Aquarium Size????

[Watcher74]

Sorry, I couldn't put this in chit-chat since it is closed, but I'm planning on converting a tank that is currently housing a hamster into my main aquarium.

The problem is, is that is was given to me a while back and I have no idea how many gallons it is. I've entered the dimensions in numerous online aquarium calculators and they say anywhere from 23-28 gallons. But it just seems larger than that.

My father-in-law said that he thought it was a 40 gallon and he's been keeping fish longer than I've been alive(30 years next week).

It's too much hassle to remove the hamster, clean out all the crap, and fill it one-by-one with a gallon jug until I convert it to free up my current aquarium for the hamster, so I thought I would ask here for help so I know what size equipment to buy for it.

It's 18" high, 12" wide, and 30" long. Does that sound like 28 gallons???

 

[Matt W]

Sounds like what is sold as a 29 gallon...probably holds 25-26 gallons of water..

 

[Aqualung]

Yes, it's a 29. Same dimensions as my tank.

 

[Watcher74]

Ok, thanks. Just wanted to make sure.

 

[daveedka]

I don't know, because I have never tried, but I have always been told that it wasn't wise to try to keep fish in a tank that has house mammals or reptiles. The reasoning always given is that there are high levels of ammonia that basically penetrate the seals and continue to leach out into your aquarium water. This has never totally added up in my mind, but I have avoided reptile/fuzzy creature tanks just the same. Might be something to check into in case there is a problem.

 

[Traci]

Isn't there also an issue with the glass width not being as thick as an aquarium specifically intended for fish? I'm probably wrong about that though, so don't quote me on it!

 

[Watcher74]

Well see the situation is, is that this aquarium is a fish aquarium. We've just used it to house a dwarf hamster for the past few months.

I'll, of course, clean out the tank very well with a solution of salt and water to get rid of any filth left over.

Is there a particular way I should clean it?

 

[pinballqueen]

As long as the tank was specifically engineered to keep fish, and you are absolutely certain of this fact, and you clean it thoroughly, there should not be a problem.

I would fill it with water and let it sit for a week or two before going any further, and test to make sure you don't have issues like leaks or ammonia leaching...

 

[GDominy]

Defiantely give this tank the ol fill test. Hamsters love to scratch and chew at the silicone so it may no longer hold water (I used to breed rodents for pet stores).