55 Gallon tank dimensions
48×13×21inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 121.9 × 33 × 53.3 cm.
A standard 55 gallon aquarium is 48 inches long, 13 inches front to back and 21 inches tall. By the numbers it holds 56.7 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 55 gallon tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 90 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 616 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 90 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (55 gallons) | 459 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 67 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 616 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 142 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 48 by 13 inches. A stand has to support the whole bottom frame, so it can be bigger than the tank but never smaller.
The 55 gallon has the same 48 x 13 inch footprint as the 33 gallon long, so they share stands and lids.
For a heated tropical tank, a 250 W heater suits a normal room. Pick a filter rated to turn the water over four to six times an hour.
| Footprint | 48 x 13 in (4.3 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 55 gal (208.2 L) |
| Heater | 250 W |
| Filter flow | 220 to 330 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 5/16 in thick |
What fish can live in a 55 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
- Neon tetraup to 64
- Ember tetraup to 96
- Guppyup to 32
- Harlequin rasboraup to 42
- Zebra danioup to 38
- Cherry barbup to 38
- Platyup to 38
- Panda coryup to 38
- Bronze coryup to 25
- Honey gouramiup to 6
- Dwarf gourami1 only
- Pearl gouramiup to 4
- Tiger barbup to 32
- Mollyup to 23
- Angelfishup to 6 *
- Fancy goldfishup to 3
- Bristlenose pleco1 only
- Boeseman's rainbowfishup to 13
- German blue ramup to 2
- Electric yellow labup to 13 *
* Fits by volume, but the footprint is under what Seriously Fish recommends for the species.
Too big for this tank
- Discus needs a group of 6 or more, and this tank only has room for 5.
- Clown loach needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 71 x 24 in footprint.
- Oscar needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 59 x 24 in footprint.
- Common goldfish grows too big for this tank.
- Common pleco needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is 75 gallons.
- Bala shark needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 94 x 24 in footprint.
Gear for a 55 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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