In part one of my double Glassware For Reefs feature, we had a look at lily pipes: delicate glass accessories that haven’t caught on much with reef keepers yet, but that I think could make our tanks all the nicer to look at.
In said post, we established that pretty glassware absolutely works in the saltwater hobby. Today, let’s continue our journey through the world of glassware for fish tanks. Out with the black plastic and scratched acrylic, in with the shiny minimalism that is glass! Here are 7 of my favorite glass accessories that will make your reef look its best.
The tank
OK, we’re actually not starting with an accessory, but something more all-encompassing: your hunt for sleekness and minimalism should start with the tank itself. We’ve come a long way from the plastic-rimmed, plastic-hooded glass box and its obnoxious black silicone! Nowadays, we can opt for rimless tanks, minimal cubes with rounded corners, and best of all: low-iron glass. Marketed as Optiwhite, UltraClear and similar, this glass lacks the slight green sheen we’re used to thanks to its low iron content. Although there isn’t much visual difference in nano tanks made with thin low-iron glass, aquariums that are 1/4″ or thicker really benefit from the extra clarity.
I have an 8-gallon cube with curved corners at the front, and let me tell you, it makes a difference compared to the normal black-siliconed edges! And if you’re looking to set up a larger reef, definitely opt for low-iron glass. If buying in-store is too pricey for your tastes, you could consider a DIY adventure: glass, including the low-iron version, is actually pretty cheap to buy. You can ask your LFS about assembly.
- 【Filtration Space Integrated】Compact design. It uses the internal space behind the tank to separate three filter spaces, facilitating the placement of biochemical cotton, activated carbon or filter cotton, and other filter materials, or you can place a Skimmer in one of the chambers to build a saltwater tank. Without using other locations, you can form a complete filtration system without impacting the overall beautiful landscape of the aquarium. The filter system is easy to maintain and clean.
- 【Versatile Usage】Freshwater or saltwater aquarium, it is up to how you config the filtration system; the tank is made of acid and alkali resistant material, giving you more fun and freedom to build your aquarium.
- 【High-Quality Manufactured】The tank is made of all glass low iron ultra-clear glass with a beveled edge, and the glass has an excellent light transmittance. Including the chamber dividers, they are all made by glass. Each side of the glass is cut and ground by accurate size. The glass joints are made by a high-quality German silica gel process, presenting a smooth and rimless look.
- 【Humanized Details Designed】The water inlet of the filtration system is detachable and easy to clean; an adjustable directional nozzle for precise water stirring; the nozzle is also easy to uninstall to be cleaned. An EVA material foam leveling pad keeps the stability of the tank, reducing vibration and noise.
- 【Specifications & Packaging]】Size:15.8Wx15.8D×15.8H in(40x40x40cm) 6mm thickness; Capacity(not including filtration chamber): 11Gallon; Applicable Water Type: common for salt water and fresh water. Net weight of fish tank: 37.7 lbs; Total package weight:52.3 lbs; Packaging: Packed in a steel-framed wooden crate professionally to ensure transportation safety.Return Tube Inner/Outer Diameter:0.63/0.87inch
Glass lid
Aquascapers, especially in the freshwater world, love using rimless, lidless tanks with as little moving parts as possible. That’s all fine and dandy, but even freshwater fish can be prone to being startled, going airborne, and ending up on the floor. Saltwater critters are on a whole other level, with all of them seeming to share a deep desire to go surfing on the carpet; some, like moray eels, will not rest until they’ve found a way out of your tank.
What I’m trying to say is: sorry, unless your set-up holds only stationary livestock, you’re going to need a lid. Luckily, we’ve come a long way from the huge black plastic hoods that used to disgrace our aquariums—unless you actually keep a moray, that is, in which case you really do need something very sturdy and very tight. For most fish and invertebrates, a minimalist glass plate, held in place by clear acrylic, will do the trick.
- 【Enhanced Safety】LANDEN's clear glass aquarium lid prevents your beloved fish from accidentally jumping out of the tank and safeguards your children and pets from touching the aquarium inhabitants or decorations, ensuring safety for both your aquatic pets and family members.
