Build-to-Order Glass Aquarium System
Finally, an aquarium system that you design to meet each of your specific needs!
With our free aquarium delivery and refundable aquarium moving kits, even the largest aquariums can be easily installed in your home or office.
- Built-to-order for practically any fish tank size
- Multiple material thicknesses, clarity, and tempering options
- Marine-grade anodized aluminum frame with unmatched integrity
- Custom holes for overflows/sumps
- Commercial quality, professional look, and feel
- FREE delivery Nationwide*
- Refundable moving kits for easy installation
- Higher quality and less expensive than acrylic
- Engineered and Built to Last a LIFETIME!
- Explore Aquarium Sizes or Aquarium Package Specials
Advanced Experience & Engineering
Our Lifetime Aquarium® systems are designed by seasoned service technicians and engineers to produce the versatility and unmatched durability of our Lifetime Aquariums®.
Our products are easy to service and last a very long time with minimal long-term expense. After countless installations and services, thousands of hours of design, re-design, prototyping, testing, and consulting with our service techs and other industry experts, we developed what is the most comprehensive built-to-order aquarium and filter system on the market: Built to last a LIFETIME®!
The LIFETIME® Difference
Over many years of installing and maintaining aquariums in businesses, we continually found flaws in aquarium and filtration systems (Servicing is done through our sister company, Serenity USA). These flaws create problems long term and can be very costly.
Rather than continuing with these flaws, we dedicated our vast experience to creating the best possible solutions by breaking down and solving each problem one at a time. The result is the revolutionary Lifetime Aquarium® System, the Seamless Sump® system, the H2Overflow®, the Siphon Stopper®, and the Majestic® stands and canopies.
We design all our products from the ground up, and take no shortcuts. Each revolutionary idea was born out of feedback from aquarists and our real-world experience with aquarium maintenance. This resulted in an aquarium that is versatile, low-maintenance, and lasts a lifetime.
LIFETIME® Aquarium Glass Options
Our Lifetime Aquarium® system allows you to choose from a variety of materials for any panel. Here is an overview of the material choices.
Standard Clarity Glass
Most aquariums 300 gallons and under come standard with 3/8″ glass for the front, back, sides, and bottom. This is the industry standard for adequate thickness for tanks this size, while accounting for drilled holes, overflows, and return fittings. Individual requirements may vary depending on the circumstances of each setup.
The typical use of glass thickness between 1/2″ and 3/4″ is for tanks greater than 300 gallons (There are some exceptions based on engineered specifications. Recommendations are listed in the aquarium pricing charts). A 3/4″ glass upgrade may make sense for smaller tanks in high-traffic areas for precautions or if we have to drill an unusually large number of holes in the glass.
Tempered Glass (Available in 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ & 3/4″)
Tempering glass can add 5-10 times the strength to the glass panel. The tempering process superheats the panel, then cools it down rapidly.
During this process, the exterior of the glass cools at a quicker rate than the interior. The difference in cooling rates creates tension, or “loading” of the molecules, making the glass very, very strong.
We have full glass fabrication ability and are happy to drill whatever holes you need and do any other fabrication within our ability for a reasonable extra charge before tempering.
Tempering does add to the lead time (usually 2-4 weeks) because we have to send the panel off for tempering after fabrication. After we temper the glass, you can’t modify it later.
Ultra-Clear Glass (Available in 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ & 3/4″, tempered or non- tempered)
Ultra-clear glass has about the same strength as regular clarity of the same thickness.
The difference is the Ultra-clear has a lower iron content that gives it an exceptionally clean look. This option is a very nice feature but does cost a bit more money. Our system gives you the flexibility to upgrade as many or as few panels as you desire depending on the placement, configuration, and budget of your tank.
Glass Fish Tanks vs Acrylic Fish Tanks
When considering glass vs. acrylic aquariums, each has its pros and cons. In the infancy of our service division, we spent a great deal of time evaluating what type of material to use. What we found is that you most often sacrifice the long-term benefit of glass for the short-term benefit of acrylic.
Our goal is to mitigate the disadvantages of glass aquariums through our engineered fabrication, moving techniques, and ultra-clear material options with only advantages remaining.
LIFETIME® Aquarium Frames
We manufacture LIFETIME® Aquarium systems with a marine-grade anodized aluminum frame. This provides a much more durable, rigid solution than plastic. Anodizing it also creates a hardened surface that won’t rust, corrode, or oxidize. In fact, this is the same material they use for ocean-rated boats and ocean-view skyscraper windows.
