Complete your profile
Full Name
Email
Password
I'm looking into buying a new aquarium which is better glass or acrylic?
What are the pro's and cons to each/and what is a good price for a 100 gallon tank with a stand?of both kinds.
11 Answers
With acrylic it scratches and with glass you can keep it cleaner. I would be afraid to buy an acrylic one. There is alot of water behind that plastic in a 100 gallon tank. You generally can figure on paying about 100.00 or so for that size tank. If you do go with acrylic anyway (but I wouldn't) then clean the outside surface with furniture polish. It helps to fill in the scratches and make it much cleaner looking. I like to use furniture polish on plastic shower doors and our boat windshild. It makes them so much clearer. Use a soft rag to wipe it. It also keeps water spots off because the water can't stick to it. You want to use a spray polish for this.
100 gallons of water weighs 800 pounds going by a formula for water weightage.glass will be stronger than acrylic but if you buy 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick it would be ideal. however acrylic will scratch and when a scratch is deep enough it makes that area weaker.glass is cheaper and ive had a few and i always chose glass.i wouldnt depend on anything that is flimsy as acrylic is but you could place two or three pieces together and build your own. i would go for glass and its easier to repair if you should spring a leak
I have both types and I'd have to say glass is much better.
The acrylic wears and scratches easily and quickly. Many small aquariums are available in this only. And the price is generally high.
The glass will last much longer and tends not to become a little grayish tint as the acrylic might. Also, it's much cheaper than the acrylic.
The price range I've seen in pet stores are anywhere from $100-$500, which is pretty expensive, and they sell the stands in the same range, which is sad.
What I do to save money is look for aquariums on Ebay. Search in your area, ebay prob. quite a few.
I just bought mine from there, 180 gal. w/ stand, plus some tank starter kits w/ it.
The acrylic wears and scratches easily and quickly. Many small aquariums are available in this only. And the price is generally high.
The glass will last much longer and tends not to become a little grayish tint as the acrylic might. Also, it's much cheaper than the acrylic.
The price range I've seen in pet stores are anywhere from $100-$500, which is pretty expensive, and they sell the stands in the same range, which is sad.
What I do to save money is look for aquariums on Ebay. Search in your area, ebay prob. quite a few.
I just bought mine from there, 180 gal. w/ stand, plus some tank starter kits w/ it.
GLASS - always has been and always will be the better choice.
Lots of reasons to stay away from acryllic: scratches, easily damaged; may yellow with time due to light and/or sun exposure; etc., etc., etc.
As a quick comment. Have you ever had a BIG tank such as the 100 gallon you are talking about? Lots of things to consider before you buy one. Look heavily into filtration choices such as: under gravel; circulation types - and understand their volume and if it can be adjusted to suit the acquarium.
Should you have/do you need two filters running on such a large tank? Plan your filtration on a tank such as this so that you don't have any "dead" spots in the circulation pattern. I also used a series of air stones along the bottom back side of the tank to help provide additional circulation.
The "key" to proper filtration of the water, is to ensure really good circulation in the water.
I had a 70 gallon tank and preferred the circulation type filter. You can get good ones where you can adjust the flow, and with most of the good ones you can set them up with diatomacious earth to filter out bacteria/viruses should you get one in your tank.
Just a little more food for thought before you buy such a big tank.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Lots of reasons to stay away from acryllic: scratches, easily damaged; may yellow with time due to light and/or sun exposure; etc., etc., etc.
As a quick comment. Have you ever had a BIG tank such as the 100 gallon you are talking about? Lots of things to consider before you buy one. Look heavily into filtration choices such as: under gravel; circulation types - and understand their volume and if it can be adjusted to suit the acquarium.
Should you have/do you need two filters running on such a large tank? Plan your filtration on a tank such as this so that you don't have any "dead" spots in the circulation pattern. I also used a series of air stones along the bottom back side of the tank to help provide additional circulation.
The "key" to proper filtration of the water, is to ensure really good circulation in the water.
I had a 70 gallon tank and preferred the circulation type filter. You can get good ones where you can adjust the flow, and with most of the good ones you can set them up with diatomacious earth to filter out bacteria/viruses should you get one in your tank.
Just a little more food for thought before you buy such a big tank.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Everyone seems to agree on glass too as well, just another point to this "argument". Plastic tanks can absorb medication and dyes, so it wouldn't be wise to use them, they generally look good when they are new but can quickly look used within couple months without really good care and knowledge. Glass tanks are brittle but with common sense will give you years and years of enjoyment, and remember do not let a glass tank dry out for more than couple months as the silicone can weaken due to different temperature extremes.
Add Your Answer!