Aquariums are an excellent way to bring the beauty of aquatic life into your home or office. When it comes to choosing the right material for your aquarium, you have two options: glass or acrylic. While both materials have their benefits, acrylic is often considered the superior choice for a number of reasons. In this blog post, we'll explore why acrylic is better than glass for large aquariums over 150 gallons.

Strength and Durability:

One of the main benefits of acrylic over glass is its strength and durability. Acrylic is up to 17 times stronger than glass, making it much less likely to crack or break. This is especially important for larger aquariums, as the weight of the water can put significant pressure on the tank walls. Acrylic can withstand this pressure much better than glass, ensuring that your aquarium will remain intact for years to come. Moreover, acrylic tanks are made using seamless bonding that molecularly attaches two sheets of acrylic, creating a leak-proof seam.

Additionally, acrylic is more impact-resistant than glass. If you accidentally drop a glass aquarium or hit it with a hard object, it is likely to shatter or crack. With acrylic, however, the material will flex and absorb the impact, reducing the risk of damage.

Clarity:

Another advantage of acrylic over glass is its clarity. Acrylic is much clearer than glass, allowing you to see the fish and other aquatic life in your tank more vividly. This is especially important for larger aquariums, where water can often appear cloudy or distorted in a glass tank. Acrylic also lacks the green tint seen in some types of glass, further improving the clarity of your aquarium.

Lightweight & Stress free Shipping:

Acrylic is much lighter than glass, making it easier to move and transport. This is particularly beneficial if you need to move your aquarium for any reason, such as cleaning or rearranging your space. Additionally, the lighter weight of acrylic means that shipping is cheaper and much safer since acrylic does not chip and is 17 times more impact-resistant than glass. With acrylic, you can avoid the worry of your custom tank breaking during transport.

Design Flexibility:

Acrylic offers greater design flexibility than glass, allowing for unique curved or rounded shapes that are not typically possible with glass. This helps create a more visually appealing aquarium tailored to your specific preferences. Furthermore, acrylic can be easily cut and drilled, allowing for the installation of additional features like overflow boxes or bulkheads without significant extra costs. It's essential to note that glass tanks are often limited to 36 inches in height due to the scarcity of 1" glass. Laminated glass is not as strong as a single layer of glass, so we only use them for pools and never aquariums.

Downsides:

Acrylic offers greater design flexibility than glass, allowing for unique curved or rounded shapes that are not typically possible with glass. This helps create a more visually appealing aquarium tailored to your specific preferences. Furthermore, acrylic can be easily cut and drilled, allowing for the installation of additional features like overflow boxes or bulkheads without significant extra costs. It's essential to note that glass tanks are often limited to 36 inches in height due to the scarcity of 1" glass. Laminated glass is not as strong as a single layer of glass, so we only use them for pools and never aquariums.

In conclusion, acrylic is the superior choice for aquariums due to its strength, durability, clarity, lightweight design, and design flexibility. While glass tanks have their benefits, the advantages of acrylic make it a clear winner for those looking to create a long-lasting and visually stunning aquarium. If you are considering purchasing a large aquarium over 150 gallons, we highly recommend investing in an acrylic tank for the best possible experience.