An aquarium is a modified environment for marine creatures to call home. It is also a venue for people to witness the beauty of the waters and all the creatures therein. Selecting the best tank for your aquarium should be based on these two concepts.
First off is giving the marine creatures a home. Fishes are generally roamers. They need some space - in the case of saltwater fish, a lot of space. In picking a tank, choose the volume that can support the marine creatures it will house. Choose also the materials that can support the weight of water in these volumes.
In general, there are two tank materials to choose from, the glass and the acrylic types. To know how to pick between these two, it is vital to understand their properties and which of those properties should you hang on to the most.
Glass aquariums are a top pick material for most aquarists. It is also highly recommended for small to medium sized tanks. If you are planning to buy a tank that will house only a couple of fish, this will be a good choice.
Glass tanks are clearer. They are resistant to scratch. This property will help you keep algae growing in the surfaces of the tank easier to remove. However, once a glass tank is scratched, the mark will be permanent.
Glass aquariums are brittle. They do not bend with high water pressures. This also means that pressures on the seams will be evenly distributed. This is mostly why glass aquarium seams tend to last longer. In any case, unless you want shaped aquariums, glass aquariums will best fit your needs.
Glass aquariums are also cheap. If you are saving more for the fish you want, and that fish does not require a really large space, buying a glass tank will be ideal for you.
Another type of aquarium material is acrylic. Acrylic is technically plastic so it has a lot of properties similar to that of plastics. It is durable and lasts longer than glass in most cases. It is not prone to breakage. Unlike glass tanks, acrylics can usually withstand an uneven base.
Acrylic tanks are easier to shape too. If you badly need curves in your aquarium, get acrylic.
On the other hand, acrylic tanks are more prone to scratches, both from the inside and out. Scratches inside the tank will give algae something to hold on to. This makes it more difficult to clean. Acrylic tanks also bend to the pressure through time. Bending makes it hard for the seams to hold. This is why acrylic tank seams are prone to splitting. This can be remedied by putting up proper support on the edges pf your tank especially those on the base.
For superior viewing, acrylic tank offer a better view of tank contents compared to that in glass aquariums. Acrylic has a refraction index pretty close to that of water. If you look at a glass tank in an odd angle, you may notice distortion in the image of what’s inside your tank. This is because glass’s refraction index is significantly higher than that of water.
If you can’t decide what to choose between the two, there is always laminated glass. It is a combination of glass reinforced with acrylic laminate. This makes your tank so much more durable and longer-lasting. Unless you are planning for a gigantic tank, you will find prices of laminated glass tanks pretty steep. But, if you are rooting for large aquarium displays, say for your restaurant, this option might just be feasible.
Cedric James is a saltwater aquarium fanatic. For more great tips about saltwater fish tanks information, visit http://www.saltwateraquariumeasy.com.
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