| Acrylic Aquarium Kit, The practice of keeping | | | | use a cleaner specifically labeled safe for acrylic. |
| aquariums came about in the late 1800's. They | | | | Use plastic or rubber scrubbers, rather than metal |
| were fairly crude. Usually these ancient | | | | to clean the sides of an acrylic tank. Be careful |
| aquariums only had one side that was made of | | | | not to accidentally pick up a piece of substrate or |
| glass, with the other three sides being made of | | | | gravel while cleaning the inside of the tank. |
| metal or wood. Most aquariums consisted of fish | | | | However, if you do happen to scratch an acrylic |
| that were native to the region of its owner | | | | aquarium, all is not lost. The tank can be |
| simply because of availability. Also most old | | | | repaired, unlike glass. There are acrylic repair kits |
| school fish tanks contained only fresh water fish. | | | | available at specialty pet stores, your local |
| The reason being that salt water would corrode | | | | hardware store and of course online. |
| the metal frame that held the aquarium together. | | | | |
| | | | | When purchasing an acrylic aquarium kit, there will |
| Aquariums drastically changed in the 1960's with | | | | be many different options to choose from, at |
| the invention of silicone adhesive. Metal frames | | | | many different price points. Aquarium kits can |
| became obsolete and more people started to | | | | be purchased at places such as specialty aquatic |
| keep salt water fish and invertebrates. More | | | | pet stores, from huge retail chains, or again |
| recently glass tanks have become less frequently | | | | online. A fish lover can choose from small |
| used due to the flexibility of acrylic. Literally | | | | cylinder shaped tanks that can double as a coffee |
| flexibility! Acrylic aquariums are far more for | | | | table lamp to wall huge wall sized aquariums. |
| forgiving than there glass counterparts. If a | | | | While, there are some basic things that will be |
| heavy object strikes a glass tank, it will almost | | | | included in most kits, such as, a filter, some |
| certainly break. The flexibility of an acrylic tank | | | | substrate or coral and sometimes lighting, the kits |
| will prevent this catastrophe from happening. In | | | | themselves can vary greatly. It really doesn't |
| addition, acrylic offers more flexibility in design | | | | matter where you buy your starter kit, but keep |
| than glass. Acrylic aquariums have been made | | | | in mind that it is extremely important to buy your |
| into everything from coffee tables to gum ball | | | | fish from a reputable dealer. Don't buy fish that |
| machines. | | | | are hovering near the surface, or that are located |
| That being said, there is a short downfall to | | | | in a tank with other dead fish. Fish diseases are |
| owning an acrylic aquarium. They do scratch | | | | extremely communicable. Be weary of a fish |
| more easily than glass. When cleaning your | | | | dealer that refuses to catch a specific fish out of |
| aquarium, be careful not to use paper towels, and | | | | the tank for you. After all this is going to be |
| harsh or abrasive chemicals, as they can scratch | | | | your fish and you have a right to choose. |
| the acrylic surface of the aquarium. Always | | | | |