prdubois
Check out my 225gal: https://www.reef2reef.com/th
Has anyone heard about or used these guys?
http://www.customaquariums.com/
http://www.customaquariums.com/
Custom Aquariums
- Thread starter prdubois
- Start date
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Lowell Lemon
2500 Club Member
No experience with Custom Aquariums but their claims about acrylic versus glass are not quite factual in several areas. Making claims that the choice of acrylic is a choice for several "fatal flaws" is just marketing nonsense. Each material has its requirement both for fabrication and use. And to be fair I have had more failures from glass tanks over the years than acrylic and I have sold hundreds of both types. That said I love quality aquariums of both types! The key word being quality.
First of all acrylic is always clearer and transmits more light with less distortion than glass. That is a fact born out by the light transmission percentages between the two materials. Most large public aquariums are constructed with acrylic for many reasons. The main reason is liability and safety. My insurance company would not write a policy for me to manufacture glass aquariums but they did for acrylic with no problem at all.
Slight air bubbles ( I do mean slight) in the joints are not a problem unless the material was not cut flat and square and all saw marks removed before assembly. Quality manufacturers strive for as bubble free joints as possible. It is always a source of pride for the fabricators to have as flawless a delivery as possible.
Also the use of over the counter solvents will not provide the same strength as proprietary mixes using high purity chemicals. Solvent welded joints are impervious to the chemicals that attack silicone seals in glass aquariums (popular fish medications with methylene blue as an example).
The claim that water absorbs into the acrylic is correct to a point at about 2 to 4 percent adsorption if memory serves. I would have to consult the manufacturer spec sheets again for the exact numbers. But the claim that bacteria and other chemicals from your tank would become air born in the process is not even a consideration given the open areas of any aquarium glass or otherwise. Again marketing nonsense.
None of the current manufactured cell cast acrylic produced in North America will yellow due to U.V. inhibitors present in the acrylic sheet. This is a thing of the long distant past.
The only reason for distortion problems in glass or acrylic would be the incorrect thickness of material used in construction with a large deflection in the face panel being the result.
Acrylic will scratch easier than glass but is from 7 to 16 times stronger in resisting impact. Acrylic can be refinished to remove scratches. Try that with glass which will scratch as well.
Acrylic is thermally more efficient than glass and will hold the water temperature better in all situations.
In the end the choice is purely a matter of design and function and both materials make for great long lasting aquariums when used in side the limits of both products.
If you are like me I tend to be attracted to the newer design Asian or European glass tank designs that are Low Iron high clarity glass and a rimless design. They look fantastic and provide easy access to the aquarium for maintenance and cooler operating temperatures. Many are made of float glass so they can be drilled with the proper process.
Wish you well in your selection of a product and manufacturer.
First of all acrylic is always clearer and transmits more light with less distortion than glass. That is a fact born out by the light transmission percentages between the two materials. Most large public aquariums are constructed with acrylic for many reasons. The main reason is liability and safety. My insurance company would not write a policy for me to manufacture glass aquariums but they did for acrylic with no problem at all.
Slight air bubbles ( I do mean slight) in the joints are not a problem unless the material was not cut flat and square and all saw marks removed before assembly. Quality manufacturers strive for as bubble free joints as possible. It is always a source of pride for the fabricators to have as flawless a delivery as possible.
Also the use of over the counter solvents will not provide the same strength as proprietary mixes using high purity chemicals. Solvent welded joints are impervious to the chemicals that attack silicone seals in glass aquariums (popular fish medications with methylene blue as an example).
The claim that water absorbs into the acrylic is correct to a point at about 2 to 4 percent adsorption if memory serves. I would have to consult the manufacturer spec sheets again for the exact numbers. But the claim that bacteria and other chemicals from your tank would become air born in the process is not even a consideration given the open areas of any aquarium glass or otherwise. Again marketing nonsense.
None of the current manufactured cell cast acrylic produced in North America will yellow due to U.V. inhibitors present in the acrylic sheet. This is a thing of the long distant past.
The only reason for distortion problems in glass or acrylic would be the incorrect thickness of material used in construction with a large deflection in the face panel being the result.
Acrylic will scratch easier than glass but is from 7 to 16 times stronger in resisting impact. Acrylic can be refinished to remove scratches. Try that with glass which will scratch as well.
Acrylic is thermally more efficient than glass and will hold the water temperature better in all situations.
In the end the choice is purely a matter of design and function and both materials make for great long lasting aquariums when used in side the limits of both products.
If you are like me I tend to be attracted to the newer design Asian or European glass tank designs that are Low Iron high clarity glass and a rimless design. They look fantastic and provide easy access to the aquarium for maintenance and cooler operating temperatures. Many are made of float glass so they can be drilled with the proper process.
Wish you well in your selection of a product and manufacturer.
