Plastic fish tanks do not really look much different than most normal, glass fish tanks look. But, there are definitely areas in which these two kinds of tanks will differ – sometimes significantly.
Quality – If you are looking for a tank that is made with higher quality, than a glass tank is likely the best option. Even though the plastic tanks are fine, they do not provide any kind of “wow” factor when someone sees it.
Durability – If you have a tank that you think might get tapped a lot or will be moved often, it is probably a good idea to make sure that the tank will hold up and be durable. In these situations, plastic fish tanks may be the better choice.
Clarity – because everyone wants to be able to showcase the fish they have in their tank, it is important that the clarity be high in the tank so that people can see the fish well. There can be problems with both kinds of tanks, but when push comes to shove, glass is probably more effective than plastic fish tanks simply because it doesn’t scratch as easy and doesn’t alter the look of the inside of the tank as much.
Both kinds of these plastic fish tanks are able to serve their own purposes, but if all things are equal, it may be a better idea to go with glass instead of plastic fish tanks.