How big is a 15 gallon fish tank

Understanding the size of the fish tank will help in planning many things before purchasing the fish tank. In this blog “ how big is a 15 gallon fish tank” we will help you understand the complete details of the fish tank.

How big is a 15 gallon fish tank

Fish Tank Size	L x W x H (Inches)	L x W x H (feet)	L x W x H (cm)
15 gallon Long	24″ x 12″ x 12″	2′ x 1′ x 1′	61 x 30.5 x 30.5
15 gallon High	20″ x 10″ x 18″	1.7′ x 0.8′ x 1.5′	50.8 x 25.4 x 45.7

How to understand how big is a 15 gallon fish tank

To know how big is a 15 gallon tank, we need to compare this tank with something which is familiar and easy to understand.

How much 15 gallon fish tank weighs

15 gallons fish tank is considered a small tank and the weight of this tank is not so much. The weight of the fish tank can be categorized into 2 parts one is empty weight and the other is filled weight.

The empty weight of 15 gallon fish tank

The empty weight of the fish tank includes the weight of the glass and other structures.

There is another weight in the fish tank due to the weight of plants and gravel in the tank. So the weight of 15 gallon fish tank is as under: 

Fish Tank Size	Empty Weight (lbs)	Empty Weight (kg)	Weight of plant & gravels (lbs)	Weight of plant & gravels (kg)
15 gallon Long	21	9.5	25	11.3
15 gallon High	22	10	25	11.3

Filled weight of 15 gallon fish tank

There are two types of filling in the fish tank one is fresh water and the other is salt water. The weight of freshwater is less than the weight of salt water. A gallon of fresh water weight around 8.3454 pounds and the specific gravity of water is considered as 1.000 and when there is salt water then the specific gravity will be equal to 1.025 so a gallon of salt water will weigh 8.3454 X 1.025 pounds or 8.554 pounds. 

The total weight of the fish tank is the weight of the glass + the weight of the gravels and plants we keep inside the fish tank and the water which we will in the tank.

So filled weight of 15 gallon fish tank is as under 

Fish Tank Size	Total filled Weight with fresh water (lbs)	Total filled Weight with fresh water (Kg)	Total filled Weight with salt water (lbs)	Total filled Weight with salt water (Kg)
15 gallon Long	171.2	77.6	174.3	79
15 gallon High	172.2	78.1	175.3	79.5

How many fish you can put in a 15 gallon tank

The basic rule for keeping fish is one fish of size 1 inch per gallon of fish tank size. The number of fish can be understood is as under 

Fish Tank Size	Fish Size 1″	Fish Size 1.5″	Fish Size 2″
15 gallon	10-12 fish (Max 15)	Max 10	Max 8

How often to change the water in a 15 gallon tank

The water changing frequency should be 10-15% per week or 20-25% per fortnightly. This is important as it controls the nitrate and phosphate levels in the tank for fish to be healthy. 

The food which is supplied to the fish is partially eaten and the other falls to the bottom of the tank and starts decaying. The eaten food is released back into the tank in form of urine and other matter. Both uneaten food and the excreta of fish contribute to the nitrate and phosphate levels in the tank which promote the growth of algae in the tank. The growth of algae results in the reduction of dissolved oxygen in the tank. This all impact the health of the fish. Following things to be considered while changing the water:

• During the change of water, fish are not to be removed from the tank. 
• If there is more dirt in the table increase the qty of water to be changed or the frequency of change but don’t change more than 50% of water.
• Stir the gravel or use the gravel stirrer during changing process.
•  Use dechlorinated water during the change.
• Don’t clean your filter while changing the water.
• Since this tank is a smaller one so it is advised to change the water frequently.

Pros & cons of a 15 gallon fish tank

Pros

• The manageable size and suitable for a beginner or for intermediate. 
• Easy to manage water parameters as compared to 5 gallon tank.
• Maintenance is easy as the tank is small in size catergory.

Cons

• Weight is near 170 lbs, for which you need some solid structure that can hold its weight.
• No many location options to keep.

Summary “How big is a 15 gallon fish tank”

Let’s summarize what we have understood in this blog “How big is a 15 gallon fish tank”.

• A 15 gallon fish tank is having standard dimensions of 24″ x 12″ x 12″ and 20″ x 10″ x 18″.
• The weight of the empty 15 gallon tank is around 20 – 21 lbs.
• The weight of the freshwater-filled 15 gallon fish tank is around 170 lbs.
• The weight of the saltwater-filled 15 gallon fish tank is around 175 lbs.
• Around around 10-12 fish of 1’’ size can be easily kept in the tank easily.

We hope now you have got a good understanding of about 15 gallon fish tank. If you want to give suggestions on this blog “How big is a 15 gallon fish tank” please do comment.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

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