Acrylic or Glass for SPS Tank

fijiblue

Active member
I know this has been asked atleast a thousand times, so I figured one more wouldnt hurt. I am upgrading my 10gal sps to a 30gal (I live in a small townhouse) and I can't decide on glass or acrylic. It is going on the 2nd story so glass scares me a bit. On the other hand, I've seen what halides will do to acrylic. Any suggestions?
 
I've had a few glass tanks break on me in the past. One happened to be a 30gal. Im sure they are fine, but I just seem to have bad luck with them.
 
I've got a 90 gallon standard with no top bracing at all acrylic. There is a little bit of a noticable bow in the front and the back. Its about 1/2". I've had it up about year. A few minor scratches so far thats it.

FTSe_030706.jpg
 
Ok I will agree that it is possible to break a tank. I had a 150 pop a seam. 30" deep tank, 5/8 inch glass.

The major failure with tanks is the stand is unleveled.

I have a tank on order now, with low iron glass. but it is 3/4 inch. I am not sure if it is worth the extra effort to get starfire with such a thin tank. It may be, I would continue to ask around. But acrylic, did you ever try to get coraline algae off acrylic, you can but it really scratches easy. Good luck.
 
I use a credit card to remove the coraline... Its a little work I will admit but it comes off without scratching the acrylic
 
I couldnt agree with you more on the cleaning of acrylic. I think I might go with glass for the sake of money and scratching.

cwegescheide - nice tank by the way.
 
I've had a 29 gallon acrylic and glass aquarium and I will go with glass from now on. Acrylic scratches WAY too easy.
 
Huge fan of glass but one day I noticed how uncool the plastic trims look on them and decided to go with acrylic (which has no trims) for a cleaner look. JMO ;)
 
Huge fan of glass but one day I noticed how uncool the plastic trims look on them and decided to go with acrylic (which has no trims) for a cleaner look. JMO

I totally agree but I guess if you have a custom glass tank built you don't have to have them either.. I had a custom acrylic tank built and so far I am very happy with it. I've got a few (bearly noticeable scratches) in it so far. Only time will tell but so far soo good.

Chris
 
I got my acrylic 90 gallon used for a good price. But knowing what I know now I would never never never get another acrylic. ,Especially for sps where high flow turns ordinary substrate into sandpaper over time. not to mention small starfish, snails, and "acrylic safe" magnet cleaners. they all play a roll in slowly degrading the surface. scratch remover kits don't quite cut it. I am tired of tiptoeing around my acrylic tank. The only exception I would make is for a look down.
 
When will they discover the key for gluing acrylic and glass together!?!? I would love to have a system with an acrylic back and bottom with a glass front and sides!
 
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