Glass or Acrylic

[wsoldier]

ACRYLIC... been using them since 1991... still have 3 120g acrylic tanks that are over 20 yrs old, and can be buffed to look like new! Have/had 120s, 200, 300, 450 and 500g tanks... you could not give me a large glass tank!
Most of the people that will tell you ‘how bad’ acrylic is, have never had one.
It is not that hard to avoid scratches, but the good news is that they CAN be sanded without draining. Scratched glass is scratched forever!

Reviving this thread since I'm debating the same as the OP but in the 4-500G range. I'm curious @albano what your tips are for maintaining acrylic over the long run if you don't mind sharing?

@OP: What did you decide? Thanks.

 

[C_AWOL]

Reviving this thread since I'm debating the same as the OP but in the 4-500G range. I'm curious @albano what your tips are for maintaining acrylic over the long run if you don't mind sharing?

@OP: What did you decide? Thanks.

I would recommend going with acrylic in that size range tbh due to structural superiority, lower weight, and better insulation

If you opt for thicker than neccesary acrylic there will be little to no bow which in turn greatly reduces the potential for scratches (ie 1" vs 3/4" or higher depending on length and more importantly height)

For acrylic maintenance, might magnets are your best friend, period.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

Acrylic is only good for huge aquariums, monster builds.

 

[IKD]

Acrylic is lighter, clearer to look through, scratches easier, and doesn't have silicon seams that fail.
Glass is heavier, scratches less easily, has seams that can fail but is more durable during algae scraping.

I hope everyone could give straight pros/cons like this versus personal preferences. Kudos!

PS
I have an 8ft euro-braced glass tank that’s better than everyone else’s tanks and I’m always right because my mom said so.

 

[DE FISH]

Glass !!!

 

[albano]

I'm curious @albano what your tips are for maintaining acrylic over the long run if you don't mind sharing

My main tip for all aquarium owners is NEVER leave a magnet cleaner on your tank! Everyone, young and old, is fascinated and ‘attracted’ to them… pretty much a guaranteed scratch!
Otherwise, as I’ve said many times… I don’t want a glass tank, even for free!

So after over 30 years of acrylic tanks, besides my newer tanks, I still have 3 acrylic tanks 120-130g, that were purchased between 1994 and 2006 that can look like brand new (presently used as holding tanks, as I’m getting ready to move). Novus kit and a buffer is all it takes, not to mention, that I (at 70 years old, and a 140lb weakling) can place the 130g tank on a stand by myself. I’ve been able to drill and re-plumb these tanks multiple times.

As I’ve also said many times… most people that think Glass is king, have never had an acrylic tank but the people that have acrylic tanks have had glass tanks and have no desire to go back!

 

[Steven91]

Reviving this thread since I'm debating the same as the OP but in the 4-500G range. I'm curious @albano what your tips are for maintaining acrylic over the long run if you don't mind sharing?

@OP: What did you decide? Thanks.

I havent moved forward yet (the whole pandemic thing kind of screw somethings up) but I am leaning more towards acrylic partly due to weight