Imperial Stat Destroyer

[ReefRookie22]

I've only been in this hobby a short while but it's still taken me months to realise that a gallon is not the same in the UK and the US.
1 imperial gallon UK = 4.55 litres
1 US gallon = 3.79 litres
That's a 20% difference!
As so many of the R2R community are across the pond the advice is typically given in gallons. But I wonder how many people have fallen into the trap of getting the conversion wrong.
E.g. The recommended minimum tank size for a regal tang from this informative post by @revhtree is 180 gallons.
180 US gallons = 681 litres.
180 gallons UK imperial = 818 litres, a difference of 135 litres!!!
Similarly a 20 gallon nano tank could be 75 litres or 90 litres depending on the conversion.
I know volume is not the only consideration but it's often referred to as the most important one.
This will almost certainly have resulted in confusion from UK reefers and potentially hobbyists chasing far larger tanks than the US conversion would suggest.
This confusion could also extend to things like dosing of medications/additives or the compatibility/suitability of equipment.
I just thought it was worth pointing out in case this helps anyone else getting started out in the hobby from the UK.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

E.g. The recommended minimum tank size for a regal tang from this informative post by @revhtree is 180 gallons.
180 US gallons = 681 litres.
180 gallons UK imperial = 818 litres, a difference of 135 litres!!!

Yes, but American regal tangs are smaller, so it all works out. lol

As a general thing, all gallon measurements at Reef2Reef are in US gallons unless otherwise specified.

Of course, you didn't even start on cups as a unit of measure, which seems to stess out UK reefers all the time.

 

[JayM]

Not to mention the shape of the tank is more important than the unit of measure.

A tank that's 4' long by 2' wide by 2' deep is around 120 US gallons and would be completely appropriate for many larger sized fish. However, a tank that's 2' long by 2' wide by 4' deep would also be about 120 US gallons, but not at all appropriate for the same larger sized fish.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Shall we discuss the volume of a pint of beer, say in the US, England, Australia -- etc.?

 

[RockRash]

Well, I read the title as " Imperial Star Destroyer " while I'm disappointed I didn't get to see some cool Star Wars fish. I did learn something new, so not a total loss. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[FUNGI]

 

[ReefRookie22]

Well, I read the title as " Imperial Star Destroyer " while I'm disappointed I didn't get to see some cool Star Wars fish. I did learn something new, so not a total loss. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Reef safe with caution?