TRUVU Aquariums

Feb 2023

TruVu manufactures high quality acrylic tanks and compatible stands....for pretty good value. I purchased a 75 gallon freshwater tank and matching stand and canopy, and am pleased with the product quality. I researched other acrylic tank manufacturers and ultimately picked TruVu because their pricing was a little better for comparable tanks/stands. I'm also a mechanical engineer, and upon receipt of the tank, I looked closely at the solvent bonding in the seams of the acrylic sheets. TruVu tanks appear to have high quality seams, providing a strong, leak-proof tank. The stand and canopy are made out of 3/4" veneered plywood, which is much stronger and water resistant compared to cheaper aquarium stands made out of MDF. The carpentry and workmanship is solid. The Cherry wood stain appearance of the stand and canopy is acceptable, but my thoughts are an additional stain coat (and maybe a coat of polyurethane) would've made the stand/canopy look better, and more like "furniture". The canopy is a nice addition I recommend, because it allows you to store and hide your fish food and aquarium light and maintain a "clean" uncluttered look. Note: My canopy doesn't close exactly flush, but this is a small thing, as I believe it will "straighten out" in time. Pricing: I've already mentioned TruVu's pricing for my 75 gallon 48" x 15" x 24" acrylic tank was good, a bit below the pricing of their competitors. When I first looked, the pricing of the stand and canopy seemed a little high, but later research showed the pricing of TruVu's stands are comparable to that of their competitors. So I got a good deal overall. The shipping process TruVu provided was pretty good (via T-Force Freight), arrived on the date/time promised, and with tank and stand secured on a pallet and protected with foam, wrap, etc. No damage to any of the three pieces. I also really like the polycarbonate top plates TruVu provides that easily remove for aquarium set-up and water changes. A good design. This is my first acrylic tank, and from my experience, the Pros and Cons of acrylic tanks (compared to glass tanks) are as follows: Acrylic Pros: - Visibility. Acrylic is more transparent than tempered glass, so the appearance and brightness of an acrylic aquarium is so much better; water, fish, and tank decor are much more clear. Acrylic tanks also don't have any front seams, which add to the visibility of the tank. I believe tank visibility is the most important attribute for an aquarium. - Leak-resistance. Acrylic tanks are much more fracture resistant, and the seams are chemically bonded and therefore stronger than siliconed seams used in glass tanks. This means acrylic tanks are far less likely to leak or to break/shatter in the event of an accident. Given I just installed new solid hardwood floors in my family room (where the tank resides), having an acrylic tank with it's leak-resistant and shatter-resistant attributes is comforting. - Lighter. Acrylic tanks are so much lighter than glass, and easier to transport and set up. I was able to easily lift my 75 gallon (empty) tank and set it up on the stand myself. My old 60 gallon glass tank was at least double the weight of the acrylic tank, and requires two people to lift it and set it up. Acrylic Cons: -Cost. Acrylic tanks are more expensive than glass tanks (+3x). However, much of the cost of Acrylic tanks is due to the raw material cost of cast acrylic sheets, which is also very expensive due to its complex manufacturing process. Cast acrylic is very clear and strong, suitable to withstand the hydrostatic pressures in an aquarium and as mentioned above, provide shatter-resistant characteristics. -Cleaning algae. The trussed reinforcements on the top of the tank make it more difficult to scrape algae off the side of the tank when performing water changes. But the trussed reinforcements are a "must" for the acrylic tank design. However, a good tank cleaning

