180 Gallon tank dimensions
72×24×24inches
Length × width × height. In metric, 182.9 × 61 × 61 cm.
A standard 180 gallon aquarium is 72 inches long, 24 inches front to back and 24 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 180 gallon tank weighs
Empty, the glass tank weighs about 286 pounds. Filled with water and two inches of gravel it comes to roughly 1,974 pounds, before rocks, wood or equipment.
That is the weight of several people standing in one spot for years. Put it on a purpose-built stand, across the floor joists or near a load-bearing wall, and check an upstairs floor before you fill it.
| Empty tank | about 286 lb |
|---|---|
| Water (180 gallons) | 1,501 lb |
| Gravel, 2 inches deep | about 187 lb |
| Filled, with gravel | about 1,974 lb |
| Load on the floor | about 164 lb per sq ft |
Stand, lid, heater and filter sizes
The stand and the lid both follow the footprint, 72 by 24 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 2 x 400 W heater suits a normal room. Two heaters split the load and fail safer. Pick a filter rated to turn the water over four to six times an hour.
| Footprint | 72 x 24 in (12 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 180 gal (681.4 L) |
| Heater | 2 x 400 W |
| Filter flow | 720 to 1,080 gal per hour |
| Typical glass | about 1/2 in thick |
What fish can live in a 180 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 202
- Ember tetraup to 304
- Guppyup to 101
- Harlequin rasboraup to 135
- Zebra danioup to 121
- Cherry barbup to 121
- Platyup to 121
- Panda coryup to 121
- Bronze coryup to 81
- Honey gouramiup to 6
- Dwarf gourami1 only
- Pearl gouramiup to 4
- Tiger barbup to 101
- Mollyup to 73
- Angelfishup to 6
- Fancy goldfishup to 9
- Bristlenose pleco1 only
- Boeseman's rainbowfishup to 41
- German blue ramup to 2
- Electric yellow labup to 41
- Discusup to 18
- Oscar1 only
- Common goldfishup to 2
- Common pleco1 only
Too big for this tank
- Clown loach needs a group of 5 or more, and this tank only has room for 4.
- Bala shark needs a bigger tank: the recommended minimum is a 94 x 24 in footprint.
Gear for a 180 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 180 gallon tank?
A standard 180 gallon aquarium is 72 x 24 x 24 inches (182.9 x 61 x 61 cm), length by width by height. Brands differ by up to an inch.
How much does a 180 gallon tank weigh?
About 286 lb empty and roughly 1,974 lb filled with water and two inches of gravel, before rocks, wood and equipment. That puts about 164 lb per square foot on the floor.
What size heater and filter does a 180 gallon tank need?
A 2 x 400 W heater suits a tropical 180 gallon tank in a normal room. Choose a filter rated for 720 to 1,080 gallons per hour, which turns the water over four to six times an hour.
How many fish can a 180 gallon tank hold?
On its own, it holds up to 202 neon tetras, up to 304 ember tetras, up to 101 guppys. 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.