60 Gallon Breeder tank dimensions
48×18×16inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 121.9 × 45.7 × 40.6 cm.
A standard 60 gallon breeder aquarium is 48 inches long, 18 inches front to back and 16 inches tall. Its measurements work out to almost exactly the volume on the label. Once you add gravel and leave a gap at the top, expect a little less water than that.
How much a 60 gallon breeder tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 84 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 678 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 84 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (60 gallons) | 500 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 93 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 678 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 113 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 48 by 18 inches. A stand has to support the whole bottom frame, so it can be bigger than the tank but never smaller.
The 60 gallon breeder has the same 48 x 18 inch footprint as the 75 gallon, 90 gallon, 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 18 in (6 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 60 gal (227.1 L) |
| Heater | 250 W |
| Filter flow | 240 to 360 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 5/16 in thick |
What fish can live in a 60 gallon breeder 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 67
- Ember tetraup to 101
- Guppyup to 33
- Harlequin rasboraup to 45
- Zebra danioup to 40
- Cherry barbup to 40
- Platyup to 40
- Panda coryup to 40
- Bronze coryup to 27
- Honey gouramiup to 6
- Dwarf gourami1 only
- Pearl gouramiup to 4
- Tiger barbup to 33
- Mollyup to 24
- 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
- Discusup to 6
Too big for this tank
- Clown loach needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 71 x 24 in footprint.
- Oscar grows too big for this tank.
- 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 60 gallon breeder 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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