45F Shallow (5 gallon)
45F Shallow is a 45 × 24 × 16 cm (17.7 × 9.4 × 6.3 in) aquarium, about 17 L (5 gal) to the rim. Its footprint is 45 × 24 cm and the water stands about 10 cm deep once a 6 cm substrate layer is in — the two numbers that decide what you can plant in it and what you can stock it with.
At a glance
| Size | 45 × 24 × 16 cm (17.7 × 9.4 × 6.3 in) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 17 L (5 gal) |
| Water after substrate | About 10 L (3 gal) with a 6 cm substrate layer |
| Footprint | 45 × 24 cm (17.7 × 9.4 in) |
| Water depth | 10 cm (3.9 in) |
| Substrate needed | About 6 L for a 6 cm layer |
Before it goes in
- 45F Shallow is 45 × 24 × 16 cm (17.7 × 9.4 × 6.3 in) — about 17 L (5 gal) to the rim, and roughly 10 L (3 gal) of actual water once a 6 cm substrate layer and the hardscape are in.
- That layer takes about 6 L of substrate, which is what you order by.
- 7 of the 160 animals in this library list a minimum tank at or under 17 L (5 gal). The biggest of them that still fit are Cherry Shrimp and Snowball Shrimp. Betta and Thai Micro Crab need more than this.
- The water sits about 10 cm (3.9 in) deep over the substrate. Plants that get taller than that — Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' and Water Sprite — reach the surface and start growing along it, which is a look you either want or trim.
- Its footprint is 45 × 24 cm, and that is the area a carpet has to cover — the number that decides how many pots you buy, not the volume.
What are its dimensions?
45 × 24 × 16 cm (17.7 × 9.4 × 6.3 in).
How much water does it hold?
About 17 L (5 gal) to the rim, and roughly 10 L (3 gal) of actual water once the substrate is in. Stocking works off the second number; minimum-tank-size advice works off the first.
How much substrate does it take?
About 6 L for a 6 cm layer.
What fits in it?
7 of the 160 animals in this library list a minimum tank at or under its volume, and the water depth of about 10 cm sets which plants can grow without reaching the surface.
What fits in it
- Animals this size will hold: Cherry Shrimp, Snowball Shrimp, Nerite Snail, Assassin Snail and Ramshorn Snail.
- Plants that stay under its water line: Anubias nana 'Petite', Dwarf Hairgrass Mini, Frogbit and Lobelia cardinalis 'Mini'.
Often compared with
| 45F Shallow | Fluval Spec V | 36P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 45 × 24 × 16 cm | 52 × 19 × 29 cm | 36 × 22 × 26 cm |
| Volume | 17 L | 19 L | 21 L |
| Footprint | 45 × 24 cm | 52 × 19 cm | 36 × 22 cm |
| Water depth | 10 cm | 23 cm | 20 cm |