Acrylic Vs. Glass Fish Tank

When shopping for a fish tank, you will notice that there are two primary types: acrylic and glass. Your choice will depend on a variety of factors.

  1. Cost

    • Acrylic tanks tend to be substantially more expensive than glass tanks. They cost more to ship and their construction requires more specialized tools glass tanks require.

    Strength

    • A piece of tempered glass is not as strong as a piece of acrylic of the same thickness. A glass tank must be substantially thicker than an acrylic tank to hold the same volume of water.

    Weight

    • A glass tank is typically at least four times heavier than a comparable acrylic tank. This makes acrylic tanks easier to move, although the difference in tank weight is minimal once the tank is filled.

    Scratching

    • Glass fish tanks are very difficult to scratch. Acrylic, conversely, can be scratched very easily.

    Shape

    • Because bent glass is very difficult to work with, most glass tanks are rectangular in shape. Acrylic can be made into just about any shape, so acrylic tanks are available with a variety of curved surfaces.