| king a decision to purchase an aquarium one of the | | | | about people coming home to find their 300 gallon |
| first options that comes to mind is, should i stick with | | | | reef tank worth 30 thousand dollars all over their |
| traditional glass or venture into the cutting edge | | | | basement floor. If you choose most often to air on |
| acrylic fish tank. | | | | the side of caution acrylic might be the right material |
| There are two materials that aquariums typically built | | | | for you. |
| from and a number of advantages and disadvantages | | | | Acrylic has a better view ability quality than standard |
| to both. Whether it's your first tank or your | | | | glass but this is only noticeable to a very keen eye. |
| twentieth their is no clear cut way to choose one. | | | | There is also the availability of Starfire glass that can |
| One large determining factor involved in deciding the | | | | be added to the front panel of your aquarium that |
| material of the aquarium depends on the size and | | | | will give it an even clearer view than an acrylic tank. |
| shape of the aquarium that will meet the needs of | | | | If for any reason in the future you wish to drill the |
| your desired livestock and your home. | | | | tank; for a sump or for any other reason, this is very |
| Glass is significantly more heavy than acrylic. Even a | | | | difficult (although not impossible) with a glass tank |
| small glass aquarium is quite heavy and when you | | | | and a cinch with acrylic. |
| start looking at tanks that are 55 gallons or more | | | | There are also many advantages to having a glass |
| they are generally impossible to move with one | | | | tank rather than an acrylic one. Acrylic scratches very |
| person. Acrylic tanks on the other hand are quite | | | | easily. Typical cleaning utensils such as razor blades, |
| light. If you intend to get a very large aquarium this | | | | scrapers, and algae magnets are out of the question. |
| factor alone might be enough to make your decision, | | | | You will need to show the utmost care when adding |
| a 150 gallon glass aquarium will take a whole team of | | | | or moving gravel or decor as not to graze your tank |
| movers whereas two average guys could move an | | | | walls. |
| acrylic tank of the same size. | | | | It is possible to purchase products that will buff out |
| The shape is also very important. Theoretically any | | | | light scratches in the acrylic but they are costly and |
| shape is possible with both glass and acrylic but in | | | | require your aquarium be completely empty and dry. |
| practice that isn't true. Acrylic can be bent in any | | | | Another very considerable difference between glass |
| strange shape imaginable whereas glass is very | | | | and acrylic aquariums is price. This is also a factor |
| difficult to bend in convex or concave shapes while | | | | that may flat out make the decision for many people. |
| maintaining strength so glass tanks come in far less | | | | Glass is simply cheaper, how much cheaper depends |
| interesting shapes than acrylic, however all the typical | | | | on the size of the tank in question. Glass can be up |
| shapes are available in both glass and acrylic. | | | | to or even more than half the price for small tanks. |
| An acrylic tank is 10 or 15 times more durable than a | | | | You should look into this because with larger more |
| glass aquarium is. Glass is still extremely strong and | | | | standard shape aquariums the prices start to even |
| should last decades with no problems. I have | | | | out. |
| however heard horror stories on aquarium forums | | | | |