Acrylic versus Starphire scratch resistance?

[jamie_mercer]

So I'm in the planning stages for a new reef with a much larger tank. I want at lest 300 gallons and I would like some custom work done to the floor of it. I have always had glass before but am considering acrylic as if I do use glass again it would be Starphire and I have recently read that it scratches easily. Is there any truth to this? Do any of you have experiences with either of these and if so what are they?

Thanks
:fish1:

 

[solitude127]

It does scratch easier than regular glass but no where near as easy as acrylic. I would look at my acrylic tank funny and it would scratch. With my current starphire tank, I can use a metal scraper to clean my glass and it only takes me about 30 min to do the whole tank. With my old acrylic tank, it used to take me 1/2 hour to do 1 pane and I would do it by hand because I didn't want to scratch it anymore.

 

[ReefPharmer]

starfire scratches easier than regular glass but not as easy as acrylic. Acrylic can scratch if you fart too closely to it. With that said, you can buff out acrylic and you cannot do that to starfire

 

[jamie_mercer]

What is involved in buffing out the acrylic? Does the tank have to be taken down for scratches on the inside? Are there better grades of acrylic that are more scratch resistant? In the past I have never used a scraper to clean I usually use a mag float. My primary concerns are the longevity of the tank. i.e; 10 years from now I don't want to have to worry that my tank is going to blow out from failing silicone but I also don't want a tank that's so scratched its an eyesore. Am i looking in the wrong direction and glass is just as sound as acrylic over the long term on larger tanks? Also I have a fondness for the relationship between pistol shrimp and gobies and plan to integrate a false floor in the tank with a maze between the real floor and the false with several access points for the pair to utilize.....

 

[C4rN4gE]

Go starphire. I just got done buffing an acrylic tank, and I only continued on because I got it for free. The time and effort is not worth it.

 

[sucker_fish]

I personally would go acrylic, its lighter which makes it easier to move, yes it scratches easier but like said its repairable when it scratches, I have owned both glass and acrylic, there are scrapers/scrubbers made for acrylic that wont scratch them. I currently have a 90 glass tank with a large scratch on the outside of the glass right in the center of the front so its somewhat of an eyesore that i have to live with unless I want to buy a new tank. Another thing that concerns me (maybe it shouldn't) is the fact that glass is cut by scoring it (essentially scratching it) then snapping it. Does this mean that the scratch could compromise the integrity of the front pane of glass? If it were acrylic it wouldn't and if i didnt like the looks i could get some micro-mesh or really fine sandpaper and fix it. not so much with glass...another thing that annoys me about glass is the silicone, theres a fine layer of algae that grows in between the edge of the silicone and the glass hard to clean unless you scuff up the silicone in the process...

 

[C4rN4gE]

Acrylic is weakened as soon as its scratched, so just because you can buff the scratch out, doesnt mean that you kept its integral strength intact. That info can to me from the guys at MACNA 2012 selling the acrylic scrubbers while showcasing their acrylic repair business targeting large aquariums and zoos.

 

[salty joe]

I heard that Starfire was softer than regular glass about a bazillion times, but had a hard time believing, so I asked an expert a year or two ago. Just another reef myth. Here is the reply.

Joe,
The Knoop Hardness for Starphire is 470 which is the same as for standard clear soda-lime glass. There are no real differences in the mechanical or thermal properties of Starphire as it is also a soda-lime based glass. Tempering requires a little longer cycle time, not because the temperature need to be higher, but because the low iron level makes the glass more difficult to heat up. Other fabrication steps should be no different for Starphire vs. clear glass. Let me know if you have any specific questions or concerns.
Thanks,


Wayne E. Boor, P.E.
Manager, Architectural QA
PPG Performance Glazings
The only Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Architectural Glass.

Glass Technology Center
400 Guys Run Road
Cheswick, PA 15024

P: 412-820-8605
F: 412-826-2299
E: wboor@ppg.com

 

[skimeister56]

Sounds like Mr. Boor has the credentials to know what he is talking about. I would go with his opinion. :fun2:

 

[jamie_mercer]

I have to agree. It's a 99.9% probability that I will go with Starphire. My main concern with glass was the longevity of it being a sound tank i.e; the silicone. Though in researching I've talked to several helpful people and learned a lot such as I read that acrylic tanks need to be fully supported underneath which will render the false floor I intend to install useless for aesthetic purposes. Also that Dow warranties their silicone for 100 years. If they're that confident it really says a lot. In my 75 gallon reef I used to love watching the pistol shrimp and gobies in their tunnels from underneath when I would work in the sump or just to see what they were up to, if the whole bottom had to be supported I wouldn't be able to do that and this time I plan to do the maze coupled with a web cam so I can look at them easier. I would like to thank everybody for their input. As I progress I might start a thread on my build for those interested. Again thanks to everybody.