Free aquarium calculators & practical guides

Plan a healthier aquarium with accurate calculations.

Work out real water volume, water-change litres, full setup weight, substrate quantity, filter flow, heater reference sizing and running cost — then use the guides to understand what the number means.

10+ toolsNo sign-upTransparent formulasMaths shownUK-friendlyLitres + UK/US gallons
Angelfish in a lush planted freshwater aquarium
Most-used tools

Popular aquarium calculators

Each tool shows the formula, the assumptions and a worked explanation instead of hiding the maths behind a result box.

View all calculators →
Planted glass aquarium used for tank-volume calculation

Tank volume

Litres, UK/US gallons and usable-water scenarios from real internal dimensions.

Use calculator →
Aquarium gravel substrate close-up

Substrate

Turn tank footprint and bed depth into litres and an estimated product weight.

Use calculator →
Aquarium canister filter and hoses

Filter flow

Convert a chosen turnover target into an arithmetic L/h target.

Use calculator →
Submersible aquarium heater in a planted tank

Heater reference

See a labelled manufacturer reference band and the limitations around it.

Use calculator →
Moving water during aquarium maintenance

Water change

Convert a percentage into litres and gallons using actual water volume.

Use calculator →
Why actual water volume matters

The number on the box is not always the water in the tank.

Glass thickness, the normal waterline, substrate, rock, wood and internal equipment all reduce the water present. That matters when you calculate percentage water changes, compare filter flow, estimate water mass or interpret equipment instructions.

The site keeps gross geometric volume and estimated usable water separate. You can see which value is measured, which is calculated and which is only a scenario assumption.

Tropical fish swimming among rocks and live aquarium plants
A real aquarium is water, substrate, hardscape, equipment and living animals — not just an empty glass box.
Practical reading

Guides that make the calculators more useful

The articles focus on measurement, assumptions, worked examples and the point where arithmetic stops and fishkeeping judgement begins.

View all guides →

Measure an aquarium properly

Internal dimensions, waterline, substrate and the numbers worth writing down once.

Open guide →

Gross vs actual water volume

Why nominal tank size and the water actually present can both be valid but different numbers.

Open guide →

How much does a full aquarium weigh?

Build a component ledger rather than counting the water and forgetting the rest.

Open guide →

Choose a filter turnover target

Understand volume, rated flow, real installation conditions and species-sensitive current.

Open guide →

UK vs US gallons

Avoid one of the easiest aquarium unit mistakes when reading international advice.

Open guide →

Running-cost maths

Model heater duty cycle, pumps, lighting hours and your own electricity tariff.

Open guide →
What makes the site different

Useful publisher content around the tools — not a calculator farm.

Formula shown

Every core result can be checked by hand.

Assumptions exposed

Displacement, duty cycle and turnover targets are visible inputs.

Care context sourced

Welfare and manufacturer claims link to recognised sources rather than being invented.

Boundaries stated

Geometry does not pretend to diagnose disease, certify a floor or replace species-specific care.

For husbandry and welfare context, the site links to recognised organisations such as the RSPCA and OATA. For product-specific examples, the manufacturer source is identified. The calculators themselves use transparent arithmetic that can be reproduced independently.

Close-up of an angelfish in a planted freshwater aquarium
Good calculations are there to support better planning, not to replace observation and species-specific care.
Start here

If you know the tank dimensions, begin with volume.

Real water volume is the input that feeds several other useful calculations. Measure the internal length, width and actual water height, then use the result for water-change arithmetic, filter-flow comparison and water-mass estimates.