Can't decide: Acrylic or Glass?

[Breakthecycle2]

I'm looking to upgrade my Elos system, but am not going to spend 8K on a new one, just for a bigger size. My choices are a 3/4" rimless glass tank for $2K or an acrylic tank for $1200. I know it's said that acrylic scratches easy, but what I will see my starfire glass seems to also scratch relatively easy as well. The dimensions will be 72x26x20.

 

[J Rog]

That's a hard one. But I'm pretty sure acrylic scratches much easier then the starfire.. I have a starfire panel on my tank and haven't had scratching issues. I would go work glass if the money isn't an issue

 

[J Rog]

*With glass

 

[thedasher]

I would definitely go with acrylic because it will NEVER break, and if you get scratches and later on want to sell the tank you can just buff out the scratches and it will be as good as new.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Glass. In a reef with rock, corals and sand that are all abrasive, acrylic scratches extremely easy. Pick up one grain if sand on your cleaning magnet and you are in deep you know what. Glass tanks rarely if ever break when set up and levelled properly. I have seen more acrylic tanks leak than glass due to poor stand construction or poor gluing/bonding of the joints.

 

[footballdude2k3]

Glass, without a second thought.

 

[soumya deep]

Acrylic is the worst choice!!!!!!!!!!!!

the look and appeal of a glass tank , such as ADA made aquariums are far better than any edge glowing acrylic tanks , but glass tanks should be joined very carefully , with neat and tidy silicon powder ,

If you see any spots of silicon on the glass surface ,then just rub the surface with glass powder, and scrap the surface very carefully , with a sharp blade

 

[danangelo]

Glass rimless is the way to go...

 

[Oscaror]

I'd go with acrylic, but that's just me. I'm a barebottom kind of guy and don't want the rocks touching the walls, so scratches are not a problem. I'd have GSP growing on the bottom so any scratches on the bottom will just get covered.

 

[760mason]

Glass.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Glass hands down. I had one acrylic tank and I was so paranoid with scratching it I ended up breaking it down.

Also triggers, urchins, and a few others will scratch up acrylic

 

[larryl]

Glass hands down. I had a acrylic tank and it got scratched up both inside and out. However I liked how light the tank was.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I figured most of you guys would say glass. I'm just PO because I just spent $4K on this Elos system 10 months ago. I'm moving into a house and I want to take advantage by upgrading, but didn't want to break the bank.

 

[J Rog]

Sell the Elos to make up some of the money

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Sell the Elos to make up some of the money

I've been trying but only on craigslist locally. The low balls I get are just absurd.

 

[bratz79]

Glass

 

[ethridge78]

If it were me it would be acrylic I have a glass tank know and I move allot the weight is a big difference to me being a 300gal and I never really had a problem with scratches just have to be really careful but its all down to what you prefer .Good luck on the sale

 

[fishroomlady]

I would say glass. My first reef was acrylic - I love the clarity of a beautiful scratch-free acrylic tank but mine did scratch very easily and mistakes happen. If you're prepared to be extremely careful - you could do acrylic. Like others have said, it's ultimately up to you

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I'm so confused.

 

[ReeferEric]

ALL GLASS. Few things I would go with acrylic.