I been wanting to purchase a fish aquarium. I wanted to know which way I should go. Acrylic or Glass? Whats the difference?
2006-11-27 08:23:24 · 10 answers · asked by socal29 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
There's no easy answer to that... it all depends.
For starters, glass is cheaper. Glass aquariums are held together by silicone, which allows for a strong bond and expansion when the aquarium is filled with water. Glass aquariums are very scratch resistant.
However, acrylic is more versatile, in terms of shape of the tank. Acrylic is also more resistant to bumps (which can shatter glass). Acrylic is also lighter than glass.
Unles you're going with an odd-shaped aquarium, or a tank in a public place that might be bumped into, a glass tank should be fine. Acrylic is, on the whole, probably better, because it's lighter and stronger, but unless you want an odd-shaped tank or a public tank, glass will suffice.
2006-11-27 08:30:44 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Glass provides for clear view, to enjoy the fish activity,
Glass is easy to clean. When it comes time to clean your glass aquarium you can use a single pane of acrylic to separate the fish from the area that you wish to clean or you can also use the acrylic panes to separate combative fish from each other in the same aquarium.
2006-11-27 08:41:38 · answer #2 · answered by michelle w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
acrylic is more expensive and lighter, less acrylic is required for the same amount of pressure that glass can hold. Acrylic is also easier to damage as far as scratches than glass. I prefer glass- they are cheaper and easier to maintain. For really large tanks acrylic is the best (public aquaruims us acrylic to keep weight and thickness down)
2006-11-27 08:53:34 · answer #3 · answered by weebles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acrylic is light weight, it lasts forever, and it is the only kind you can get if you want a bowfront, but it scratches easily (although the scratches can be repaired), it is more expensive, and you cannot use cleaners on it (like windex).
Glass is cheaper, you can use glass cleaners on the outside of it, and it doesn't scratch as easily, but it is very heavy, it will start to leak when the silicone sealant that binds it gets old (this can be repaired), it can crack and break, and when it does scratch, it is not repairable.
I have both. To be honest, the acrylic one looks nicer and is more like a piece of furniture, but the glass one was cheap enough that I could get one large enough to hold a lot more fish.
2006-11-27 08:51:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
When I purchased my first fish aquarium, I went with glass. It never gave me a problem. If you have children make sure that you buy a stand for the aquarium.
2006-11-27 08:30:42 · answer #5 · answered by michelegokey2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say whether your turtles are indoors out out? Indoors it can be quite dangerous to use the sun as a source of heat and UV as it can basically turn a glass container into an oven if its hot enough. If you've got low sides you'll prob be alright but are you sure the basking temp is OK for your turtles because I wouldn't have thought it would be hot enough? If you raise the sides however, the UV won't get through the glass and if they are indoors it won't get through your windows either. That is why UV bulbs are mounted inside vivariums not outside.
2016-05-23 14:34:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pet store told us to get glass because it looks better and the fish moving the rocks don't scratch it as easily as acrylic does.
2006-11-27 09:24:06 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
glass is easier to break so get the acrylic because its like plastic and its harder to break ;]
2006-11-27 12:21:08 · answer #8 · answered by Ben 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get glass it looks better.
2006-11-27 08:26:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