50 Gallon Fish Tanks
50 gallon fish tanks make for great center pieces in a home or office. They are visually appealing and offer give a fish keeper a wide range of options. Below we outline some of the best 50 gallon aquariums and stands on which to keep them. Hopefully you find a combination that meets your requirements!
50 Gallon Fish Tank Starter Kits
SeaClear 50 gal Acrylic Aquarium Combo Set, 36 by 15 by 20″, Black
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 4.5/5
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The SeaClear 50 gallon Fish Tank Kit is suitable for both salt and freshwater. The combo set includes the aquarium, reflector and electrical 24″ light fixture. Acrylic aquariums are clearer than glass, 17 times stronger, and only half the weight. This opens up a range of options on which to stand your 50 gallon aquarium. Additionally the acrylic fish tank is more impact resistant and less prone to chipping or cracking than glass. Not only does this give it longevity, but it makes it a great choice if you have children or pets.
If this 50 gallon fish tank isn’t your style there are several 55 gallon fish tanks available too.
50 Gallon Fish Tank Stands
Aquatic Fundamentals 16501, 50 Gallon Aquarium Stand, Black
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 4.5/5
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Aquatic Fundamentals 16501, 50 gallon fish tank stand is a piece of moisture-resistant aquarium furniture with a powder coated finish. It has a storage cabinet, great for keeping fish supplies out of sight. Made in the USA.
Unlike some other fish tank stands, the Aquatic Fundamentals 50 gallon aquarium is heavy duty. It is easy to put together and we feel that it offers great value to the consumer. The only slight negative is that the wood can be scratched relatively easily – not ideal if your cat is trying to climb up to see the fish tank – but otherwise a non-issue.
Sauder 416443, Select Aquarium Stand, 48″ x 12″ – 33/40 Long, 55 Gallon, Jamocha Wood Finish
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 3.5/5
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The Sauder 416443, Select Aquarium 55 gallon fish tank stand has a Jomocha wood finish. It is water resistant (although not water proof) and has adjustable shelves and hidden storage for your fishkeeping items such as food and water purification essentials.
Despite the decent overall quality of the piece, the Sauder 416443, Select Aquarium 55 gallon aquarium stand is not easy to put together. If DIY is not your thing you may want to look elsewhere. Having said that, if you are patient (and own an electric screwdriver) then this model offers good value for money.
Aquatic Fundamentals 16551, 55 Gallon Upright Aquarium Stand, Black
A Little Bit Fishy Score: 4.5/5
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A great stand to showcase your long, rectangular aquarium, the Aquatic Fundamentals 16551, 55 Gallon Upright Aquarium Stand has a powder-coated finish for added moisture resistance. Unlike the Sauder model, the Aquatic Fundamentals stand has a metal to metal locking assembly, avoiding hours of screwdriver use.
The double doors at the front of this 55 gallon fish tank stand give plenty of storage space for fish food as well as spare pumps, hoses, and other accessories. This Aquatic Fundamentals aquarium stand is not the highest quality product on the market, but is easy to assemble and offers a value for money option.
How Many Fish in a 50 Gallon Fish Tank?
The general rule for fish tanks is that you should have a maximum of 1 inch of fish (length) for every gallon of water. Some people extend this to 1.5 inches with success, but it is not generally recommended. Bear in mind that the 1 inch of fish per gallon of water is based on the fish at their fully grown size, not the size that you buy them at!
It is therefore recommended that you have a maximum of 50 inches of fish in a 50 gallon fish tank. If you want to keep more fish consider either a 90 gallon or 100 gallon fish tank.
Fish For 50 Gallon Fish Tanks
As discussed above, it is best to limit your fish to about 50 inches in total length when constructing a 50 gallon fish tank. 50 gallon fish tanks give you the ability to start thinking in terms of zones (rather than it being one big aquarium.
Cory catfish, which can grow to about 2.5 inches in length depending on the specific variety, are a great choice for the bottom section of your tank. Cory’s are bottom dweller and help to keep your tank clean.
For your middle / upper section of the tank, consider:
- Guppies. Guppies come in a range of colors and are a staple of tropical aquariums. Definitely one of the most popular species for freshwater aquariums.
- Mollies
- Cherry Barbs
50 Gallon Fish Tank Dimensions
The standard dimensions of a 50 gallon fish tank are 36″ x 18″ x 19″. This equates to approximately 91cm x 46cm x 48cm in metric measurements. There are some beautiful stands available on the market to help you optimize the display of these beautiful aquariums.
These tanks will weight 600lbs when full (approximately 272kg). You will want to make sure that any stand you choose is of good quality – the last thing you want is 600lbs of weight falling over in the middle of your home or office!