DATABASE

Aquarium tank database

Twelve common tank formats with their real water volume, glass thickness and the stocking and planting each one actually supports. Sort by any column, expand a row for detail, and select up to three to compare side by side.

Type

Stage

Common tank formats. Volumes are gross internal; actual water volume is 10–15% lower once substrate, hardscape and freeboard are accounted for.
							Actions
Nano Cube	Rimless cube	30 × 30 × 30	27 L	6 mm	Setup	Betta, shrimp	Compare Nano Cube
Typical fishBetta, shrimp Typical plantsAnubias, moss Light20–30 W FiltrationSponge Water volume27 L Glass6 mm Smallest practical planted tank. Volume is small enough that a 20% water change is two litres — maintenance is quick but parameter swings are fast.
Nano Long	Rimless	45 × 27 × 30	36 L	6 mm	Setup	Shrimp, small rasbora	Compare Nano Long
Typical fishShrimp, small rasbora Typical plantsMonte Carlo, Anubias Light25–40 W FiltrationSponge or small canister Water volume36 L Glass6 mm The long, shallow footprint gives more swimming length than a cube at the same volume, which suits shoaling nano fish far better.
Standard 60	Rimless	60 × 30 × 36	65 L	8 mm	Planting	Neon tetra, shrimp	Compare Standard 60
Typical fishNeon tetra, shrimp Typical plantsCarpet + epiphytes Light40–60 W FiltrationCanister 600 L/h Water volume65 L Glass8 mm The default planted tank size. Large enough for a real carpet and a proper shoal, small enough that a weekly change is one bucket.
60 Shallow	Rimless shallow	60 × 30 × 30	54 L	8 mm	Planting	Neon tetra, rasbora	Compare 60 Shallow
Typical fishNeon tetra, rasbora Typical plantsCarpet-heavy Light40–60 W FiltrationCanister 600 L/h Water volume54 L Glass8 mm Reduced height means light reaches the substrate with less intensity, so a carpet is easier. Also makes the tank look wider than it is.
60 High	Rimless	60 × 30 × 45	81 L	8 mm	Planting	Angelfish pair	Compare 60 High
Typical fishAngelfish pair Typical plantsTall stems, epiphytes Light50–70 W FiltrationCanister 800 L/h Water volume81 L Glass8 mm The extra height costs a lot of light at the substrate. Expect to need a stronger fixture for the same carpet result.
Standard 90	Rimless	90 × 45 × 45	182 L	10 mm	Planting	Community shoals	Compare Standard 90
Typical fishCommunity shoals Typical plantsFull aquascape Light80–120 W FiltrationCanister 1200 L/h Water volume182 L Glass10 mm Where aquascaping compositions start to have real depth. Water changes become 40–60 L, so a hose system is worth having.
90 Shallow	Rimless shallow	90 × 45 × 35	142 L	10 mm	Planting	Community shoals	Compare 90 Shallow
Typical fishCommunity shoals Typical plantsCarpet + hardscape Light70–100 W FiltrationCanister 1200 L/h Water volume142 L Glass10 mm A wide, low format that suits Iwagumi particularly well — the stone formation dominates and the low water depth keeps light even.
Standard 120	Rimless	120 × 45 × 45	243 L	12 mm	Maintaining	Large community	Compare Standard 120
Typical fishLarge community Typical plantsFull aquascape Light120–160 W FiltrationCanister 1800 L/h Water volume243 L Glass12 mm Two canisters or one large one. At this volume the tank buffers well, but every water change is 60–100 L and every trim is a session.
120 Wide	Rimless wide	120 × 60 × 50	360 L	12 mm	Maintaining	Large community	Compare 120 Wide
Typical fishLarge community Typical plantsFull aquascape Light150–220 W Filtration2× canister Water volume360 L Glass12 mm The extra depth is what makes a foreground, midground and background genuinely distinguishable. Light penetration across 60 cm needs a wide fixture.
150 Long	Rimless	150 × 50 × 50	375 L	15 mm	Maintaining	Large community	Compare 150 Long
Typical fishLarge community Typical plantsFull aquascape Light200–280 W Filtration2× canister Water volume375 L Glass15 mm Glass thickness of 15 mm is structural, not cosmetic. Weight when filled approaches 420 kg — check the floor before committing.
Paludarium 60	Paludarium	60 × 45 × 60	162 L	8 mm	Setup	Surface dwellers	Compare Paludarium 60
Typical fishSurface dwellers Typical plantsEmergent + aquatic Light60–90 W FiltrationCanister + pump Water volume162 L Glass8 mm Tall format split between water and an emerged planting area. Needs a pump for a waterfall and careful sealing at the land section.
Quarantine 40	Bare-bottom	40 × 30 × 30	36 L	6 mm	Cycling	New arrivals	Compare Quarantine 40
Typical fishNew arrivals Typical plantsNone LightAmbient FiltrationSponge Water volume36 L Glass6 mm Deliberately bare and planted with nothing. Easy to observe and sterilise, and a sponge filter keeps a spare bacterial colony running for the main tank.

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Note. Volume figures are gross internal capacity. A rimless tank needs 2–3 cm of freeboard, and substrate and hardscape displace roughly 10–15% more. Always check the floor and cabinet can carry the filled weight before filling.