Planet Aquarium vs. Glass Cages... who has the "better" quality, etc...?

[Stevorino]

How long has it been up? Mind if I DM you some specific questions? That's the approx size I'm looking at if we upgrade after our move

Just about on year anniversary - happy to answer any questions you have!

 

[Aaron75]

Yeah, that's the size I am looking for also...

96 x 24 x 25 high - or even higher, like 28".

I'd suggest you reach out to glass cages. Joe took a call with me and just talked to me like a person, not a #. He was honest, he gave pricing and options and at no time did I feel like he was trying to sell me.

 

[BeanAnimal]

According to a YouTube video by Ryan and BRS - Glass Cages is about the same quality as Marineland and Aqueon (All-Glass)...

I would be suspect of a vendor's advice when the vendor has a vested interest to upsell the brands that he carries and downsell ones that he does not.

There may be small differences in aesthetics in the reputable brands, but you are buying customer service and warranty more than anything else. Glass Cages is an extremely reputable brand that provides custom aqariums and top notch customer service. Joe is very responsive and easy to work with.

I can't speak to Planet - I have zero knowledge. They appear to get good reviews, even in this thread.

Reef Savvy appears to make nice stuff, but by many accounts and my personal experience over the last decade or so they are not very responsive.

 

[Ironwill723]

Yeah, that's the size I am looking for also...

96 x 24 x 25 high - or even higher, like 28".

Pennsylvania - Aquariums - Dry Goods - SOLD - Brand New 8ft 300g Planet Aquariums MEGA Matrix Tank

Brand New 8ft Planet Aquariums MEGA Matrix 300 Gallon Glass Tank. Dimensions: 96"L x 24"W x 29"H Regular Glass all sides. All tank sides and bottom are non-tempered and can be drilled for overflow or return lines. Decided to go with a different size aquarium and no longer need this tank. Located...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[blennyhana]

I’ll give a different perspective on Planet Aquariums. We experienced absolutely terrible customer service. We purchased an AIO tank by them through a LFS. Somehow, the tank was sealed with a bowed bottom so it wasn’t sitting flat. After multiple emails and photos to planet aquariums, they finally replied admitting that our tank was defective and asked for more photos. We were then ghosted by them and got no further replies to emails and even to this day months later have never heard back. Luckily for us, our LFS replaced the tank. YMMV.

 

[OrionN]

I have a Planet Aquarium 340 with external overflow. Very happy with mine.

 

[lbacha]

I just ordered a 310 (96” x 30” wide and 25” tall). I worked with both Planet Aquarium through a LFS and GlassCages directly with Joe. I ended up going with the glass cages for a couple reasons but all my research said the quality of the two tanks would have been similar.

1. Shipping was cheaper as I’m in Ohio and GlassCages is in Tennessee vs Texas for Planet
2. It was much easier working with Joe as my LFS would take a week to get a response on any changes I wanted. I actually started talking to them a month before I reached out to Joe and with in hrs he would jump on a call and send me quotes for changes I wanted.
3. I really liked GlassCgaes white trim with low iron euro brace option (not sure if Planet has a similar option)
4. Tank cost was a lot cheaper through Joe. The base mega matrix was in line but as I asked to move the overflow and add an extra pane of low iron the costs went up way more than those options were through GlassCages.
5. I can get a Ghost overflow from GlassCages and Planet only offers their Tideline which reviews say is not as good as the Ghost

Joe and my LFS both knew I was talking to the other so no issues there. I would have been very happy with the Planet if the price would t have went up so much for the few modifications I wanted that were not part of their MegaMarix offering.

I will say GlassCages estimate tool is pretty nice and the price was almost dead on.

Hope this helps

As for the reviews by the way GlassCages has been around for a long time and the product now is much better than what it use to be. I reached out to a lot of people that had recently got tanks from them and there feedback was fantastic (great silicon work and clean finished glass)

Len

 

[Martingale]

I have a custom made planet aquarium tank. My first post of my build thread has lots of details. Altogether I would recommend glass cages, personally.

 

[1000rrstunna]

Planets prices are out of this planet high...

 

[1000rrstunna]

I have a glass cages tank Joe was great they work with what you want to accomplish and it was made in a timely manner. Satisfied customer here.

 

[lbacha]

I haven't received mine yet as I’m still doing some work on the house but Joe has finished it and it’s just waiting for me to give the go ahead to ship. Based on the pictures it is exactly what I envisioned.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

84 x 24 x 24/25/26 high... ideally...

