Glass Vs. Acrylic, What Aquarium Is Really Best

When you make a decision to purchase an aquarium one of the first possibilities that come to mind, should I stick to traditional glass or venture into the forefront acrylic fish tan

There are two materials that aquariums are typically built from a number of advantages and disadvantages to both. Whether it's your first or your twentieth tank their is no clear cut way to choose one.

A major factor involved in deciding the material of the aquarium depends on the size and shape of the aquarium that will meet the needs of your desired livestock and your home.

Glass is much more heavily than acrylic. Even a small glass aquarium is very heavy, and when you start looking at the tanks 55 gallons or more is generally impossible to move by one person. Acrylic tanks on the other hand, is quite light. If you want to have a very large aquarium this factor alone may be enough to make your decision, one 150 gallons glass aquarium will take an entire team of promoters and two average guys can move a acrylic tank of equal size.

The shape is also very important. Theoretically, any shape is possible with both glass and acrylic, but in practice that is not true. Acrylic can be bent into any strange form whatsoever whereas glass is very difficult to bend into convex or concave shapes, while the strength of glass tanks come in far less interesting forms than acrylic, is all typical shapes are available in both glass and acrylic .

An acrylic tank is 10 or 15 times more durable than a glass aquarium is. Glass is still very strong and should last for decades without problems. However, I have heard horror stories about aquarium forums about people who come home to find their 300 gallons reef tank worth 30 thousand U.S. dollars over their entire basement floor. If you chose mostly to air on the side of caution acrylic can be the right material for you.

Acrylic has a better view ability quality than standard glass, but it is only visible for a very watchful eye. There is also access to Star fire glass that can be added to the front panel of your aquarium, which will provide an even better idea than an acrylic tank.

If for any reason in the future wish to drill the tank for a sump or other reasons, this is very difficult (but not impossible) with a glass tank and a cinch with acrylic.

There are also many benefits of having a glass tank instead of an acrylic one. Acrylic scratches very easily. Typical cleaning tools such as razor blades, scrapers, and algae magnets are out of the question. You must show the utmost care when adding or moving gravel or decorations that they can not graze your tank walls.

It is possible to buy products that will buff out light scratches in acrylic, but they are expensive and require your aquarium be completely empty and dry.

Another very important difference between glass and acrylic aquariums is the price. This is also a factor that could flatten out, decide for many people. Glass is simply cheaper, how much cheaper depends on the size of the tank in question. Glass can be up to or even more than half the price of small tanks. You should look into this, because with larger and more standard aquariums prices start to even out.