Why I prefer acrylic over glass

Akida17th · Dec 17, 2015

My beautiful green gig (blue foot too!) is super bright but as you can see in the photos it appears so much duller through the glass. Now I do not have starphire but I ordered my AIO 50 acrylic and I can't wait to see how everything looks. My buddy has a 300 acrylic tank and although he pumping thousands of dollars worth of equipment the clarity of his tank is superb. Merry Christmas everyone!

eatbreakfast · Dec 17, 2015

...until it gets scratches.

Akida17th · Dec 17, 2015

Ya but the reward for me is worth the risk!

4FordFamily · Dec 17, 2015

Akida17th said:
Ya but the reward for me is worth the risk!

My acrylic tank looks like absolute crap relative to my two glass tanks due to scratches. I do like that it is lighter (and thus easier to move) and will last longer than my glass tanks (seals vs bonded).

AlexG · Dec 17, 2015

Looking at an anemone, coral, or clam from the side vs overhead cannot really be compared. The viewing angle of the animal will reveal different colors. Looking at at most animals from overhead will normally reveal colors that do not show up from the side.

TUSI · Dec 17, 2015

Every thing have its pros and cons. Glass is easier to maintain but acrylic is clearer and if it scratches can be repaired.

Akida17th · Dec 17, 2015

Sorry to hear that but I take great care with my equipment and other things. You have to plan how you are going to ensure least amount of damage on the tank. Things happen I get that but we'll see. I'm stoked!

Reefermadness73 · Dec 17, 2015

I had an acrylic tank once.............. Once

Akida17th · Dec 17, 2015

AlexG said:
Looking at an anemone, coral, or clam from the side vs overhead cannot really be compared. The viewing angle of the animal will reveal different colors. Looking at at most animals from overhead will normally reveal colors that do not show up from the side.

water surface shot was to get the true color of the animal and this was just a depiction between the two and has nothing to do with different viewing angles but merely clarity. If I had an acrylic tank for side by side shots I'd post them

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 18, 2015

Akida17th said:
water surface shot was to get the true color of the animal and this was just a depiction between the two and has nothing to do with different viewing angles but merely clarity. If I had an acrylic tank for side by side shots I'd post them

Yes, but angle of view relative to the light source also impacts apparent color. What you are posting side by side is not just the effect of the glass. That angle makes a huge difference for many organisms, including my gigantea. Try it on yours.

When I look closely at a number of green organisms in my tank, they look more colorful the higher the angle even when the higher angle is through MORE thickness of glass.

bobbyM · Dec 18, 2015

3 years from now, you will want to go back to a glass tank.

masterbuilder · Dec 18, 2015

Reefermadness73 said:
I had an acrylic tank once.............. Once

Me too...once.

granocompany · Dec 18, 2015

i had one, and want to get it again but not easy to clean, I have at the moment two optiwhite- good but not acyilyc ???

Lionfish Lair · Dec 18, 2015

I definitely love my acrylic tanks over the glass. The one thing I LOVE about glass is I can clean it with a razor. The seams are not attractive and the color is ..... not so nice. If there isn't a seam and it's "bowed", you feel like you're looking at one of the wonky mirrors at the carnival.

What are y'all up to that you would scratch up your tanks so bad? One of my acrylics is 15 years old and another I bought in 2004. I've honestly never noticed a scratch. I'm sure there are a couple, but I'd need to go look.

I just counted, out of the 14 current tanks, 1/2 are glass. The reason I still have so many glass tanks is that I have 7 JBJ All-In-Ones for quarantine. When I bought my 210g tank, I didn't even think twice and got the acrylic 5 years ago. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. When I filled it with rock, I put cardboard on the sides so I couldn't accidentally bump it. I'd also do that to fill a glass tank.

I DID scratch an acrylic once while cleaning. Got sand caught up in the mag float (which I don't use anymore). I got rid of the scratch with one of those kits, while the tank was still full of water. *POOF!* Gone. I also scratched one of the glass tanks.....the same way...... (takes me awhile to learn a lesson)..... that scratch is still there.

LOVE my acrylic. LOVE! You made a great choice.

luke33 · Dec 18, 2015

I like both starfire and acrylic tanks and have owned both for years. Currently I have two acrylic's, and honestly just due to having to carry the tank's into the basement. Can you scratch acrylic easier, sure but just use acrylic safe scrapers and magic erasers, and take your time.

Lionfish Lair · Dec 18, 2015

I would love to see a starfire tank. I've never actually seen one filled, that I'm aware of.

bobbyM · Dec 18, 2015

Micro scratches build up over time. They make the acrylic less clear, like a cheep pair of sunglasses.

Akida17th · Dec 18, 2015

scratches build up on glass too lol and I'm aware glass is more resilient

bobbyM · Dec 18, 2015

Akida17th said:
scratches build up on glass too lol

Yeah, but it takes a lot longer. Plastic scratches a lot easier. Algae also grows on plastic a lot easier.

Akida17th · Dec 18, 2015

yea probably true BUT the REWARD is worth the RISK!!! My acrylic is a nano 50 gallon so if somehow I truly don't like it because it's "scratches easy like cheap sunglasses" then I'll go back to glass probably low iron this time though.