Acrylic versus Glass

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6865819#post6865819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AcroSteve
It will depend a lot on your attitude and situation.

With an acrylic tank, I think you really need to be more regular and mythodical about the maint. As I understand it, you do not want to let the acrylic tank get too far ahead of your cleaning schedule.
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He hit the nail on the head.
I have plain glass and acrylic tanks, and spend time around a low iron glass tank. I prefer acrylic tanks, they look so much better. I stay on top of the maintainance, and try not to be clumsy in and around the tanks, and scratches haven't really been a headache yet. I like to know that I can basically "renew" my tank every time I move if I need to, by buffing it out after its broken down. I've done it before.

If you can afford it, and are still unsure, you may want to get a low iron glass tank. You'll have the best of both worlds then, minus the strength of acrylic.
 
Went with low iron glass and had proffesionals move it for me. I am realistic with up keep issues. That said, a broken tank still scares me. I did have two floor drains put in when my house was built under the fishtank.
 
I've had well over a dozen tanks that were over 150 gallons in size and some as large as 750 gallons and for large tanks I'll take acrylic. Yes they scrath easier, and yes they can melt with metal halides if you are not careful, but I trust acrylic more then a glass tank and acrylic is still clearer then low iron glass, not to mention the weight diference. Oh and glass scratches too don't forget that. I had a 150 glass tank that looked like poop after my son run the magnet with a piece of crushed coral on it, good luck trying to buff out glass.
 
Good debate here. Still haven't spent the money, so bring it on. If I go glass I will be going low iron glass. I am still very much leaning towards Will at AO. Can urchins, starfish or other live stock scratch acrylic ??? Also, doesn't coralline gravitate to acrylic surfaces faster than glass surfaces ????
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6954613#post6954613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JackRent
Can urchins, starfish or other live stock scratch acrylic ???
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From what I have read, urchins will leave marks in acrylic tanks...

Also, doesn't coralline gravitate to acrylic surfaces faster than glass surfaces ????
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Coralline does like to grow on acrylic but I am pretty sure it's really bad on "solid" pieces like PVC or colored acrylic...
 
why would a glass tank just bust? i can only think of 2 reasons. 1) it had extremely weak seams and little to no bracing
2) the glass was far to thin and gave out with the pressure fromt he water.
in either case that is strictly a poorly built tank. its has nothing to do with glass being weak or not as strong as acrylic. if an acrylic tank was constructed with these same inadequate materials and methods, it'd be just as likely to bust. on that topic of strength, it doesnt have anything to do with glass or acrylic, it has to do with the builder.
 
Stick with glass. I keep buying acrylic tanks for my reef tanks and everytime a piece of rock falls or a bit of sand gets wedged in my "glass" cleaner I swear that I will never again buy an acrylic tank. What gets me is the idea that I will lose some (even the smallest amount) of those great colors that I work so hard to get from my corals. And. . . everytime, when I'm planning a larger venture, I somehow sucker myself into buying another acrylic tank. Do it for me--buy glass!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6955784#post6955784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redrunblue
What gets me is the idea that I will lose some (even the smallest amount) of those great colors that I work so hard to get from my corals.
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2 words... Low Iron...

If you get 1/2" Starphire its just as good if not even better then acrylic... Trust me I will be the first to say when I heard about low iron glass vs reg float glass I didn't believe it... When I ordered my tank and got low iron I thought to myself did I just pay extra for something that I am really not going to be able to tell a difference on ?? When I saw it in person I can tell you it's worth it... I have 3/4 low iron so with the 1/4" thicker glass there is more iron then starphire 1/2" would have but the 3/4" low iron compared to normal float glass is like night and day... I have 1/2" starphire euro-bracing and WOW, its crystal clear... I kinda wish I would have went a little small and gone with Starphire, but I think once I get the 600gal stocked I will forgive myself :p
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6955161#post6955161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xdusty6920
why would a glass tank just bust? i can only think of 2 reasons. 1) it had extremely weak seams and little to no bracing
2) the glass was far to thin and gave out with the pressure fromt he water.
in either case that is strictly a poorly built tank. its has nothing to do with glass being weak or not as strong as acrylic. if an acrylic tank was constructed with these same inadequate materials and methods, it'd be just as likely to bust. on that topic of strength, it doesnt have anything to do with glass or acrylic, it has to do with the builder.
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I agree with you 110%... If a tank "bursts" then the tank was built under spec... I would hope that the tank is somewhat "overbuilt" so that something like that would not even be possible unless influenced by something/someone 3rd party...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6954613#post6954613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JackRent
Good debate here. Still haven't spent the money, so bring it on. If I go glass I will be going low iron glass. I am still very much leaning towards Will at AO. Can urchins, starfish or other live stock scratch acrylic ??? Also, doesn't coralline gravitate to acrylic surfaces faster than glass surfaces ????
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I've never had a problem with any echinoderms or mollusks. They have never scratched any of my tanks with their jaws. Coraline does adhere to acrylic far more, but It seems to come off just as easy IME.

I have had a few friends who had bad experiences with AO. Things may have changed though.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6957340#post6957340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tacocat
I have had a few friends who had bad experiences with AO. Things may have changed though.
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Mind going into details ??
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6955161#post6955161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xdusty6920
why would a glass tank just bust? i can only think of 2 reasons. 1) it had extremely weak seams and little to no bracing
2) the glass was far to thin and gave out with the pressure fromt he water.
in either case that is strictly a poorly built tank. its has nothing to do with glass being weak or not as strong as acrylic. if an acrylic tank was constructed with these same inadequate materials and methods, it'd be just as likely to bust. on that topic of strength, it doesnt have anything to do with glass or acrylic, it has to do with the builder.
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Resurrection time.

The joint seam on acrylic tanks is significantly stronger than the joint seam on glass. Acrylic tanks are chemically bonded. Glass tanks are held together with flexible glue.
 
theres a guy on here w/ a glass tank thats lasted 30 plus years. I had to move a 65g tank full of substrate w/ 75g glass tank by myself off a stand clean it and they are solid quite a workout ...and I deadlift 400+lbs

I cleaned a little acrylic tank once -put it on its side and power washed the inside real quick and noticed the side was scratched just from sitting for that second

thing with the glass is it gets really heavy in the bigger sizes and just a little less expensive as an acrylic reef ready.

so when I upgrade I'll prob go acrylic cuz I never have anyone to help me move stuff around, just as expensive for a 252g delivered to my door, reef ready --

i'll just have to make sure I have a good acrylic magnet and keep any rock WAY AWAY from the front wall
 
it was really a pain to clean this without scratching the tank!
DSC00515.jpg
 
acrylic for large aquariums and glass for small aquariums.
acrylic does scartch, but just keep the rock away from the front and the sides and you will be fine.i just don't want 800gallons of water all over the floor. The wife would kill me. So i would lean towards acrylic if your going with a big aquarium. Just my 2 cents
 
So who are reputable builders of both acrylic and glass aquariums in the 180 plus sizes subject of this forum?

Such an endless discussion almost makes feel glad that I can't afford a new tank now in either material...

Omar
 
What kind of glass are ALL GLASS aquariums made from? Just plain regular glass? Where does one get one of these "starfire" glass tanks?
 
I dont know about you guys but most larger tanks ive seen on RC are made from glass. I have a new 560g and it took 6 people to move. My question is how often are you guys moving tanks around? If in 5 years from now you need to move it who cares? You break out a 6 pack and have a party. I have gone the acrylic route and HATED Hated Hated it !!!! The guy that built my tank has the same exact tank as mine and is going on 20+ years with no problems. I got low iron glass and saved 1500 on not going acrylic.
 
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