Is a glass or acrylic aquarium better?

For beginners and smaller tanks, we recommend glass aquariums because of their affordability and scratch resistance. For larger, more advanced aquariums, we recommend using acrylic because it’s lightweight and easier to repair than glass.

Is it cheaper to build an acrylic aquarium?

It’s cheaper to build your aquarium since you’re able to utilize materials that are within your budget range. The only downside is that there will be a lot of planning and labor during the process of your build.

Can you make a fish tank out of acrylic?

Using acrylic to build aquariums and fish tanks is easy once you have the right tools and the know-how. You can cut sheets of acrylic to size yourself or if you’d prefer you can order cut to size acrylic sheets direct from Cut Plastic Sheeting; all you need to do is send us the dimensions you desire.

How thick should acrylic be for a fish tank?

If you want a 0-12 inches high fish tank, the thickness of the sheets should be ¼ inches. For 13-19 inches height, the acrylic glass should be ⅜ inches thick. For a 20-24 inches aquarium, the thickness of plexiglass should be ½ inches.

Why is acrylic better than glass?

Acrylic, also known as plexiglass, is a type of shatter-resistant, flexible plastic — this material is strong and unlikely to break, whereas glass is easily damaged and potentially dangerous. Acrylic also tends to be even more transparent than glass.

How long do acrylic aquariums last?

It may have held off for 5 years instead of 6 months, but eventually, it will fade and become brittle. When an acrylic aquarium starts to break down because of UV light either from the sun or from aquarium lights, it will turn yellow, become brittle, and can even crack and fail because of it.

How thick should glass be for a fish tank?

1/4-inch-
For example, the basic 55-gallon aquarium is 4-foot-by-15-inches, which is an average size that most hobbyists are familiar with. This tank is normally constructed of 1/4-inch-thick (six millimeters) glass. According to calculations displayed in the aquarium glass thickness chart, the glass has a safety factor of 2.92.

What kind of acrylic is used for fish tanks?

Manufacturers recommend that all acrylic water vessels, including aquariums, should be constructed with Cell Cast Acrylic Sheet. This requirement exists for two reasons: CAST Acrylic sheet is more capable of withstanding continuous loads than continuously manufactured or extruded sheet.

Is acrylic stronger than glass?

How Acrylic Compares to Glass. Impact Resistance: Acrylic has a higher impact resistance than glass. It is also 10 times more shatter resistant than glass.

Is acrylic clearer than glass?

Acrylic admits up to 92% of light, making it optically clearer than standard plate glass. In fact, clear acrylic can be made up to 33cm thick and still remain completely clear!