Fish can be an obsession.

Visit your local aquarium store (go now; get out of the house. The computer will still be there when you get back) and you will see some crazy people. People discussing new filters for their isolation tank, people looking for plants for their spawning tank, people figuring out how they can wedge yet another tank into the living room without getting rid of the couch.

I am one of the Insaniacs you might meet at the aquarium shop. My dining room table is now wedged into a corner of the living room and my dining room is dominated by fish. I warn you; if you come to my house for dinner, you'll be eating off of a snack tray in the living room.

ALL GLASS EXTRA LARGE TANKS

The odds are good that if you purchase a fish tank in a private pet store or aquarium shop, you will be purchasing an All Glass Tank. "All Glass" does not just indicate the construction of the tank, but the name of the manufacturer as well. All Glass tanks come in a wide array of sizes, from 2.5 gallons all the way up to 180 gallons. They come in many shapes from the standard rectangular to the extra tall hexagon to the extra large corner tank, kind of a wedge shape. The All Glass company considers any rectangular tank over 75 gallons to be "Large". My most recent tank is a 90 gallon All Glass Large Rectangular tank.

I purchased my tank used in a complete kit including stand, lights, filters and covers for $350 (actually, it was an early Christmas present from my husband, who, bless his heart, humors me and my pets). I have seen a similar kit new at a local aquarium store for $600. A 90 gallon tank can be purchased separately for about $100. As an aside, always be very careful when purchasing a used fish tank. I purchased mine from a friend of a friend, who was moving to a smaller home and wanted a smaller tank. I knew the tank was safe. I had another friend who purchased a used tank from an unscrupulous person; the tank had a heavy metal problem of which my friend was not informed. She lost fish and invertabrates before the local aquarium guy figured out the problem. Don't buy a used tank from someone who is not known to you.

SPECS (90 Gallon)

This tank is huge. It is about four feet long, 18 inches deep and over two feet high. The construction is very sturdy. The glass is about 1/2 an inch think. In addition to the support and stability given the tank by the top and bottom rims (very sturdy heavy plastic) the large size tanks also have plastic braces under the bottom of the tank and one brace across the top. When moving the empty tank into position, we felt very little 'flex' in the glass. I am confident as to its sturdiness. Most All Glass tanks are not tempered glass so that they may be drilled for filtration and tubing. There are a few tempered tanks available for those concerned about potential breakage, as tempered glass is less likely to break in an impact. The glass is joined flush at the corners, instead of mitered, which also adds to the stability. The bottom piece of glass is larger so that the sides rest on it, adding, again, more stability.

This tank is available in a variety of trims. The 90 gallon is available in black, oak and walnut trims. Mine is oak. Some sizes are also available in a cherry trim. Unlike some 'wood look' plastic trims, the trim on All Glass Aquariums looks realistic, not cheesy and 'fake' looking. Matching hoods and stands are available. I have the stand, but not the hood. The standard cover (which is what I have) is made of two pieces of hinged glass which will support one light fixture with a single bulb. If you want a two bulb or high heat fixture, you should purchase a full hood as the higher heat can potentially crack the cover glass which is thinner than the glass in the body of the tank.

The tanks are repeatedly inspected during construction, and I somehow found the sticker on the inside bottom of the tank stating that "This tank was made by Scott on November 10, 1996" a reassurance. Most people don't put their name on things they think are junk.

WHERE CAN YOU BUY IT?

All Glass Aquariums are widely available. Most small privately owned aquarium stores carry them, most often in kits, but you can buy the tank alone. Although other companies make glass aquariums, All Glass is the quality standard for glass aquariums and they are the industry leaders. If you cannot find a local retailer, the All Glass website, http://www.all-glass.com/ has a retailer locator. I am unaware of anyone who sells this product online as shipping would be hideously expensive. I have seen All Glass tanks on E-Bay, but only on a local pick up basis. Again, unless the seller is known to you, avoid purchasing a used tank.

WHO WOULD LIKE THIS?

More to the point is who should or shouldn't get this tank?

Well, at $600 complete new, this tank is rather expensive for a beginner. If you buy this tank and find that you don't have the knack for fish, or the time, this is a rather large and expensive mistake. For beginners, I would recommend a 29 gallon tank. A 29 gallon tank is large enough to provide a stable environment for a beginner who will make mistakes, but not so large or expensive that it would be a big problem if it doesn't work out.

This tank is also very tall. On the stand, it is about five and a half feet tall. I am 5'9" tall, and need a stepstool to perform maintenance on my tank, and still have problems reaching the bottom. This may be a factor for smaller people.

This tank is also a poor selection for people who live in apartments, move often or have an older home with weaker floors over a basement. The tank filled with water weighs 1,050 pounds. This figure does not include the stand, gravel (I have 75 pounds of gravel in mine, about a 2.5 inch coverage) fish or decorations. I have mine on a slab floor, and would not even consider setting it up on the second floor of my home. My friend, who has a 120 gallon, had her floor under the tank braced and put in steel jacks in her basement. Even empty, at 150 pounds, this is an item you do not want to move often. You want to set it up and leave it where it is forever. Rule of thumb; if your floor is too weak for a waterbed, it's too weak for this tank.

This tank is an excellent choice for a reef tank as its large environment will lend stability to a reef community. It would also be a good choice for the serious hobbyist for any kind of fish. It is a beautiful display tank, and once set up is complete is actually easier to maintain than my previous primary tanks, 29 gallons and 55 gallons.

I purchased this tank because it is beautiful (and because at $350, it was a great bargain!). Initially, I wanted a 120 gallon tank, but I really would have had to get rid of my couch to accommodate it. I am very happy with my tank, which I have had about two months now. I would highly recommend the All Glass Large 90 Gallon Tank to the serious hobbyist with a serious floor as an excellent lifetime investment in serenity and beauty.



Recommended: Yes