Haven't decided if it will be braced or not - like the look of a canopy... but also like the open top look - so not too sure...

If braced (canopy) - like the idea of the stainless steel or aluminum bracing...

Will definitely be on a custom cabinet wood stand - most likely made locally.

Rear overflow - either center or one in each rear corner

Low iron glass

Black rear panel

Really like the idea of hidden waterlines (and sand line) that Glass Cages does...

But really want to find the one that looks the best made (nicest looking silicone job, etc.).

Hands down for me. This will be ready very very soon. I looked all over and talked to a ton of people. While my proximity to GC certainly was helpful, hands down @Joe Glass Cages has the best service, hands down. Trust me. I know first hand, I drove Joe and David bat poop crazy with my ever changing ever endless questions and they killed it. This is the second tank they have built for me. I’m a customer for life.

 

[OutColdCRNA]

I currently have a 65 gallon Tideline AIO which is built by planet. Have been pleased with the tank for the last two years. Have maxed out the potential of an AIO. Have upgraded to a glasscages 240 that will be running soon. I can say that both tanks are well built. But the glasscages wins hands down on build quality and what feels like a tank that was built with the utmost care.

 

[Solo McReefer]

But the glasscages wins hands down on build quality and what feels like a tank that was built with the utmost care.

That is relatively new

When I first heard about them, they were the dirt cheap option. And as their name implied barely held water

That appears to have changed with new owner in 2019

Who knew

 

[PharmrJohn]

@Joe Glass Cages is always willing to answer questions and won't steer you wrong, even if you decide not to go with his company.

In speaking with Joe, I can attest to this. In planning for my tank, he offered me options that led me away from GC for a sump. He could have EASILY sold me one. But he didn't. This goes a LOOOONG WAY with me. It shows that he not only represents his company, but also represents his customer.

Also, I've not heard one bad thing about GC. I've not heard anything negative about PA either. It does appear that GC has more choices in their custom work though. That being said, I only performed a cursory glance at PA.

 

[dmowrer018]

Hands down for me. This will be ready very very soon. I looked all over and talked to a ton of people. While my proximity to GC certainly was helpful, hands down @Joe Glass Cages has the best service, hands down. Trust me. I know first hand, I drove Joe and David bat poop crazy with my ever changing ever endless questions and they killed it. This is the second tank they have built for me. I’m a customer for life.

I have to agree. Glasscages all the way. I had the pleasure of working with Joe and his team and had a custom 84 in (L) x 23 in (W) x 31 in (H) tank made. The hardest and longest part was waiting for them to build it and ship it to me. Great communication, full of information, kindness, and even owned up to a mistake on the build and made things right in the end. I am also a customer for life. Can’t wait for them to build me a larger tank.

 

[Stevorino]

Hi. Can I ask was it a standard size or custom and I’d enjoy hearing what options you went with and whether you used them for the stand. I bet it must look spectacular!! Thank you for your help.

I did the 72" long 280g (crystal front, black back, internal overflow)

If you go to their mega matrix website, they allow you to build it and give you price:

Planet MEGA Matrix

www.dfwaquarium.com

I did use them for the stand as well and love the stand/canopy just as much as the glass. For that I went with the classic in white, with upgraded height.

Aquarium Furniture (Tideline Furniture)

www.dfwaquarium.com

FWIW, I did have them quote out a custom sized tank for the spot that I had. I think it was going to end up being something like 320g, so not a huge difference in size.... but the price was more than double. Essentially once you go outside of their standard glass pane sizes the entire project doubles/triples in price.

I also considered going bigger, but at least when I ordered it ~18 months ago, once you go any bigger than this the price REALLY escalates a lot for the additional size. I felt like this was the biggest I could go without saying '**** it' and going all the way to something like a 450g.

 

[merkmerk73]

I got my most recent tank (280g) from Planet Aquarium through my LFS and they made it seamless and easy. The quality is a step or two above anything else I have purchased in the last decade and looks stunning.

Got any pics? Rimless?

My current tank is planet and it's pretty decent but I wouldn't say stunning - there were some marks on one of the seams (that has stayed the same for over a year) and have had some questionable paintwork on a few pieces of the furniture

 

[Stevorino]

Got any pics? Rimless?

My current tank is planet and it's pretty decent but I wouldn't say stunning - there were some marks on one of the seams (that has stayed the same for over a year) and have had some questionable paintwork on a few pieces of the furniture

I have pics in my build thread

I was super happy with it, and still am though it got pretty beat up when I recently moved homes. When I initially installed it I wasn't able to find a flaw anywhere.