The Dipstick Table:
The table will show you the Liquid Depth in Centimetres and the corresponding Litres in the tank in 1 centimetre increments measured from the bottom to completely full.
The outcomes pertain to: A perfectly cylindrical tank, with completely flat top and bottom ends, which is not tilted in any way and can be filled to the hilt.
If the cylinder is domed at the top then measure the height excluding the dome.

Orientation of the cylinder:	Horizontal Vertical
Unit of measure:	Centimetres Inches
|
Length of the Water Tank
Diameter of the Water Tank
Depth of the Water in the Tank
|
	The amount of water in your Tank

 

If you can not measure the Diameter then measure the Circumference
Click here to calculate the Diameter

Image source courtesy of Government of Alberta  Agriculture and Rural Development ⁽¹⁾
  ( π = 3.14159 , R = radius , h = height )

Enter values for Height, Width and Depth in millimetres for your Vertical Cylindrical Tank:

	Vertical Tank:       (Mouse over arrows)
	Height mm  << Width mm  << Depth mm  <<	50 % Full		Filled to a depth of 1000  mm the tank contains a volume of 3141.59  litres Total Volume of tank 6283.19  litres Total Surface Area of tank 18.85  m² Circumference of tank 6283  mm

Depth value = level of fluid. If you enter fluid depth value the same as the height value the result will be volume for full tank
 

A Simple External Rainwater Tank Gauge.

(a)     (b) 

           Use this calculator to calculate the volume of Rainwater collected in your tank.
.           Enter the amount of rain in mm and the collective Roof area.( Square metres )

(a) Construction:
Obtain a length of clear plastic tubing ( diameter 10 mm ) to configure as per diagram.
Insert into opening at the top of the tank and lower to the bottom then form the desired u bend.
Fill tube with water and drop a coloured float ( anything that is inert and floats on top of the water. ) for easier viewing.
This tube can then be attached to a board which can be graduated.
To calculate the depth of water in your tank just measure the distance from the bottom of the tank to the level shown on your tube.
Enter this data into the calculator and you will get the remaining volume of water in your Tank.
Note: If you do not want to insert plastic tubing into your water tank then use a stainless steel tube which is inserted into the tank to the top of the tank and then attach your plastic tubing.
(b) Another Simple External Rainwater Tank Gauge.
1: Tap   2: T piece  3: To Pump  4: Clear plastic Tube   5: Board which can be graduated
The clear plastic tube should be attached tightly to the T tube with a hose clamp.
The calculations on this page are a purely theoretical exercise!
For precise measuring of the liquid volume inside a particular tank, the tank must be calibrated by professionals of the local official calibration authorities.

Reference:
^{(1) Source:  Tank Volume Calculator (On side) Government of Alberta   Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
Website: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app19/calc/volume/tank.jsp
(2) Further Reading: Producing a Scale to Indicate the Volume of Liquid in a Container.
S.B. Samat School of Applied Physics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia and
C.J. Evans School of Health Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
Abstract and file download: http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~jsm/english_journals/vol39num1_2010/contentsVol39num1_2010.html
Abstract: http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~jsm/english_journals/vol39num1_2010/vol39num1_2010abstract16.html  Accessed 11/2/2010}