Want An Aquarium?? Get This Tank!
Written: Sep 27 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful construction, durable, never leaks
Cons: none yet
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| gym-378's Full Review: AllGlass Standard Size Aquarium |
Allright, I must confess that I didn't know much about aquariums when I went shopping for my first tank. All I knew was that I had a bare spot in my living room and I thought a fish tank would look beautiful there.
My brother and dad had always had aquariums (usually saltwater) so I knew a little about cleaning the tanks, selecting fish, and the time and effort it took to maintain a proper aquarium. What I didn't know was what to look for in a tank. If you are a newbie to aquariums, I'm hoping to pass along a little information about tanks and why the All-Glass Standard fits the bill.
The Look
First of all, we want our aquariums to look nice, right?? This tank is manufactured with three different trim colors to match the decor of your home. The trim styles are walnut, oak, or black. I chose the oak style because of the light color that matches my hardwood floors. In addition, All-Glass offers aquarium stands and hoods that match the color and grain exactly. Although neither the hood or the stand are standard options, I would recommend at least getting the stand unless you already have a spot picked out for the tank.
Remember, one gallon of water weighs around 9lbs so get a suitable stand and don't plan on putting a 30 gallon tank on an old end table that you have.
The Durability
The tank is the last thing you want to have go bad. Trust me!! Having a pump motor go out, or a filter get clogged is nothing compared to the feeling you have when you see the seals around the edges of your tank start leaking. Just the thought of having 30 gallons of water pour all over my floors sends me into fits. So DON'T skimp on your tank!!
The All-Glass aquariums are very durable and I have yet to have any problems with mine and it's three years old. All-Glass is very serious about their construction. The use silicon seals that don't degrade and stand up to a relatively vigorous cleaning.
In addition, their hoods are sturdy and easy to remove and clean.
The Price
I shopped around at about seven different pet stores before I came across the one I bought. For some reason, pet stores mark tanks up pretty high. So if you shop around, you can certainly find stores that are running "starter kit" sales for competitive prices. I picked up my 30-gallon All-Glass with two undergravel filters, a hood, and stand for around $300. That may seem like a lot, but it was worth it to have a good home for my little buddies.
One note, and I'll probably write an entire review on this alone, but I did not find the undergravel filter to be adequate for my 30-gallon tank. I supplemented the filter with a Penguin BioWheel and have never had ammonia or other problems in my tank since. So if you are buying a starter kit, you might add on a BioWheel (don't go for the cheap imitations).
Overall
What can I say...I have never had any problems with this tank. It looks beautiful, is easy to clean and my fish don't ever complain. When it comes to picking out a tank, go with the one that will give you the least amount of trouble -- All-Glass.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gym-378
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Location: Kansas City, MO
Reviews written: 198
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