220g tank - Acrylic or glass

[Deep Reef]

If you were in the market for a 220 gal dt would you buy glass or acrylic? If you were buying acrylic where would you go locally to get it?

Another question about acrylic; do they have a life? Like do they turn yellow in 5 years or become brittle? I know people that have glass tanks for over 10 years no issues. What are your thoughts?

 

[tonyyloww]

good one. I would like to know this as well.

 

[knukles55]

Glass not sure on the acrylic questions you have though

 

[Deep Reef]

The reason I'm thinking acrylic is due to the weight. I would think acrylic might be lighter but I could be wrong

 

[rovster]

That size glass no question.

 

[VWD]

acrylic on that size tank, The weight and clarity.

 

[nivram]

If you go Acrylic. The only Florida acrylic builder I know of is Living color.

 

[Outlaw843]

Depending where I was going to place it, probably acrylic though.

 

[andrewdeme]

ditto on glass, no questions asked.

 

[Deep Reef]

The plan is to have it in my den. I get alot of light into that room so I was concerned about yellowing of the acrylic. I also have to have a canopy in order to reduce the light spill over so tv can be watched.

I also thought acrylic might be cheaper.

So those that say acrylic, is there a place that is recommended?

 

[mrx66699]

Get ready for the great debate lol ....almost as bad as NSW or mix lol

I have a 540 ATM if you want to see it stop by anytime...here are some of the reasons I choose acrylic ....

Acrylic is 17x stronger than glass, softer than glass, and more flexible than glass, making it far more impact resistant and not nearly as prone to chip or crack as glass

Acrylic weighs 50% less than glass making it far more manageable to move

Acrylic insulates 20% better than glass reducing temperature flux, and saving on heating bills

Acrylic has molecularly welded, clear polished seams that literally make the tank one solid piece of material unable to leak and therefore a lot of manufacturers guarantee a lifetime against defects of workmanship

Acrylic is as clear as optical glass (at 93% transparency it passes the most light of any material) providing a noticeable difference, especially in larger tanks where normal aquarium glass adds a green tint - acrylic tanks remain crystal clear

Yes acrylic easily scratches but it is also easily removed unlike glass where scratches are permanent.

Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means that when you see a fish in an acrylic tank, the light has only be bent once or twice. Because of this, the only distortion you are likely to see is that the fish is slightly misplaced, but the size and color are true.

Glass has a different index of refraction than water. This means the as light passes through the air, then the glass, then the water to bounce off a fish and get reflected back through the water, then the glass, then the air, the light is bent four times. Each time the light is bent, the image is distorted. Colors are not quite true, position is not quite accurate, size can be distorted slightly. The thicker the glass is, the more pronounced these errors become. This means that in tanks with particularly thick walls, the fish can be significantly distorted.

Sent you the contact of a local builder and an out of state as I'm not sure if they are allowed to be posted here.....

 

[mfaso24]

How do you clean the glass of algae and coralline on acrylic though?

 

[mrx66699]

I use a 5000 or 3000 grit waterproof sand paper and just wet sand it while its buffing the inside by wrapping my inside magnet with it ....comes out clear as air cant even tell tank is there at times ....just polishes it while cleaning it and removes any scratches at the same time

 

[albano]

Get ready for the great debate lol ....almost as bad as NSW or mix lol

I have a 540 ATM if you want to see it stop by anytime...here are some of the reasons I choose acrylic ....

Acrylic is 17x stronger than glass, softer than glass, and more flexible than glass, making it far more impact resistant and not nearly as prone to chip or crack as glass

Acrylic weighs 50% less than glass making it far more manageable to move

Acrylic insulates 20% better than glass reducing temperature flux, and saving on heating bills

Acrylic has molecularly welded, clear polished seams that literally make the tank one solid piece of material unable to leak and therefore a lot of manufacturers guarantee a lifetime against defects of workmanship

Acrylic is as clear as optical glass (at 93% transparency it passes the most light of any material) providing a noticeable difference, especially in larger tanks where normal aquarium glass adds a green tint - acrylic tanks remain crystal clear

Yes acrylic easily scratches but it is also easily removed unlike glass where scratches are permanent.

Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means that when you see a fish in an acrylic tank, the light has only be bent once or twice. Because of this, the only distortion you are likely to see is that the fish is slightly misplaced, but the size and color are true.

Glass has a different index of refraction than water. This means the as light passes through the air, then the glass, then the water to bounce off a fish and get reflected back through the water, then the glass, then the air, the light is bent four times. Each time the light is bent, the image is distorted. Colors are not quite true, position is not quite accurate, size can be distorted slightly. The thicker the glass is, the more pronounced these errors become. This means that in tanks with particularly thick walls, the fish can be significantly distorted...

+1...I have had acrylic tanks since 1991... Two 130g that are over 20 yrs old are still in use, and look new...I am about to replace my 450g with a 6'x6' 600g acrylic...wouldn't take a glass tank, for free!

 

[Deep Reef]

yeah I know it's a big debate. Thanks for the info that A LOT of information. Also, thanks for the invite. I will take you up on it once I get a little closer. My plan is to move up to a larger tank but the weight of the glass tanks will impact my ability to move it into place. I thought the acrylic would be better.

PS-I saw that ATM has opened a Florida sales office. I will give them a call and also follow the leads you provided thanks again.

 

[Lacy]

+2 Everything that Matt said.

 

[Lacy]

How do you clean the glass of algae and coralline on acrylic though?

Best if you don't let it build up, but if it happens there acrylic safe plastic scrappers and magnetic cleaners. These are the ones that I used.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+24538&pcatid=24538

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+13366&pcatid=13366

 

[Stylo328]

Get ready for the great debate lol ....almost as bad as NSW or mix lol

I have a 540 ATM if you want to see it stop by anytime...here are some of the reasons I choose acrylic ....

Acrylic is 17x stronger than glass, softer than glass, and more flexible than glass, making it far more impact resistant and not nearly as prone to chip or crack as glass

Acrylic weighs 50% less than glass making it far more manageable to move

Acrylic insulates 20% better than glass reducing temperature flux, and saving on heating bills

Acrylic has molecularly welded, clear polished seams that literally make the tank one solid piece of material unable to leak and therefore a lot of manufacturers guarantee a lifetime against defects of workmanship

Acrylic is as clear as optical glass (at 93% transparency it passes the most light of any material) providing a noticeable difference, especially in larger tanks where normal aquarium glass adds a green tint - acrylic tanks remain crystal clear

Yes acrylic easily scratches but it is also easily removed unlike glass where scratches are permanent.

Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means that when you see a fish in an acrylic tank, the light has only be bent once or twice. Because of this, the only distortion you are likely to see is that the fish is slightly misplaced, but the size and color are true.

Glass has a different index of refraction than water. This means the as light passes through the air, then the glass, then the water to bounce off a fish and get reflected back through the water, then the glass, then the air, the light is bent four times. Each time the light is bent, the image is distorted. Colors are not quite true, position is not quite accurate, size can be distorted slightly. The thicker the glass is, the more pronounced these errors become. This means that in tanks with particularly thick walls, the fish can be significantly distorted.

Sent you the contact of a local builder and an out of state as I'm not sure if they are allowed to be posted here.....

Great info Matt.

Can you please send me that info as well? I am getting ready for an upgrade to a large tank and am strongly leaning towards acrylic.

 

[mlivvy]

I've always liked glass. I'm a fan of starphire glass. But, for some of the same reasons Matt posted, my next tank will be acrylic. I hate scratches. I'll take a tank down over a scratch I'm that anal about it. Glass scratches if you stare at it too long.. And to boot you can't fix it.

 

[Lacy]

This is a great product if you ever need it. Read the reviews also.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...gn=googlesem&gclid=CI3-yKPK36ECFRZ5gwoduGEEJA