smaller.
For a heated tropical tank, a 25 W heater suits a normal room. Pick a filter rated to turn the water over four to six times an hour.
| Footprint | 16 x 8 in (0.9 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 5 gal (18.9 L) |
| Heater | 25 W |
| Filter flow | 20 to 30 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 1/8 in thick |
What fish can live in a 5 gallon tank
How many of each fish would fill this tank on its own. Mix species and the numbers come down, so plan a real community with the calculator.
- Betta1 only *
- Ember tetraup to 9 *
- Guppyup to 3 *
* Fits by volume, but the footprint is under what Seriously Fish recommends for the species.
Too big for this tank
- Neon tetra needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 24 x 12 in footprint.
- Harlequin rasbora needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 24 x 12 in footprint.
- Zebra danio needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Cherry barb needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 24 x 12 in footprint.
- Platy needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 24 x 12 in footprint.
- Panda cory needs a group of 6 or more, and this tank only has room for 3.
Gear for a 5 gallon tank
Searches on Amazon for the right size. Check the tank size or flow rating on the listing before you buy.
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