Feb 2023

TruVu manufactures high quality acrylic tanks and compatible stands....for pretty good value. I purchased a 75 gallon freshwater tank and matching stand and canopy, and am pleased with the product quality. I researched other acrylic tank manufacturers and ultimately picked TruVu because their pricing was a little better for comparable tanks/stands. I'm also a mechanical engineer, and upon receipt of the tank, I looked closely at the solvent bonding in the seams of the acrylic sheets. TruVu tanks appear to have high quality seams, providing a strong, leak-proof tank. The stand and canopy are made out of 3/4" veneered plywood, which is much stronger and water resistant compared to cheaper aquarium stands made out of MDF. The carpentry and workmanship is solid. The Cherry wood stain appearance of the stand and canopy is acceptable, but my thoughts are an additional stain coat (and maybe a coat of polyurethane) would've made the stand/canopy look better, and more like "furniture". The canopy is a nice addition I recommend, because it allows you to store and hide your fish food and aquarium light and maintain a "clean" uncluttered look. Note: My canopy doesn't close exactly flush, but this is a small thing, as I believe it will "straighten out" in time. Pricing: I've already mentioned TruVu's pricing for my 75 gallon 48" x 15" x 24" acrylic tank was good, a bit below the pricing of their competitors. When I first looked, the pricing of the stand and canopy seemed a little high, but later research showed the pricing of TruVu's stands are comparable to that of their competitors. So I got a good deal overall. The shipping process TruVu provided was pretty good (via T-Force Freight), arrived on the date/time promised, and with tank and stand secured on a pallet and protected with foam, wrap, etc. No damage to any of the three pieces. I also really like the polycarbonate top plates TruVu provides that easily remove for aquarium set-up and water changes. A good design. This is my first acrylic tank, and from my experience, the Pros and Cons of acrylic tanks (compared to glass tanks) are as follows: Acrylic Pros: - Visibility. Acrylic is more transparent than tempered glass, so the appearance and brightness of an acrylic aquarium is so much better; water, fish, and tank decor are much more clear. Acrylic tanks also don't have any front seams, which add to the visibility of the tank. I believe tank visibility is the most important attribute for an aquarium. - Leak-resistance. Acrylic tanks are much more fracture resistant, and the seams are chemically bonded and therefore stronger than siliconed seams used in glass tanks. This means acrylic tanks are far less likely to leak or to break/shatter in the event of an accident. Given I just installed new solid hardwood floors in my family room (where the tank resides), having an acrylic tank with it's leak-resistant and shatter-resistant attributes is comforting. - Lighter. Acrylic tanks are so much lighter than glass, and easier to transport and set up. I was able to easily lift my 75 gallon (empty) tank and set it up on the stand myself. My old 60 gallon glass tank was at least double the weight of the acrylic tank, and requires two people to lift it and set it up. Acrylic Cons: -Cost. Acrylic tanks are more expensive than glass tanks (+3x). However, much of the cost of Acrylic tanks is due to the raw material cost of cast acrylic sheets, which is also very expensive due to its complex manufacturing process. Cast acrylic is very clear and strong, suitable to withstand the hydrostatic pressures in an aquarium and as mentioned above, provide shatter-resistant characteristics. -Cleaning algae. The trussed reinforcements on the top of the tank make it more difficult to scrape algae off the side of the tank when performing water changes. But the trussed reinforcements are a "must" for the acrylic tank design. However, a good tank cleaning

Feb 2020

TruVu is great. Scott and his crew constructed a 500 gallon aquarium for our home..It is a room divider between the living and dining room, coming out from the wall over 8 feet. I've had fish tanks and fish all my life, am an artist, and just finished the cherry cabinet for the tank. You can bet that Scott and TruVu will build you the tank of your dreams....and, if lucky will have all the happy fish in there like in the photos I am placing on this page. TruVu also shipped the tank really professionally right to our home via truck lines. For a big tank like ours, it took several friends to lend a hand in getting into the house and on the stand. It has been running about 2 years and the system is working great. I was lucky enough to have my friend apply all the fittings, hoses, pumps to make this tank work. This is a freshwater system..I am kind of old school, building my own egg crate system under the gravel, with several pumps on the system...returning a good water flow, plenty of oxygen...so far no ammonia or nitrite levels and low nitrate... .I also have an Ocean Clear canister filter with 7 lbs carbon, which I change out every few months, a Lifegard upright ql 40 sterilizer which works great and a super neat FV1 tall bag filter system from Aquatic Eco Systems in Florida which runs a 25 m icron bag, easily replaceable. Well worth the $, this 6" diameter tall column filter is one of the best mechanical units around and so easy to change out. I love fish, am a carver/sculptor for the past 30 years and if you get a chance check out my Etsy page at www.Etsy.com/shop/risingtidesculpture and also my FACEBOOK business page at rising tide sculpture- check out the tank photos on this Facebook page.. .I highly recommend TruVu aquarium for any tank you want...it will be constructed with the best materials, best shipping, and will give you hours of pleasure and fun watching a living system in your home.. .Hats off to Scott and his team...richard vest/artist