Why not acrylic?????

[BigKid4788]

Without having any sand/substrate what else would cause scratches? My only concern is scratching. I can't think of how else it would get scratched.
Appreciate everyone's feedback

 

[shoelaceike]

If you look at it the wrong way, it will scratch.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Mine isn't scratched.... just sayin'.

 

[GoVols]

Mine isn't scratched.... just sayin'.

They "can" yellow out and bow over time

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Guess you can choose between green glass or yellow acrylic. I'm just saying I love mine. I have some glass tanks as well, and they are indeed easier to clean if you let crud get on there.... I don't allow that to happen to my acrylics. My acrylic is thick, so bowing isn't an issue. Scratches don't HAVE to happen, but as I said, you have to know if you're the type to be a little more careful to avoid such occurrences. If you're not careful, you'll scratch it. Mine isn't scratched.

 

[GoVols]

Guess you can choose between green glass or yellow acrylic. I'm just saying I love mine. I have some glass tanks as well, and they are indeed easier to clean if you let crud get on there.... I don't allow that to happen to my acrylics. My acrylic is thick, so bowing isn't an issue. Scratches don't HAVE to happen, but as I said, you have to know if you're the type to be a little more careful to avoid such occurrences. If you're not careful, you'll scratch it. Mine isn't scratched.

It's all good.
I was just poking at you.
I have the soft clear starphire glass (no green) but have to be very careful around it too.
Elos has a new clear glass that is as scratch resistant as green glass.

 

[hart24601]

To sum it up so far, one person really likes acrylic and keeps posting it and everyone else says glass.



Just giving you a hard time lionfish

 

[Reefnewb]

Without having any sand/substrate what else would cause scratches? My only concern is scratching. I can't think of how else it would get scratched.
Appreciate everyone's feedback

Some people leave there mag floats or whatever they use in the tank and then it grows feather dusters or other calcium structures on it... which will scratch them. But that happens with glass too

 

[Lionfish Lair]

To sum it up so far, one person really likes acrylic and keeps posting it and everyone else says glass.



Just giving you a hard time lionfish

Hmmmm, the way I see it is, one person says it's easy to scratch if you don't have discipline, but that it doesn't have to happen as hers doesn't have scratches. Everyone else is saying magic fairies come and do it when you're not looking.

#bulls-in-a-china-shop

 

[MaiReef]

Acrylic scratches come out and most little ones cannot even be seen when it is full of water. I don't see a benefit to glass at all. Acrylic don't leak, last longer, and will not shatter.

 

[Epicreefster]

Without having any sand/substrate what else would cause scratches? My only concern is scratching. I can't think of how else it would get scratched.
Appreciate everyone's feedback

Paper towels! No I'm not joking, a paper towel will scratch acrylic. You only see it the first time because after that the whole tank is a swirl of micro scratches. Also fish, rocks while aquascaping, the algae magnet, watches and rings, buttons and zippers from clothing, kids, fingernails, and anything else you can think of.

Larger acrylic tanks also bow over time. I would say you can't pay me to take an acrylic tank but I'll take your money and throw the tank out so yes you can pay me to take one!

I build glass tanks for displays and acrylic for specialty shapes like curves or plankton culture where they are not displays. So yea acrylic has its place but not for a display tank.

 

[luke33]

I have two acrylic tank's, and have had glass setups, starfire...etc over the years. I like them all but the reason i have acrylic now is due to weight. It was much easier moving it into the basement fish room vs a glass tank. Will it scratch, ofcourse but you just have to be careful. Its been set up for about two years, barebottom and there are very minor scratches. I would imagine it could be buffed out really easily. The other thing is do you have wild kids that will be around? If so, maybe glass is the way to go.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Acrylic vs glass will always be one of those things that some people hate and some people love. I have both types and love certain features of both. Different ones are appropriate for different environments/people.

 

[BigKid4788]

I have two acrylic tank's, and have had glass setups, starfire...etc over the years. I like them all but the reason i have acrylic now is due to weight. It was much easier moving it into the basement fish room vs a glass tank. Will it scratch, ofcourse but you just have to be careful. Its been set up for about two years, barebottom and there are very minor scratches. I would imagine it could be buffed out really easily. The other thing is do you have wild kids that will be around? If so, maybe glass is the way to go.

No kids or pets. I know the pros and cons of each. I've worked with both when I services tanks for a living. Most of my scratches came from sand/substrate. A lfs that i worked at has a 300 gallon acrylic. It's scratched to hell but for the 4 yrs I worked there it was immaculate