Glass or acrylic tank?

Bperau · Jun 16, 2017

Been thinking a lot about my next build and I know I'm within a year and a half of starting it. I know I'm dead set on a 8ft long tank and want to know some opinions for or against acrylic. I have a chance to get a new 8ft acrylic tank pretty cheap but i don't want to be disappointed down the road

jmerideth1 · Jun 16, 2017

Acrylic is lighter so if you decide to throw it away it won't cost as much.

aquaman30k · Jun 16, 2017

Be prepared to baby the panels. Acrylic scratches very easily however you can get polishing pads for magnet cleaners that will buff as they clean.

Breadman03 · Jun 17, 2017

Acrylic can be polished to perfection without taking out of service. Honestly, I think that at an 8 foot length, acrylic is almost the only option. You're just getting to a point where glass tank share of the market begins to rapidly diminish.

I would thoroughly examine the tank with a focus on build quality at the joints and proper material thickness. While the amount of scratches will certainly have an impact on desirability, it is worthless to have flawless panels with shoddy seams.

Bperau · Jun 17, 2017

Not really concerned with throwing it away. If I were to go glass I would be a newly built tank by someone down here that has a high reputation and does great work. I just have the chance to go get a new acrylic one for $900 with overflows. But I'll make sure I look at the joints if I decide to go that route

Cory · Jun 17, 2017

With my 240, 5 men had problems getting it in the basement. Glass is very heavy. Plus its full of scratches because it was used, cannot be buffed out.

Acrylic is also stronger. Id go with acrylic.

mfinn · Jun 17, 2017

I vote glass.
Acrylic scratches too easy.

SJ-reefer · Jun 17, 2017

I had acrylic once, it scratched so easily. I was so upset I couldn't wait to start a new glass tank. Acrylic is much lighter and you could pay someone to come polish it back to glory. I just baby my glass tank when cleaning to prevent scratching it up.

BigKid4788 · Jun 17, 2017

Just ordered an 8' acrylic. My deciding factor was the lesser of two evils.
1. Scratches that can be buffed out w/o draining the water
2. Seam fails and I have water on my floor.

I've never owned an acrylic tank but I have worked on many in my younger year in the aquarium maintenance business. I also will be going bare bottom with the tank so further reduce possible scratches

jmerideth1 · Jun 17, 2017

Bperau said:
Not really concerned with throwing it away. If I were to go glass I would be a newly built tank by someone down here that has a high reputation and does great work. I just have the chance to go get a new acrylic one for $900 with overflows. But I'll make sure I look at the joints if I decide to go that route

Sorry I was being too flip I just really don't like acrylic because of scratching issues, potential seams bursting ( although seams can actually be stronger) and the potential of heaters melting right through them. Glass in a tank of that size can be enormously heavy and while less prone too scratching they can be practicality impossible to remove. An 8 ft tank sounds really exciting too build and I wish you luck no matter which way you go !!