Are Acrylic Aquariums Superior to Glass Aquariums?

If you’re shopping for aquarium you may be feeling frustrated or confused about whether to get an acrylic aquarium or a glass aquarium. In fact, they each have their strong points, neither is always the right choice. Use these facts to simplify your decision and choose with confidence.

• Strength: Acrylic aquariums are 6-17 times stronger than glass aquariums. This gives acrylic aquariums, especially larger ones, a wider safety margin when it comes to the possibility of a tank breaking.
  
• Flexible: Acrylic is not rigid…it has give. If accidentally bumped into, the chance of an acrylic aquarium breaking is much less than glass. If an acrylic aquarium did break, it would crack slightly, not explode.
  
• Clarity: Acrylic allows 92 percent of light to pass while glass allows 70 percent. This means you see more of the true colors of the fish.
  
• Insulative: Acrylic is a thermoplastic. It holds heat much better than glass. If you have a power failure, you acrylic aquarium will take much longer to cool down than a glass aquarium.
  
• Machinable: Acrylic can be cut, drilled, routed, and machined any way imaginable without loss of strength. Glass loses much strength when drilled.
  
• Seamless: Acrylic can be molecularly bonded…melted together. The aquarium is a one-piece unit. You will not have the problems of leaks or seams splitting, which is an inherent problem with glass tanks.
  
• Cost Effective: Acrylic is less expensive in larger thicknesses than glass. This makes large aquariums (over 100 gallons) less expensive. The larger the tank is, the more cost effective. For example, a 240-300 acrylic gallon aquarium can be half the price of its glass counterpart.
  
• Lighter: Acrylic is 48 percent the weight of glass. Two people can carry an eight foot (300 gallon) aquarium, while it would take four to six people to lift the same aquarium made of glass.

Frequently Asked Questions