Glass vs acrylic

ReefdudeAdam · Feb 8, 2021

Hi guys & girls

I’m after a custom build - struggling to find anything stock to suit the max size she will let me take up in our kitchen..

I’m in the UK so any suggestions on suppliers would also be great.
Anyone prefer acrylic to glass? Which is better in your opinion and why?

thanks

HWY61 · Feb 8, 2021

I’ve only ever used glass but I have read that acrylic lasts longer because you won’t have to worry about the seals breaking down after ten years. Also, for smaller tanks it isn’t a big deal but, on massive ones, thick glass will give everything behind it a green tint.

Chasenm · Feb 8, 2021

I only run acrylic tanks if possible, the minor scratches you get really aren’t noticeable unless you’re looking for them. Better clarity, ability to move it or get it on the stand alone, and much lower risk of catastrophic damage are the big pros for me. If you’re a person who will notice any tiny scratch, and aren’t comfortable with a little bowing in the front pane then it might not be for you.

zalick · Feb 8, 2021

Ive always had glass. For small tanks it's great, large tanks not so much IMO. I had a 300g glass from marineland. There were known quality control issues and I experienced it. Tiny bubbles in the seams became big bubbles exposed to the water side. I literally had nightmares about the seams bursting. When they got frequent enough, I said forget this and I ended up giving it away for free.

I now have a 300g acrylic. It scratches when you look at it wrong. But like @Chasenm said, you can't see them unless you look. I was very bothered when I had my first scratch. Now I could care less about shallow ones. I still do my best but I don't worry about it like I did.

Acrylic is super clear and the refraction number is high so you don't see scratches on the water side like you do with glass.

I'd absolutely go with acrylic again for any large tank.

fade2black · Feb 8, 2021

HWY61 said:
I’ve only ever used glass but I have read that acrylic lasts longer because you won’t have to worry about the seals breaking down after ten years. Also, for smaller tanks it isn’t a big deal but, on massive ones, thick glass will give everything behind it a green tint.

If it uses low iron glass it won't have the green tint. That goes for any size glass tank.