As a further piece of mind, no part of the aluminum is submerged in the tank. The aluminum frame is more expensive to manufacture than a mass-produced injection molded frame, however, with our direct-to-consumer business model, we’re still competitive with plastic rim tanks by cutting out multiple distribution markups.
Stronger Joints with More Silicone
The profile of our aluminum frame not only allows for more rigidity than a plastic frame, it creates areas to apply more silicone with a better bond.
Particularly for large aquariums with large spans, this will significantly increase its strength and long-term durability. Our proprietary frame design makes large, build-to-order aquariums possible while making them stronger than the competition.
Fully Polished and Beveled Edges
Polishing and mitering all the edges is a labor-intensive, time-consuming step that many manufacturers don’t do: But we do.
We thoroughly polish and minter all edges, even the edges you don’t see! This dramatically increases the strength, integrity, and longevity of your tank.
For our pentagon/hexagon tanks – we miter the angled edges to the correct angle to match the shape of the tank for a uniform, strong bond.
LIFETIME®
- Strong mechanical bond
- Mitered edges to match the shape of the tank
- No glass-on-glass contact
- Highly polished edges – Including the concealed edges
- No risky microfractures
- A liberal bead of high PSI aquarium-grade silicone
Other Manufactures
- Square edges and uneven silicone joints
- Vulnerable microfractures
- Potential glass-on-glass contact points
- Limited mechanical bonding strength
- Sanded edges are not as good as polished
- Hidden edges are not sanded or polished
LIFETIME® Frames vs Euro Style Frames
Our proprietary aluminum frame system adds strength, durability, and allows us to custom-build virtually any size fish tank. Most custom glass enclosures, however, are made with a euro-frame design, which is pieced together with large chunks of reinforcement glass, and lots of unsightly silicone.
If you want a “euro” style custom aquarium, be sure to examine close-up pictures of the frame. The aesthetics are not always ideal and because of all the additional glass, they can be a lot heavier.
Plastic Framed Tops – Inherent Risk of Failure
Most mass-produced aquariums are made with injection-molded plastic tops. These will usually last quite some time, but it will eventually become brittle, particularly when exposed to UV light.
As we explained in the Acrylic vs. Glass comparison, plastic is porous and will absorb moisture. Combined with exposure to UV light over time, it can cause an aquarium top to fail and lead to a total failure of the system. This is far less likely with our reinforced aluminum frame.
Plastic Frames – Center Brace Failure Can Be Disastrous.
One of the most common calls we receive is from aquarists with well-established aquariums that suddenly fail, creating a very time-consuming and expensive issue.
This is almost always due to the center brace failing. The center brace is the weakest and most vulnerable part of the fish tank because it has the highest force exerted on the weakest structure. Over time, the plastic becomes weak and brittle as UV light breaks it down and dries it out.
Our LIFETIME® Aquariums have marine-grade anodized aluminum center supports that are reinforced with a secondary aluminum bracket and riveted for extra strength.
No longer is the center bracket a long-term failure risk!
Tested By Us. Loved by Aquarists.
We have reviews from customers all over the country who have raved about our LIFETIME® Aquariums and how they’ve been excellent first fish tanks or the perfect solution to their current one:
I sent a request into the customer service asking about my tank that had just developed a crack in the top brace. Seeing as it was a holiday, I did not expect to hear from anyone on the same day, but to my surprise, I had a response within the hour. While the answer to my question was not what I was hoping to hear, I was very pleased with the quick response and the honest advice given. I will be sure to visit Custom Aquariums in the future for all of my aquatic needs!! I am very satisfied with the service that I received!
Jessica W.
I have a 300 gal. reef aquarium that the top center glass brace broke off. After measuring the ends and center I noticed the center of my tank had bowed a full inch. In fearing that my front glass wouldn’t stand the water pressure I looked online for any help I could find. Within the hour CustomAquariums.com came to my rescue. And within 3 hours a plan was in place! Thank you so much CustomAquariums.com for your quick concern to my emergency and helpful staff. I also have to say in being in this hobby for the past 25 years. It’s been a major concern with the structure of aquarium tanks holding up to wear and tear caused by saltwater, new wavemakers, and just water pressure. The design of the marine-grade anodized aluminum frame makes for a long time worry-free hobby.
Jesse Arias