A huge difference between an acrylic aquarium and a glass one is an acrylic tank has the tendency to scratch easily. This is a huge drawback and because of this many that have owned an acrylic tank say they will never have another one.
However, the clarity of acrylic is much more clearer than standard glass. There is a marked difference between the two and if you are able to overlook the scratching issue, you may want to consider an acrylic tank.
But if clarity is what you are looking for without worrying about scratches, then consider purchasing an aquarium made of Starphire glass. A really cool benefit of Starphire glass over acrylic is you get less distortion when viewing the tank at an angle.
If weight is an issue, such as when living in an apartment, or having a tank upstairs, then you will probably want to consider getting one made of acrylic, it is much lighter in weight than glass.
A big issue with glass tanks is, over time, they may leak because of having joints held together by caulk. This is pretty much eliminated when you have an acrylic tank. And, oftentimes, an acrylic tank will last much longer than one made of glass.
If you are going to stock very sensitive creatures in your aquarium that cannot tolerate even minor changes in temperature, you may want to have an acrylic tank because it is a better insulator. If you are going to have creatures that require a lot of lighting and you are considering adding metal halide lamps, then acrylic may not be a good choice for you because these types of lights get very hot and they could melt your acrylic aquarium.
If you are considering an acrylic tank, make sure to check that it is constructed very well and that it is thick. Acrylic has a tendency to bow out, whereas glass will not.
Cleaning an acrylic aquarium can be very difficult verses a glass tank. If someone were to try to clean an acrylic aquarium with Windex, it can cause a huge problem, namely hazing.
As you can see, there is too many pro's and con's when it comes to both types of aquarium styles. It basically comes down to preference, weight, what you are going to stock in your tank, and what type of lighting you are going to use. This is only a reference for you and there is always advances in technology, so continue to research the subject for the latest information.
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