Why a glass aquarium ?
The pros of glass aquarium
Glass aquariums has been once of the most popular type of aquarium and is available in various shapes and sizes. It is also usually cheaper than acrylic aquariums but lasts a lot longer. Another advantage of a glass aquarium is that it does not change color. This is crucial if you have a strong lighting system, or if you plan to place your aquarium under heavy sun light. Another popular reason people buy it is because it requires no extra support or bracing as it is almost scratch resistant.
The cons of glass aquarium
There are also some disadvantages as well. Firstly, since its glass, it is easily breakable. This will mean it is not recommended for family with small kids. It is also a lot heavier than an acrylic aquarium which means you will are required a more robous and stolid table or stand to hold it. Another disadvantage of a glass aquarium may be that it is has less insulation when compared to an acrylic aquarium. Another point to consider is that you will not be able to make modifications like opening holes for additional accessories, easily.
Main shapes of a glass aquarium
If you look online, you will notice that there are a variety of shapes and sizes a fish tank can come in, ranging from round cylinders, haxagonal shapes, standared box shaped, ractangles and more. When you are purchasing your fish tank, keep in mind that you will be cleaning it on a weekly basis. This means keeping the corners and edges of the tank clean is cricial. For beginners, we would recommend picking a fish tank that will not require any special cleaning devices.
How big should your glass aquarium be
Size is a critical factor when you are choosing your aquarium. One might be surpirsed that small fish tanks are actually harder to maintain. Smaller aquariums can accumulate wasts a lot quicker than a large aquarium, hence requiring a more frequent maintenance and cleaning. Tempreature changes can happen a lot quicker for a smaller aquarium as well. The same thing goes for chemical changes. For beginner aquarists, a 30 gallon tank (equivalent to 120 liters) is recommended as it has enough water to buffer the toxins in the glass aquiarium1.