Freshwater aquarium setup plans
The gallon label is one part of a setup. Footprint, water depth, mounting and service access change the equipment plan. Start with the space you have.
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Plan a 10 gallon tank
20¼ × 10½ × 12 9/16 in outside
A compact footprint with limited internal and rim space.
Plan a 20 gallon long tank
30¼ × 12½ × 12¾ in outside
A long, shallow format with useful room across the front.
Plan a 29 gallon tank
30¼ × 12½ × 18¾ in outside
The 20-long footprint with a taller water column.
Plan a 55 gallon tank
48¼ × 12¾ × 21 in outside
A four-foot format with a relatively narrow footprint.
Plan a 40 gallon breeder tank
36 3/16 × 18¼ × 16 15/16 in outside
A broad front-to-back footprint that changes layout and lighting coverage.
Plan a 75 gallon tank
48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ in outside
A larger four-foot tank with substantially more front-to-back depth.
Plan a 2½ gallon tank
12 3/16 × 6⅛ × 8⅛ in outside
Aqueon’s smallest standard tank: a 12-inch rectangle for a desk or shelf.
Plan a 3 gallon cube tank
9¼ × 9¼ × 9¼ in outside
A small frameless cube with very little room for internal equipment.
Plan a 5 gallon: Aqueon 5½ tank
16 3/16 × 8⅜ × 10½ in outside
A narrow desktop footprint with little room for equipment inside.
Plan a 15 gallon tank
24¼ × 12½ × 12¾ in outside
A lower, two-foot format for a setup with limited vertical room.
Plan a 20 gallon high tank
24¼ × 12½ × 16¾ in outside
The 15 gallon’s footprint with a taller water column: the same 20 gallons as a 20 long, 6 inches shorter and 4 inches taller.
Plan a 30 gallon tank
36¼ × 12⅝ × 16¾ in outside
A three-foot tank that is narrower than a breeder format.
Plan a 33 gallon long tank
48¼ × 12¾ × 13⅜ in outside
The 55 gallon’s four-foot footprint at about 13 inches tall: a long, low tank.
Plan a 38 gallon tank
36¼ × 12⅝ × 19¾ in outside
The 30 gallon’s three-foot footprint, three inches taller.
Plan a 45 gallon tank
36¼ × 12⅝ × 23¾ in outside
A tall three-foot tank: the 30 gallon’s footprint at nearly 24 inches high.
Plan a 50 gallon tank
36.5 × 18.25 × 18.88 in outside
A broad three-foot Aquarium Masters format.
Plan a 60 gallon breeder tank
48½ × 18½ × 16 in outside
A four-foot breeder: the 75 gallon’s 48½ × 18½ inch footprint at a low 16 inches.
Plan a 65 gallon tank
36⅜ × 18⅜ × 25 in outside
A tall three-foot tank with breeder depth: 36⅜ × 18⅜ inches and 25 inches high.
Plan a 90 gallon tank
48½ × 18½ × 25⅛ in outside
The 75 gallon’s four-foot footprint, four inches taller.
Plan a 100 gallon model tank
48 × 18 × 24 in outside
A four-foot Custom Aquariums model with a tall water column.
Plan a 125 gallon tank
72½ × 18½ × 23⅛ in outside
A six-foot format with substantial access and load planning.
Plan a 150 gallon tank
72½ × 18½ × 29½ in outside
A six-foot tank with the 125 gallon’s footprint and nearly 30 inches of height.
Plan a 210 gallon tank
72½ × 24½ × 29⅝ in outside
A six-foot tank two feet deep: the largest standard tank Aqueon makes.
Each tank is drawn to scale with an example group at adult size, not advice for every tank; check your own fish.
All formats at one scale
Scroll to see all 23 tank formats →
All formats share one scale. Waterlines are approximate; for the water your tank holds, measure inside the glass.
Standard aquarium sizes
Outside dimensions and empty weights of the named models we list. Leave extra room behind and above for hoses, the lid and your hands.
| Tank | Length × depth × height (in) | Footprint | Empty weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2½ gallon | 12 3/16 × 6⅛ × 8⅛ | 0.5 sq ft | 2.6 lb |
| 3 gallon cube | 9¼ × 9¼ × 9¼ | 0.6 sq ft | Not published |
| 5 gallon: Aqueon 5½ | 16 3/16 × 8⅜ × 10½ | 0.9 sq ft | 7 lb |
| 10 gallon | 20¼ × 10½ × 12 9/16 | 1.5 sq ft | 11 lb |
| 15 gallon | 24¼ × 12½ × 12¾ | 2.1 sq ft | 21 lb |
| 20 gallon long | 30¼ × 12½ × 12¾ | 2.6 sq ft | 25 lb |
| 20 gallon high | 24¼ × 12½ × 16¾ | 2.1 sq ft | 25 lb |
| 29 gallon | 30¼ × 12½ × 18¾ | 2.6 sq ft | 40 lb |
| 30 gallon | 36¼ × 12⅝ × 16¾ | 3.2 sq ft | 43 lb |
| 33 gallon long | 48¼ × 12¾ × 13⅜ | 4.3 sq ft | 46 lb |
| 38 gallon | 36¼ × 12⅝ × 19¾ | 3.2 sq ft | 47 lb |
| 40 gallon breeder | 36 3/16 × 18¼ × 16 15/16 | 4.6 sq ft | Not published |
| 45 gallon | 36¼ × 12⅝ × 23¾ | 3.2 sq ft | 69 lb |
| 50 gallon | 36.5 × 18.25 × 18.88 | 4.6 sq ft | 62 lb |
| 55 gallon | 48¼ × 12¾ × 21 | 4.3 sq ft | 78 lb |
| 60 gallon breeder | 48½ × 18½ × 16 | 6.2 sq ft | 43 lb |
| 65 gallon | 36⅜ × 18⅜ × 25 | 4.6 sq ft | 90 lb |
| 75 gallon | 48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ | 6.2 sq ft | 98 lb |
| 90 gallon | 48½ × 18½ × 25⅛ | 6.2 sq ft | 135 lb |
| 100 gallon model | 48 × 18 × 24 | 6.0 sq ft | Not published |
| 125 gallon | 72½ × 18½ × 23⅛ | 9.3 sq ft | 177 lb |
| 150 gallon | 72½ × 18½ × 29½ | 9.3 sq ft | 281 lb |
| 210 gallon | 72½ × 24½ × 29⅝ | 12.3 sq ft | 343 lb |
For the weight once filled, add water, substrate and rock in the filled weight calculator. To see what changes between two sizes, such as the 20 long and the 20 high, compare them side by side.
Sizes are for the named maker’s model; another brand’s tank with the same gallon label can differ, so check the model before you buy. A tank’s size alone doesn’t make it right for your fish.