10 Gallon tank dimensions
20×10×12inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 50.8 × 25.4 × 30.5 cm.
A standard 10 gallon aquarium is 20 inches long, 10 inches front to back and 12 inches tall. By the numbers it holds 10.4 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 10 gallon tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 10 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 115 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 10 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (10 gallons) | 83 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 22 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 115 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 83 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 20 by 10 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 50 W heater suits a normal room. Pick a filter rated to turn the water over four to six times an hour.
| Footprint | 20 x 10 in (1.4 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 10 gal (37.9 L) |
| Heater | 50 W |
| Filter flow | 40 to 60 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 1/8 in thick |
What fish can live in a 10 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 11 *
- Ember tetraup to 17 *
- Guppyup to 5 *
- Cherry barbup to 7 *
- Platyup to 7 *
- Panda coryup to 7 *
- Honey gouramiup to 6 *
- Dwarf gourami1 only *
- Bristlenose pleco1 only *
- German blue ramup to 2 *
* Fits by volume, but the footprint is under what Seriously Fish recommends for the species.
Plan a 10 gallon community How many fish in a 10 gallon tank?
Too big for this tank
- Harlequin rasbora needs a group of 8 or more, and this tank only has room for 7.
- Zebra danio needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Bronze cory needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 31 x 12 in footprint.
- Pearl gourami needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
- Tiger barb needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 31 x 12 in footprint.
- Molly needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 35 x 12 in footprint.
Gear for a 10 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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Common questions
How big is a 10 gallon tank?
A standard 10 gallon aquarium is 20 x 10 x 12 inches (50.8 x 25.4 x 30.5 cm), length by width by height. Brands differ by up to an inch.
How much does a 10 gallon tank weigh?
About 10 lb empty and roughly 115 lb filled with water and two inches of gravel, before rocks, wood and equipment. That puts about 83 lb per square foot on the floor.
What size heater and filter does a 10 gallon tank need?
A 50 W heater suits a tropical 10 gallon tank in a normal room. Choose a filter rated for 40 to 60 gallons per hour, which turns the water over four to six times an hour.
How many fish can a 10 gallon tank hold?
On its own, it holds up to 11 neon tetras, up to 17 ember tetras, up to 7 cherry barbs. Mixing species brings the numbers down, and a tank at 60 to 80% stocked is easier to keep than a full one. The stocking calculator checks a real mix.