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How to Calculate
Gallons and Tank Volume
By Charlotte Johnson
If you don't know how many
gallons a tank can hold, you can calculate it yourself using a simple formula.
The measurements you need to
calculate the volume are different, depending on the tank you have.
Rectangular tanks, like
aquariums require one formula, while cylindrical tanks, like drinking water
tanks, require another.
Rectangular Tanks
Measure the length, width
and depth of the tank using a tape measure.
You can measure from the
inside of the tank or, if preferable, measure the outside and then subtract the
width of the tank walls to determine the inside measurement.
Next, multiply the length,
width and depth measurements in order to find the cubic volume in cubic inches.
For example, if the
measurements are 20 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches, the volume is 2,880 cubic
inches.
Finally, divide the cubic
volume in inches by 231, as a gallon is equal to 231 cubic inches. A 2,880
cubic-inch tank is 12.47 gallons
Cylindrical Tanks
Measure the height and
radius of the tank. The radius is the distance from the center of the tank to
its outer edge.
Another way to find the
radius is to divide the diameter, or width, by two.
Square the radius by
multiplying the radius times itself and then multiply it by 3.1416, which is
the constant pi.
Multiply this number by the
height to determine the cubic volume in inches. For example, if you have a tank
that is 12 inches in diameter and 20 inches high, the calculation looks like
this:
Divide the cubic volume in
inches by 231 in order to find the number of gallons.
Charlotte
Johnson is a musician, teacher and writer
with a master's degree in education. She has contributed to a variety of
websites, specializing in health, education, the arts, home and garden, animals
and parenting.
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