Poll!!! gallons...UK/US or litres

[pica_nuttalli]

actually, i think most of the people here are from the UK or related nations (Canada, Australia, etc.)

i typically use US gallons for two reasons: (1) i can more easily visualize the tank's capacity and (2) the "inch of fish" rule applies to US gallons. however, i use the various calculators associated with the site if someone seems to have trouble swapping between the units (i remember one woman in particular who was under the impression that a 90 Litre tank was the same as a 90 Gallon )

--EDIT--
i hear you on the UK gallons, Tokis. i very rarely bother swapping between US/UK since most of the people you have to instruct about tank sizes could use the extra padding.

 

[hello kitty]

i have no clue how big a us gallon is and i get very confused, with litres theres no mistake - litres all the way!

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

I was born in Canada and taught both the metric and imperial system. I've lived in the US for the last 15 years. I just find that gallons are much easier (for me) to visualize, but since it's so easy to convert from one measure to another, it doesn't really matter to me.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I don't like litres that much, that always sound so over rated and misleading like a 130litre tank sounds massive at first thought but is little bigger than a 30gal tank.

 

[Seahorse]

I get seriously annoyed when people give the dimensions of the tank, and not the gallon/litre amount. Dimensions just throw me off big time, and I had never thought of describing a tank that way until I came here.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I get seriously annoyed when people give the dimensions of the tank, and not the gallon/litre amount. Dimensions just throw me off big time, and I had never thought of describing a tank that way until I came here.

I have to agree, i can never work out the gallons of a tank using dimensions..

 

[tttnjfttt]

I get seriously annoyed when people give the dimensions of the tank, and not the gallon/litre amount. Dimensions just throw me off big time, and I had never thought of describing a tank that way until I came here.

I have to agree, i can never work out the gallons of a tank using dimensions..

Check out this link. You enter the dimensions in inches or cm, and it will give you the volume in both US gal and Liters.
http/honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/calculator.phtml

 

[Amber]

I voted litres, no confusion then, although I can also easily picture UK gallons - US gallons throw me - and don't even start me on people giving tank dimensions in cm, give me plain ol' feet and inches anyday.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I get seriously annoyed when people give the dimensions of the tank, and not the gallon/litre amount. Dimensions just throw me off big time, and I had never thought of describing a tank that way until I came here.

I have to agree, i can never work out the gallons of a tank using dimensions..

Check out this link. You enter the dimensions in inches or cm, and it will give you the volume in both US gal and Liters.
http/honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/calculator.phtml

Cool thanks

 

[SirMinion]

I prefer tank dimensions because it gives a proper idea of the size of the tank.

For example, what use is knowing a tank is 60 gallons if you then discover that it's only 8 inches from front to back? (6feet x 8inches x 2feet=60 US gallons)

Knowing dimensions allows you to work out volume to surface area ratio which is far more important than just volume.

Also the volume advertised by aquarium manufaturers is misleading as it is based on the outside dimensions of the tank, filled to the top and with nothing in.
For example, a 180 litre (47.5 usg) tank actually takes less than 110 litres (29 usg) once it has substrate, plants, rocks, wood and a filter in place.

 

[jollysue]

I find US gal definately easier than litres to visualize. I don't know if I've ever seen a UK gal. I've got a general grasp of dimensions in inches and feet. I'd be lost in cm. The inch per gal is truely simple--and I could use the UK pad. If I could just restrain myself, I might not be already thinking about my next tank.

I am doing my best to grasp the differences in language and world views that become evident in this forum. When people want to communicate, regardless of the barriers, they figure each other out. This pole is the evidence of that willingness. That is one of the attractions of this forum to me. The world is a little smaller in a good way. (Friends want to hook me up with a local forum. Don't have time yet for two.)

I vote that we let each other know what measure we are using and translate for one another when we can.

But surely SirMinion is wise.

 

[jflowers]

As he is but, to help all

3.88 Litres to a US gallon
4.54 Litres to a Imp(UK) gallon

any help?

Jon

 

[fatguppy]

Easiest way is that there is 8 pints to both UK and US gallons BUT there are 20 fluid ounces in a UK pint and only 16 in a US pint. There's the difference. Dunno why!

Litres still mean very little to me and I use (mentally) the old metric conversion rhyme - "a litre of water's a pint and three quarters". However for our US friends that is no use at all

I tend to just remember that our main tank is 180 litres and therefore approx 40 (UK) gallons.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

there are 20 fluid ounces in a UK pint and only 16 in a US pint. There's the difference. Dunno why!

thats 'cause we buy our beer by the bottle.

 

[jollysue]

Glub, glub, glub. This American cousin is drowning in numbers.

But I did figure out that my next tank will be 125 imperial gal for the price of 125 usg. My fish will be delighted to have an extra 500 ounces of living space. We could live with that.

I have trouble remembering how many teaspoons in a tablespoon. Still the dialog here is helping my grasp of my ignorance.

I had to do some self educating when buying tanks, hoods, stands, and lighting. Gallons are meaningless, becuase dimensions are different on different tanks as SirMinion pointed out. My 100 usg tank is 60" long, an odd size. I had to take that into account when buying strip lighting. I settled for the best deal on 48", a standard size, but the strip legs have to sit upon the glass not the frame. I saved about $200--have no idea what that is in Lbs. (My keyboard doesn't have the right kind of "L". Do you all have "$"?)

I can visualize a litre (we have litre cokes, and a handy size it is. Perhaps the Brits would like to exchange their pub pint for the litre ) but 388 (100 usg) of them compared to 485 (125 usg) or 112.52 (29 usg) compared to 116.4 (30 usg) would make me when trying to shop for the best deal. What's the next size up from the litre?

I like the measurers (sticks and cups) that have all the different measures on them. One measuring cap that came with a water additive has cc, ml, oz, drm, tbl, tsp. It is handy. Measuring 1cc is still iffy.