Are Different Tank Shapes Of The Same Gallon Really Same Volume?

[keithp]

Does a 2.5 gallon glass bowl (wider) hold the same amount of water as a 2.5 gallon plastic hexagon tank (taller)?

 

[lilacamy931]

Well I am a bit confuddled but yes the gallons is what each actually holds, same amount of water, they just have different surface areas for oxygen to exchange with the surface of the water and the shape also different for the fish to interact with. They are same amounts just slight different distribution of water and surface area

 

[keithp]

Ok, I was never good at that technical stuff lol.

 

[Nick16]

as said a 60cm long tank is by far a better tank than a 60cm tall tank, its all to do with surface area and the gas exchange from various cycles like the nitrogen cycle i belive. it also allows you more stocking.

 

[lilacamy931]

No worries! It did get me thinking for sec or too! Hope that makes sense

 

[ellena]

Yes, gallons is a set measure of volume, so any tank that says it's 2.5 gallons will hold that amount of water. As pointed out though, different shapes can be more or less beneficial to the fish as it's not just volume that affects them.

 

[Rediahs]

Gallons refer to volume, so any 2.5 gallon container will hold the same 2.5 gallons of water as any other 2.5 gallon container!

I'm not sure in exactly what unit you could come to any different conclusion... since 2.5 gallons of water in one container also WEIGHS the same amount as 2.5 gallons of water in another container, so this is confusing to me, but I guess not everyone comes from the same background and while it's obvious to some, may not be obvious to others, that 2.5 gallons is the same 2.5 gallons no matter what shape the container is. If you can measure out 2.5 gallons of water, and pour 2.5 gallons of water into the container, then it holds 2.5 gallons.

Hope that helped?