When designing an aquarium, one area that is often overlooked is the weight. Sometimes, people don’t take into account everything that adds weight to their aquariums, and as a result, they don’t get the right stand or realize that the room wasn’t built to handle that much weight. Not providing your aquarium with a solid base could prove disastrous, so it’s important that you take time to figure out the aquarium weight before you get your base. Aqua Creations, leaders in aquarium design, installation, and maintenance, explore five key factors in determining aquarium weight.

1. How Much Water The Tank Holds

The heaviest aspect of your tank is the water. Just a gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs. As you add more gallons of water to your tank, this number quickly adds up. To figure out the weight of an aquarium with water, you need to measure the inside of your tank. For example, to measure a rectangular-shaped aquarium, multiply the length by the width and the height:

Volume = Length x Width x Height

Remember that you won’t fill the aquarium to the top, so only measure the height to where your water line will be. The result of this calculation will give you the volume of your tank in cubic inches. You can then take that number and multiply it by .004329 to give you the number of gallons your tank will hold.
Next, take the number of gallons and multiply it by the weight of water (8.34 lbs/gallon). This final calculation gives you the amount of weight water is responsible for in your aquarium.

2. The Weight Of The Glass

After you calculate your fish tank weight in water, you need to figure out the weight of your glass. Speak to the aquarium company you’re working with, find out what type of glass they are using, and learn more about the weight. They will be able to provide you with further information on the weight of the glass so you can factor it into your calculations. Keep in mind that some aquariums are made of acrylic and tend to be lighter than glass tanks.

3. Aquarium Sand

Of course, water isn’t going to be the only thing inside the aquarium. Often we fill aquariums with rocks or sand, adding more weight. To calculate the weight of sand, you’ll again want to measure the inside of your tank, and how much space the sand will occupy. Once you have the volume in cubic inches (like you did for water), you can multiply this by 0.055 lbs to calculate your total weight.

4. Furniture Weight

Finally, consider the weight of the furniture the aquarium will rest on. If the furniture and aquarium combined weight is too heavy, it could cause problems within your home or building. Some larger pieces of furniture are hard to weigh, but if possible, you should figure out the exact weight of anything that will be holding your aquarium before installation.

5. Don’t Double Dip

When measuring your aquarium sizes and weights, remember not to double dip. For instance, when trying to figure out the weight of the water, it’s important to measure from the inside of the tank and not the outside. If you do the outside, you’re including the size of the glass in your measurements, and this will be counted again when you weigh the glass. The more precise you are with your measurements, the more accurate they will be.

Aquarium Weight Chart

Aquarium Shape Dimensions (L x W x H) Gallon Size Approximate Weight* (Full)
Rectangular
24″ x 12″ x 12″
20 gallons
200 lbs
Rectangular
36″ x 18″ x 18″
55 gallons
600 lbs
Rectangular
48″ x 18″ x 20″
75 gallons
800 lbs
Rectangular
60″ x 18″ x 24″
90 gallons
1,000 lbs
Rectangular
72″ x 18″ x 24″
120 gallons
1,200 lbs
Rectangular
96″ x 18″ x 24″
150 gallons
1,500 lbs
Rectangular
72″ x 24″ x 24″
180 gallons
1,800 lbs
Rectangular
96″ x 24″ x 24″
250 gallons
2,500 lbs
Bowfront
30″ x 14″ x 18″
40 gallons
450 lbs
Bowfront
48″ x 20″ x 20″
90 gallons
1,000 lbs
Cube
20″ x 20″ x 20″
30 gallons
350 lbs
Cube
24″ x 24″ x 24″
50 gallons
550 lbs
Cube
36″ x 36″ x 24″
100 gallons
1,100 lbs

*Please note that Approximate Weight includes water, substrate, and aquarium decorations

Why Is Fish Tank Weight So Important?

Calculating aquarium weight is vital when purchasing or designing aquariums for several reasons:

  • Space: Aquariums can take up considerable space, and knowing the weight will help you plan tank placement and setup.
  • Structural Safety: If the aquarium is placed on a weak stand or a floor that can’t support the load, it could lead to structural failure, causing the tank to crack, leak, or even collapse.
  • Filtration Systems: The aquarium water weight helps determine the type of filtration system required to maintain proper water quality.

Aqua Creations Recognizes the Importance of Aquarium Weight

When setting up a new aquarium, it’s important to consider the weight. You don’t want to find on the day of installation that your furniture will not support the tank properly, or that the floors underneath are not strong enough. With some simple measurements, and by coordinating with your custom aquarium supplier, you can come up with a suitable aquarium that you are sure to love.

Aquarium experts and enthusiasts, the Aqua Creations team combines nature and technology in the design and maintenance of our custom fish tanks. We blend each client’s vision with professional construction and our deep understanding of aquarium weight. Contact us today and join our growing base of appreciative clients across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

About the Author

Sol Bick

Sol Bick
Aqua Creations Founder

Aqua Creations founder and self-proclaimed fish addict, Sol Bick is passionate about anything aquatic. With over 50 years of experience as an aquarium hobbyist and professional, Sol never stops plunging into the depths of aquatic science, researching, contributing to, and staying current with the latest technologies.