Is a 40g really a 40g?

[ewurm]

Also, if you were to have your average 6x2x2 180G tank, now way would you even fill it to the rim. Leaving it just 2 inch's below the rim eliminates 15 gallons off your total anyway. Plus substrate, decor and fish, it'd be more likely to fall down to 140-150G.

If you subtract fish from gallonage, an MFK 180 gal is actually 32 gallons.

 

[magic]

I recently picked up an additional 40g breeder tank, and it got me thinking. It's actually more than 40g. You do the math: (L*W*H*0.0043)

Standard dimensions for this tank are stated 36"x18"16" which would be 45 gallons. Although most of them (including mine) actually measure 36"x18"17" which equals 47 gallons. Why don't they just call it a 45 gallon tank?

Take for example your standard 55, 75, and 180 gallon tanks. They are actually:

55 gallon: 48"x13"X21" = 56 gallons
75 gallon: 48"x18"x21" = 78 gallons
180g : 72"x24"x24" = 178 gallons

My point here, is that all of these are within a few gallons of stated tank size. Why not the 40g breeder?

I'm sure this has been covered before, but what gives? Why is my tank considered a 40g when in fact it's more? Did tank manufacutures decide on a standard years ago that I haven't heard of? Or, am I simply missing something here?

I think the 180 was a bad example. As MDH pointed out the average "40" gallon tank is really 45 gallons. Is that really harder to remember or less desirable than 40?

If you subtract fish from gallonage, an MFK 180 gal is actually 32 gallons.

 

[Onion01]

If you subtract fish from gallonage, an MFK 180 gal is actually 32 gallons.

you've got some small fish there, wurm

 

[Bderick67]

Just run a sump this will bring the gallonage back up to the advertised price. Even each one of my AC110s add a gallon of water.

 

[benzjamin13]

Thought I dig this thread back up since I was looking for the dimensions of a 40g Breeder