30 gallon breeder

Key stats

How many gallons is a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

A 36 × 18 × 12 in aquarium contains 34 US gallons by outside dimensions. The math:

36 × 18 × 12 = 7776 in³
7776 ÷ 231 in³/gal = 33.66 US gal
33.66 × 3.785 = 127.4 L

In practice, actual water capacity is 30 gallons after subtracting 0.375" of glass thickness on each side. Manufacturers typically market this as a 30-gallon tank for round-number simplicity.

For a different shape (cylinder, hex, bow-front) or to enter custom dimensions, use the full aquarium volume calculator.

How much does a filled 36 × 18 × 12 in tank weigh?

• Saltwater reef (with ~30 lb live rock + 1" sand bed): 394 lb (179 kg)
• Freshwater (with 20 lb gravel, no rock): 341 lb (155 kg)
• Empty glass only: approximately 65 lb
• Floor load: 88 lb/ft² (saltwater filled)

Floor-load warning: at 88 lb/ft², this tank exceeds the 40 lb/ft² typical residential live-load rating. Place over a load-bearing wall or get a structural assessment before installing upstairs.

Full breakdown including equipment, sump, and custom rock weight: aquarium weight calculator.

Glass thickness for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank

Using the Wisner hobby formula with a 3.8 safety factor, this tank requires:

• Annealed (regular float) glass: 6 mm minimum (0.236")
• Tempered glass: 4 mm minimum (tempered is ~4× stronger than annealed)

Most commercial tanks at this size ship one thickness step up for additional safety. See the glass thickness calculator for the full formula and Starphire (low-iron) options.

Heater wattage for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank

In a warm room (~70 °F ambient) targeting 78 °F, this size tank needs about 119 W of heating. The conservative reefkeeping practice is to run two heaters at 75 W each: if one fails stuck-on, the other isn't powerful enough to cook the tank alone; if one fails stuck-off, the remaining one slows the temperature drop while you replace it.

For cold-room or cool-basement adjustments: heater wattage calculator.

How much sand or gravel for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

• 2" sand bed: ~64 lb of CaribSea Special Grade aragonite (4 × 20-lb bags)
• 4" deep sand bed (DSB): ~128 lb
• 1" shallow / aesthetic: ~32 lb

Other substrate brands (Nature's Ocean, Tahitian Moon, Eco-Complete): substrate calculator.

FAQ

How many gallons is a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

A 36 × 18 × 12 in aquarium holds approximately 34 US gallons by outside dimensions (127.4 L). After subtracting a standard 0.375" glass thickness on each interior wall, the actual water capacity is about 30 US gallons. Manufacturers commonly market this as a "30-gallon" tank.

How much does a filled 36 × 18 × 12 in tank weigh?

A 36 × 18 × 12 in saltwater reef tank with ~30 lb of live rock and a 1" sand bed weighs about 394 lb (179 kg) filled. Freshwater with no rock comes in lighter, around 341 lb. Floor load is roughly 88 lb per square foot — most residential floors are rated for 40 lb/ft² live load, so confirm before placing upstairs.

What glass thickness do I need for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

Using the Wisner hobby formula with a 3.8 safety factor, a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank needs at least 6 mm annealed (regular float) glass. Tempered glass can be 4 mm and still meet the same safety margin. This is the calculated minimum — most commercial tanks at this size ship with one step up for safety. See the glass thickness calculator for the full math.

What size heater for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

For a tank in a warm room (~70 °F ambient), this size needs roughly 119 W of heating. For redundancy, run two heaters at 75 W each — heaters fail, and a single point of failure on tropical fish or coral is expensive.

How much sand or substrate for a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank?

A 2-inch sand bed in this footprint (36" × 18") needs approximately 64 lb of CaribSea Special Grade aragonite, or about 4 20-lb bags. For a deep sand bed at 4 inches, double that.

Is a 36 × 18 × 12 in tank good for a reef?

It can work as a reef, but the 36 × 18 × 12 in footprint is more commonly used for freshwater. Most reefers in this size range pick a wider, shallower alternative.

Run your own numbers