- 【Thermostatic Water Saving】Our lid effectively reduces water evaporation, keeping the water level steady while also preventing heat loss, which aids in maintaining the aquarium's temperature. Moreover, the lid prevents dust and debris from falling into the tank, preserving water cleanliness.
- 【Premium Material & Aesthetic Design】LANDEN's aquarium lid, crafted from 4mm thick clear glass, offers lasting durability while allowing maximum light penetration - perfect for showcasing your aquatic life and supporting photosynthesis in plant-filled tanks.elegantly designed,enhances the aesthetics of your aquarium.
- 【Specifications and Packaging】The size of the glass lid is 342x168x4mm(13.46x6.61x.16in); Adapted to LANDEN NA362226,, the thickness is 4mm; use bubble film and corner protector to do all-round protection and use anti-collision and anti-pressure honeycomb carton transport to ensure that each glass cover can be delivered to your hands intact.
- 【Detailed Design】It is perfectly sized to fit the top of the tank. Features front and rear clearances, providing versatile accommodation for external equipment such as lily pipe, CO2 tube, and light stands.
Glass frag racks and shelves
I recently discussed frag racks and coral shelves in my post on 3D-printable aquarium accessories, and I still think using a printer instead of buying in-store is perfect for aquarists who require something customized (not to mention almost free). However, as the photos in the other article make clear, 3D printing doesn’t necessarily result in the nicest-looking accessories. Its textured plastic is a definite case of “practical, but ugly”.
If you value a nice-looking frag rack more than obtaining one (almost) for free, glass or clear acrylic is the way to go. Even in frag form, their colors and textures deserve the spotlight; a glass rack or shelf makes them look like they’re floating in mid-water like nature’s most bizarrely wonderful aquatic spaceships.
- LARGE MAX: Size: 12" x 4"
- MAGNETIC STRENGTH: Recommended for up to 5/8" wall.
- FRAG QUANTITY: 41 Small 1 inch frags / 19 Large 1.5 inch frags
- HIGH QUALITY MATERIAL: Waterproof sealed / triple protected N52 Neodymium Magnets ( 2 pairs ) & High quality cell cast acrylic, built to last a lifetime
- MAX ADAPTATION: 1/2" frag holes fit most frag plugs, strong magnets hold steady on glass, acrylic, or even plastic containers.
Glass overflow
In this post’s twin article, the one on using lily pipes in a reef aquarium, I mentioned the beautiful glass overflow systems produced by a Japanese company called Mame. It’s a good piece of equipment to discuss in an article about glassware for reefs, because most tanks have one. And man, are they ugly! The black toothed plastic weirs may get the job done—although letting water flow past isn’t exactly a highly specialized task—but they sure are eyesores.
Folks who are looking for a prettier overflow weir or box but lack the funds for one of those gorgeous Mame solutions can still opt for glass. Sure, you’ll get straight panels rather than intricately curved tubes, but it still looks a lot better than the plastic. I wouldn’t try my hand at this myself, but glass cutters with a bit of experience can even recreate the toothed weir look using this more aesthetically pleasing material.
Glass auto top-off reservoir
Top-off reservoirs are usually tucked away in the display tank’s cabinet like something we’re ashamed of. Not that surprising given how unsightly some of them are! But some companies, like Flipper (whose reef magnifying device I recently discussed in my Mari’s Must-Haves series), are moving away from the hidden reservoir.
It’s easier and more fool-proof to rely on gravity rather than pumping the water up to the display. However, a gravity-based top-off system will by default be in full view—above the tank—so it should, at the very least, not detract from the tank’s beauty. Flipper solves this with an acrylic ATO reservoir, but depending on your system, you may be able to use glass, especially if you go the DIY route.
- Aquarium Auto Top Off System - This water level maintainer automatically tops off your aquarium to prevent water evaporation and maintain a stable environment for your fish.
