Acrylic or Low-e

[drevnock]

I am planning a new tank purchase. I am going with a 150 gallon 60x24x25.
I can get 1/2 inch cast acrylic or the low-e glass(clear no tint) for about the same amount of cash.

Does anyone have some suggestions on which way to go?

I like the durable of glass but the light weight of acrylic.

any thoughts?

Thankx!

 

[theatrus]

My personal preference would be glass. Especially if you intend to keep the tank for a good number of years. While glass isn't as "tough" as acrylic, it is far less scratch prone. Yes glass can scratch, but acrylic much more so.

 

[leeweber85]

glass.

 

[goda]

i have acrylic... go glass

 

[jeffbrig]

I have acrylic, and I still say go acrylic. It may scratch easier, but you can be pretty darn sure you'll never come home to 150 gallons of water on your living room floor. I've seen too many stories about perfectly good glass tanks breaking a panel or leaking from a siliconed seam. Properly constructed, an acrylic tank is permanently welded into 1 piece, and the material is much harder to break than glass. If you go acrylic, choose a builder that doesn't scrimp on thickness.

 

[drevnock]

3 to 1 in favor of the glass.

Is that because of the scratchabilty of the acrylic?

Boy I didn't think this part of the decision was going to be this tough!

 

[Stidd]

Acrylic is lighter.... If you are going big, that would be a consideration. Acrylic can be buffed... Scratches removed... Yes, even underwater. Acrylic is clearer than regular glass but about the same as the starphire... Acrylic will bow and yes it can break. If you accidentally get ammonia on your acrylic, it will craze... (small cracks in the acrylic like a shattered windsheild). With acrylic, levelling is 'less' important as with glass, you will want to be sure your tank is PERFECTLY level. Acrylic will scratch easier, but glass will scratch as well. If you are REALLY careful when working with your tank, there is absolutely nothing wrong with acrylic. There are also some folks that say MH lights will 'melt' thier tank. If setup correctly, and ventilation is good, you should not have any problems with this. Acrylic will keep your tank heated better in the winter months as it is a better insulation than glass. However, this can be a disadvantage in the summer time. I've heard from both sides and met folks that are very happy with their acrylic tanks. There seems to be more maintenace with acrylic but there are benefits with both glass and acrylic.

Just some things to consider.


Guy

 

[theatrus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8130820#post8130820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drevnock
3 to 1 in favor of the glass.

Is that because of the scratchabilty of the acrylic?

Boy I didn't think this part of the decision was going to be this tough!

Its a sign that you should get both tanks.

More tanks is always better

 

[dippin61]

ive had 2 acrylics and one glass..

go glass.

both my acrylics had bowing problems after a while, and i just dont like the look through acrylic.. sometimes things become a little distorted, especially towards the corners

 

[drevnock]

The acrylic I am looking at has a lot of euro style bracing , do you think bowing will be a big problem?

 

[drummereef]

There was a thread in the large tanks forum and almost everyone voted for glass. I would do a glass tank too.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

If it's a FO aquarium you might choose acrylic.
If a reef, choose glass.

 

[Joshsmit56001]

I would say glass, scratches suck!

 

[sjm817]

Glass. Coraline algae loves to grow on plastic. Big hassle keeping Acrylic clean.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8133645#post8133645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drevnock
The acrylic I am looking at has a lot of euro style bracing , do you think bowing will be a big problem?

This answer depends 100% on who builds it. Some companies (Envision) have a reputation for building EXTREMELY SOLID TANKS. Others use the thinnest material they can that will hold water. My 72x30x27 tank is eurobraced and made entirely from 1" thick acrylic. By design, the bow along the 72" edge is less than 1/16" - essentially none. Other manufacturers make tanks of similar dimension from 1/2" acrylic with cross braces, or 3/4" with eurobracing. These will bow. It all depends on the thickness, and also the quality of acrylic sheet used.

The vast majority are going to pick glass over acrylic. For small tanks in standard sizes, I would go glass as well. For large custom-sized tanks, give me a high quality, overengineered acrylic tank. I'll sleep better at night.