When you have yourself a small critter or a fish that you want to keep in an aquarium, you will need to keep them happy and healthy as possible. The style of tank you purchase, glass or acrylic, will make all the difference. Whether you pick glass aquariums or acrylic tanks there are some differences that you should be aware of.
Some Advantages of Acrylic
- Better clarity
- Stronger and more rigid than glass
- Better selection of shapes allowing for more custom work
- Very light in comparison to glass
- The chances of acrylic cracking is almost zero
- Resistant to leaking
- Easy to change to allow for extra equipment
- Higher insulation compared to glass
- More commonly available online compared to glass
Disadvantages of Acrylic Tanks
- Very pricey
- Can scratch quite easily
- Repairs are difficult
- Visual distortion can be an issue
- Over time acrylic can change to a slight yellow color
Acrylic aquarium tanks come in more shapes, since acrylic is more easily molded, than glass does. This definitely makes for an awesome conversation topic. An important thing to remember if you do take the fancy design route is that you must make sure that the air to water ratio of the tank is correct. If it isn't then your fish could very well suffocate from lack of oxygen.
For this reason your choice of fish tank supplies need to be specificly picked out for your application so your pets stay healthy.
If you think that you are not going to move your aquarium once it is filled then glass may be a great option for your situation. Although glass refracts light a little more than acrylic it will not yellow over time giving you a longer lasting experience in the years ahead.
Now as mentioned before glass is more susceptible to breakage than acrylic is but in reality it is still very strong. Glass will only shatter if you hit it forcefully or run into it accidentally, after all.
Pros for Glass Aquariums
- Many sizes and shapes available
- Last for many years if looked after
- Is very wear proof to scratches
- Less cost than acrylic
- Will not discolor
- Extra support or bracing is not needed
- Very popular
Disadvantages of Glass Tanks
- Not as light as acrylic so will need a much stronger stand
- Has a higher risk of breaking or fracturing
- Making modifications like holes for additional accessories is very difficult
- Not very mobile after it has been filled
- Custom work for glass is very limited
- Poor insulator
- Less selection if purchasing online
With the many differently odd shaped acrylic aquarium tanks on the market, you should be able to find a great conversation piece for your room. Just remember to take your pets needs into consideration by not overloading the aquarium. As this can and will inhibit their ability to flourish.
A couple of final things to remember is if you plan on having a lot of stuff like coral, plants, fish or rock in your tank then glass is a good choice as it can expand and breath to accommodate the extra weight. Where as acrylic can sometimes bow under extreme pressure depending on the tank design.
Just keep in mind what your end game is with your pets, and you will be able to pick the ideal glass or acrylic aquariums tanks to sustain them.
One choice that is showing to be extremely popular with many new and seasoned fish tank lovers is the biorb aquarium. What makes this a top idea is the fact that it is kind of old school meets new school. It is little enough to fit on top of a table or shelf but large enough to still be a popular center piece in any room.
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