- Fail Proof - No Switches, Electronics, or Float Valves! Simple Over Tank Design Uses Physics to Keep Your Water Levels Perfect! Easy set-up with drip feed tube system.
- Safe and Reliable - The system includes a reliable ato tank that prevents overfilling. It's safe for both small and large aquariums.
- Easy Installation - The auto top off system is easy to install and fits seamlessly in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
- High Quality - Made by Flipper, a trusted brand in aquarium equipment, this auto top off system is durable and designed to last. It's the perfect addition to your aquarium setup.
Glass feeding tubes + bowls
Using glass feeding tubes and bowls in my aquarium makes me feel fancy. Sure, these pieces of equipment aren’t exactly crucial to the correct functioning of your aquatic ecosystem—although that’s a statement I think my freshwater dwarf shrimp in particular will fervently disagree with—but they really do look quite nice, especially if you’re already using lily pipes and other glassware.
Also, while it’s true your system will be fine without a feeding tube and bowl, these accessories do actually have a function. Firstly, aquarists appreciate the fact that food isn’t blown or thrown all over the tank, helping it stay cleaner for longer and reducing the formation of pockets of dirt that can foul the water. And secondly, they allow us to keep a closer eye on how our fish are doing; if everyone feeds in the same location, it’s much easier to spot any fish that aren’t getting their fill.
- Integrated and practical feeding tube feeding tray. It is easy to remove feed residues to keep the water pure.
- Material: Made of high-quality crystal glass, safer and more environmentally friendly (transparent color). Designed to provide a more natural environment for cherry shrimp, crystal red shrimp and dwarf shrimp.
- The suction cup has strong power and is not easy to fall. The length of the feeding tube: 8"; it can be used in most fish houses of sizes
- Equipped with 2PCS suction cup, easy to install. Simply clean the suction cup and paste it on a clean place, and the entire installation process can be completed in one go without any tools.
- RISK FREE: Covers all defects and damages with no-question-asked return policy
Floating glass cups
Most of the glass accessories for aquariums are more popular for freshwater tanks than saltwater ones. That’s why I’m writing this article in the first place—to remind reefer of what’s out there. One piece of glassware has been embraced wholeheartedly by saltwater aquarists, however: a small glass cup, fixed to the aquarium’s side panes with a simple suction cup. Freshwater aquascapers fill theirs with substrate and use them to add texture and whimsy to their creations, but we reefers actually have uses for these cups beyond the aesthetic.
Wet Aquatics calls their glass cup accessory “The Coral Tamer”, and that’s an apt description. If you grow anemones, for example, you’ll know they’re not as stationary as people like to think. To prevent your anemone from lodging itself in the filter intake and being sent to the Great Aquarium In The Sky, you need to find it a comfortable place where it’ll want to stay, and it appears many species rather like living in The Coral Tamer.
As Wet Aquatics’ name suggests, glass cups can also come in handy for corals. Got a species that likes things bright, but no more high-rise real estate on offer? Just stick that baby right under the light. Aggressive coral that won’t leave its neighbors alone despite plenty of distance? Glass cup jail it is. And if you need a sheltered spot for your frags, it works for that as well.
Tip: These glass cups work best if they have one or multiple small holes in the bottom. Flow is king, baby!
- Great Addition to Aquarium - These plant holder for aquarium are made of crystal glass , beautiful and durable, ideal for hanging it in the aquarium fish tank
- Create A Habitat for Fish - Ideal for breeding aquatic plants in an aquarium, adding a natural feel and appearance to the aquarium, and providing an ideal place for your fish to swim and hide
- Easy to Use - Each glass plant cup comes with 2 suction cups, easy to move and hang firmly in the water tank; The bottom has a permeable hole to keep the water fresh at all times
- Wide application - Great for breeding aquatic plants in various freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Or as a plant cup that can be used as garden decor or room decor
- Size (L x W): 6.3 cm x 6.3 cm/2.5 inches x 2.5 inches; Package includes: Aquarium Plant Cup x 2 (Other accessories are not included)
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