Glass vs acrylic tanks
- Thread starter Mrfresh
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Don't much care for the idea of having to break my tank down every 5-10 years to buff it out. I prefer glass, using Starfire Glass, not regular glass.
Mrfresh
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It's funny that I made this poll but I haven't answered it yet. I have a 300 gallon acrylic tank which I love be I am able to move it by my self and I know how to polish it if I did starch it, but I have the really closed top. My glass 90 is great but when I moved it myself it was almost to much for just me. I like that it will never now on me but I have that the starches it came with will never go away....and I've had my 180 split open on me so I check my glue seems once a week now. Lol
What to do what to do
What to do what to do
Eienna
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I'm currently thinking I prefer acrylic for anything over 90g. They're more resistant to developing leaks, will generally kind of "warn" you (crazing, bowing, etc) before it gives - if glass is going to go it does all at once -, and they are much lighter than glass so I can move it myself if need be. I had to get a 100g long out of my bedroom by myself and I had to cut the silicone out and remove it panel by panel. I couldn't lift it. I'm shocked I got my 125 into its place...thinner glass, I guess.
rogersb
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I had an acrylic once. Cleaning it sucked and was a constant chore. Algae on the tank had to be hand scrubbed and it had a top that made it difficult to get my arm in all the way to the bottom.
Eight
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I'll never do acrylic again unless it's for very small tanks or if I am in a semi temporary living situation where I'd have to move the tank.
Being able to take a razor blade to glass is too big a benefit!
Being able to take a razor blade to glass is too big a benefit!
kes
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I'm an acrylic guy, even for sumps. Leaks horrifies me, and with silicone, it's always a likely possibly in time. Better quality obviously with higher end tanks (i.e., Elos, Leemar, etc), but other tanks are dangerous. Even my 10g glass tank (less than few yrs old), used as auto top off reservoir, for frag tank leaked and caused major hassle for me. For sumps, I look for used, ugly, unwanted acrylic tanks, that is reputably made.
I've had my 120g mixed reef for 9 years on carpet floor, and keep it relatively spotless. You have to be diligent and careful when cleaning it. I accidentally scratched it at night while using algae scraper, as it flipped to the outer side! Needless to say, I learn never to use it at night when the lights are out.
Good thing with acrylic is that you can remove most scratches (Lifeguard), even with all corals/fish inside, though you can't use the polish.
Compared to glass, it's much lighter, optically clearer (though starfire is nice), and best of all, no silicone! ;-)
I've had my 120g mixed reef for 9 years on carpet floor, and keep it relatively spotless. You have to be diligent and careful when cleaning it. I accidentally scratched it at night while using algae scraper, as it flipped to the outer side! Needless to say, I learn never to use it at night when the lights are out.
Good thing with acrylic is that you can remove most scratches (Lifeguard), even with all corals/fish inside, though you can't use the polish.
Compared to glass, it's much lighter, optically clearer (though starfire is nice), and best of all, no silicone! ;-)
I have a 150 gallon acrylic and love that I can drill it anywhere I want. I do think glass is better to look threw. But far as scratches I like to remove them were glass you cant. My tank don't scratch easy and MR.clean pads works great to clean them easy.
Eight
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I don't quite see the ability to buff scratches out of acrylic tanks as a benefit when compared to glass tanks which virtually never scratch in the first place.
That's said I so agree acrylic makes perfect sumps due to drill ability and use one myself.
That's said I so agree acrylic makes perfect sumps due to drill ability and use one myself.
Reef Fever
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I'm replacing my acrylic tank with a starphire tank because no matter how careful I am i always get micro scratches all over
mcarroll
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Low iron glass is relatively scratch prone too IME....still better than acrylic.
The looks of low-iron glass are absolutely worth the minor downgrade in hardness from float glass though...at least in coral tanks.
For example...
Hopefully it translates in the photo (looks correct as I post it) but the blue on these shrooms screams when you look top-down as in this shot.
These mushrooms were shot under a 16kK Maxspect Razor at 68% white, 48% blue. Not under especially blue light....I would estimate 12-14kK at most, if not closer to 10kK.
The same mushroom patch seen through the glass (plain 3/8" float glass) looks drab brown....with only a barely detectable sheen of blue.
-Matt
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DaveMorris
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I don't get why having the ability to move a tank would even weigh in on the decision of glass vs acrylic. (No pun intended) Why would you base the decision of years of viewing a tank vs a one time move that can be done easy enough with the help of some fellow reefers. Even if you had to move it two or three times, so what? Don't you have friends that are willing to help? If not you should join a local Marine Aquarium club and get some. I have had to move my 300g Leemar glass tank 4 times now and it was never difficult to get a little help. And that tank weighs 980lbs.
stylaster
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I have had both but prefer acrylic. No seams to worry about failing, tank is lighter, optically clearer. If you use the proper procautions and equipment its easy to keep scratch free. Here is a hint use a plastic that is softer then acrylic to scrap the coralline off works wonders and wont scratch it.
