How many litres is a 60x30x30 fish tank?

At a glance

Outside dimensions

24 × 12 × 12 in · 60 × 30 × 30 cm

US gallons

14.3

UK gallons

11.9

Liters

54.0

Water weight (full)

54 kg / 119 lb

Gross volume of the glass box, calculated from the outside dimensions.

The calculation

Multiply length × width × height in centimeters: 60 × 30 × 30 = 54,000 cubic centimeters. There are 1,000 cubic centimeters in a liter, so the tank holds 54 litres. To convert to gallons, divide by 3.785 for US gallons (14.3) or by 4.546 for UK gallons (11.9). A quick shortcut: when you measure in centimeters, the volume in litres is simply length × width × height ÷ 1,000.

The 60 cm tank is one of the most popular sizes in the world, especially in Europe and Asia, and it's easy to confuse with the 60 × 30 × 36 cm size often sold as a "60P" or 65-litre aquascaping tank. Those extra 6 cm of height add about 11 litres, so check the exact height before you buy equipment or dose anything.

How much water it really holds

With 5 mm glass, the inside of the tank is about 59 × 29 × 29.5 cm, which is 50.5 litres. Filling to 2 cm below the rim brings it to about 47 litres. A 4 cm layer of aquasoil or sand takes up roughly 7 litres more, so a planted 60 cm tank usually holds about 40 litres of actual water, around a quarter less than the label.

Use that net figure for fertilizers, medication and water conditioner. For a precise number, enter your dimensions, substrate depth and décor in the volume calculator: it shows both the gross and the net volume in litres and gallons.

Weight, heater and filter

Water weighs about 1 kg per litre, so a full 60 × 30 × 30 tank holds around 47–54 kg of water. The glass adds about 9 kg and a 4 cm aquasoil bed about 6 kg, so the running weight is around 65–70 kg. That's within the range of a solid cabinet, but always check the rating, and never place it on a surface that flexes or isn't level.

For about 40 litres of water held 5 °C above room temperature, a heater needs around 40 W, so a 50 W heater is ideal; in a cold room, go up to 75 W. For filtration, four to six turnovers an hour means roughly 160–240 litres per hour of real flow. A small hang-on-back or internal filter, a nano canister, or an air-driven sponge filter for shrimp all work well.

What can you keep in a 60 cm tank?

A 60 cm tank is a classic size for a planted nano community. Good options include a school of 10–12 tiny fish such as chili rasboras, ember tetras or celestial pearl danios with a colony of cherry or amano shrimp; a single betta with a few snails and shrimp; or a small group of pygmy corydoras on soft sand. Keep the total bioload light, because 40 litres has limited capacity to dilute waste.

Avoid goldfish, plecos that grow beyond about 10 cm, and active larger fish like zebra danios in big numbers, which need more swimming length. The stocking calculator shows a stocking level for your exact list against the tank's real volume and footprint, and flags any compatibility issues.

Glass thickness for a 60x30x30

A rimless 60 × 30 × 30 cm tank needs about 4.1 mm glass for the front and back panes at the standard safety factor, so 5 mm glass is the usual choice, with 4–5 mm ends and a 5 mm base. Many manufacturers use 5 mm or 6 mm all round. If you're building one yourself, the glass thickness calculator gives a pane-by-pane recommendation.

Related guides and tools

• Substrate
• Glass Thickness
• Stocking Calculator