I want to purchase a 24 gallon tank and the only way I can get one is by buying online. I found an online store where I could place an order for an acrylic tank (they will ship to PR) and also could order either a JBJ Nano 24 or AquaPod from nanotuners. What kind of tank (acrylic or glass) would you recommend and why?
Acrylic vs. glass - Which one?
- Thread starter Econ
- Start date
Nano_reeflover
Reefer
I just posted this on another thread, but I'll post it again here. I HATE acrylic. Look at it, it scratches. Think about it, it scratches. Touch it, it scratches.
DarkXerox
New member
I'd have to disagree. Having acrylic made the tank very easy to move back home from my dorm. Even then I felt that it was a little heavy. I haven't had many problems with scratching mainly because I am extremely careful. But go with whatever is most easy to get. Glass tanks scratch too, so it really depends how precise you are.
madnav87
New member
Another problem with glass is that it contains silica, which is the material that diatoms make their"shells" from. So with acrylic, there is much less silica in the water, and therefore less of a chance of a dangerous algae bloom.
As long as you are careful, you shouldnt have any problems with scratching (I work at a LFS and almost all our tanks are acrylic, and theres almost no scratches )
As long as you are careful, you shouldnt have any problems with scratching (I work at a LFS and almost all our tanks are acrylic, and theres almost no scratches )
a 10g tank and a 10g acrylic tank are weightless regard less- but if ur tanking 55g glass vs 55g acrylic is different. Like i said, larger tanks arebetter in acrylic- my glass 150 took 4 ppl to move. My stores 1500g acrylic tank took 5ppl to move.
choice is up to each individual, but to pay an the extra money for acrylic sometimes isnt that great. I personally enjoy glass better b/c of the clarity over time. But acrylic has its benefits too, like i said, its individual choices
I think its hard to say which is better unles we know what the persons prefernces are
philagothos
New member
The silica in glass is bound and cannot cause algae blooms. Otherwise, the glass would be slowly disintegrating and then fall apart. It would also be hard to imagine that anyone would use glass aquariums if this were the case. For that matter the aquarium makers (whose primary material is glass) would be out of business.
Both materials have their place. Personally, I prefer glass for the display and acrylic for the sump. Glass is much harder to scratch and acrylic is easier to drill and add baffles. One other note, acrylic scratches can be fixed, it's just an expensive pain in the butt.
Re: Acrylic vs. glass - Which one?
Acrylic is a better insulator then glass. For my cold water lower light preferring anemones, acrylic with a tiny chiller. For my little coral tank, glass dumps heat quicker when the ambient temps are lower then tank water
Weight and maintenance are important, but in my humble opinion take a back seat to thermal properties. Base your selection on ambient temps, lighting, target critters, etc.
In a nano, I think about temperatures and the control there of....
Acrylic is a better insulator then glass. For my cold water lower light preferring anemones, acrylic with a tiny chiller. For my little coral tank, glass dumps heat quicker when the ambient temps are lower then tank water
Weight and maintenance are important, but in my humble opinion take a back seat to thermal properties. Base your selection on ambient temps, lighting, target critters, etc.
Cinderblock
Premium Member
I have had both. If you are careful with acrylic than its perfect. Glass is ok but its easier to break.
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