How to calculate the volume of the aquarium?

The main mistake of a beginner aquarist is the acquisition of a home reservoir of insufficient volume. Aquarium is an independent, closed ecosystem with its underwater world. The larger the displacement of the tank, the more comfortable the life of the aquamir population and the easier it is to maintain natural bio-balance.

Before buying or making an aquarium yourself, it is very important to know the actual volume of the aquarium in liters. As already mentioned, the number of individuals in a home pond, their comfortable living and the correct selection of filtering and lighting equipment depend on this. The exact volume must be known in order to:

• calculate the optimal number of fish and plants;
• with diseases in the aquarium, correctly determine the right dose of medication;
• determine the required amount of soil and fertilizer.

To calculate the reservoir capacity we need:

• tape measure, you can also use a ruler or centimeter;
• sheet of paper and writing accessories;
• microcalculator, with its help calculations will be made.

There are a large number of types of domestic water bodies. The easiest way to calculate the volume of a rectangular aquarium, with other forms may cause problems. To calculate the capacity of a rectangular pond, we need:

• measure outside, measure length, width and height;
• remember, but rather write down these numbers;
• the capacity of the aquarium is calculated by the formula, the length is multiplied by the width and height, so we get the external volume;
• to find out the internal capacity, you need to measure the thickness of the glass, then multiply by 2 the obtained values, then subtract it from the previously obtained numbers, this will help to obtain the internal numbers;
• we substitute the obtained values ​​into the formula that was used earlier, and we obtain the actual internal volume of water in the aquarium in cubic centimeters;
• for the convenience of calculations, we translate into cubic meters (1 meter cubic is equal to 1000 liters).

This calculation is only suitable for a rectangular tank. For other types of aquarium, the values ​​need to be adjusted, the calculations are as follows.

1. Cylindrical shape - measure the radius of the base and the height of the tank, subtract the wall thickness, then multiply the square of the radius by the height and the number Pi. As a result, we get the volume. For a half-cylinder, the resulting value is divided by 2.
2. Spherical - take the radius of the ball, make it into a cube, multiply by 4/3, multiply the resulting number by 3.14.
3. Cubic - measure either side, subtract the thickness of the glass and cube.
4. Hexagon - measures the distance from the middle of one of the sides of the aquarium to the center of the opposite side, divide the resulting length by 2, subtract the glass thickness, and multiply the resulting value by the length of either side.

In order to calculate the volume of other forms of aquariums (triangular prism, octagon and others), you need to divide into simpler geometric shapes, make a calculation of each of them separately and then add the results. There is another method for calculating the internal volume. It is simple and accurate, but rather laborious. To do this, we need a container of a certain size (any jar is suitable). To determine the actual capacity of the tank, simply fill it with water from a measuring vessel. Multiplying the number of poured containers by its value, we obtain the volume of the tank.

When determining the real capacity of a home reservoir, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the glass, the volume of which is occupied by the heater, filter, algae, decorations and soil. It is also worth remembering that the aquarium never fills to the edge. These losses must be taken into account when buying a fish tank.

The main questions that beginner aquarists are interested in when buying a home pond are the type, shape and volume of the tank. First you need to understand which aquarium you want to buy? By and large, aquariums are divided into 2 categories - these are freshwater and marine. We will not talk about the marine aquarium, because it is very expensive, troublesome, and not for beginners. Consider home ponds with fresh water. They are divided into several types.

• The biotope is a rather rare species. Since it repeats a piece of a natural reservoir, of any natural ecosystem, for example, a stream, a lake, etc. This is not liked by everyone and is designed more for the amateur. But recently, such tanks are beginning to become fashionable.
• Dutch. This pond is a plant aquarium, that is, with a large number of living plants planted with terraces in a certain order.
• Scape Aquascaping is a biotope ennobled and transformed beyond recognition. Plants, stones and driftwood are used to decorate it.

• Rybnik. This is an aquarium in which some fish live, without living plants. Most often, this solution is used by designers to decorate interiors. No special requirements are imposed on these reservoirs. The main thing is a good water filtration, since high-quality cleaning is the key to the health of fish.
• Pseudo-sea. This type imitates the marine environment using corals, sandstones, limestone, a large number of stones similar to marine, and various fish, mainly from the cichlid family, which have a bright and colorful coloring. Living plants in such aquariums are most often not used.For lighting, you need to choose blue lamps that simulate the color of sea water.

Once you have determined what kind of aquarium you want to buy, the next stage begins - this is the choice of the shape of the reservoir. The best for the beginner will be a tank of the correct shape, a cube or box. Why exactly them? It’s convenient to work with them, you can arrange any composition of decorations that you want, especially in a rectangular one. Yes, and clean the pond with the correct form is much more convenient than the rest.

There are also panoramic, corner and wall ponds. It is not recommended to choose round or cylindrical aquariums. They are quite difficult to maintain, and the fish in them are stressed. Also in such a reservoir it is difficult to find a fairly convenient place for plants and equipment. And the final stage is the choice of the volume of your reservoir. Aquariums are small (up to 50 l), medium (50-300 l) and large (from 300 l).

Most beginner aquarists are of the opinion that the smaller the aquarium, the easier it is to maintain. This point of view is fundamentally wrong. Large and medium-sized reservoirs forgive the newcomer much more misses. At the same time, a small-capacity tank will immediately respond to incorrect actions. For example, they fed the fish, the food remained and precipitated, the water turned cloudy right there. In a small volume of beneficial bacteria is not enough, and trouble can come from where they did not wait.

Medium-sized tanks are considered the most suitable for placement in small apartments. In medium-sized aquariums, fish and other residents feel much more comfortable than in small ones. Also in such reservoirs it is already possible to hook several species of fish, which are easy to care for. A large volume aquarium is indispensable for those fish that are accustomed to the ocean. The main task of a fish lover is to maintain a comfortable bio-balance.

Try to learn more about the types of pets you are going to keep. The main problem of a large aquarium is money. It is extremely expensive financially when buying. Also, a lot of money takes up maintenance and care. A small aquarium should be chosen not for beginners, but for people with any experience. The optimal volume of the first aquarium is from 50 to 100 liters.

In this video you will find out what you should pay attention to when choosing the size of the aquarium.