Big tank owners, need your advice: glass or acrylic?
- Thread starter lagatbezan
- Start date
SethTheWineGuy
Premium Member
I have been going through the same research, questions, and internal debate on my next tank. It will be 600g. My current tank is Starfire and I've come to the conclusion to go acrylic. I'm having MRC build my tank. These guys don't skimp on quality of acrylic or the workmanship. I've seen dozens of their displays. Really polished product.
sfsuphysics
Active member
My advice, try to use one of those scratch repair kits and just see if you can fix a small portion of scratched acrylic, this should help you maybe decide on where you're going to go, if you find that it's really not too difficult then maybe you stick with acrylic, if you find that it is a major PITA for you then maybe you go glass.
My own personal experience with both is that the argument of acrylic being way clearer than glass only holds true if you actually keep the acrylic absolutely pristine, my day 1 acrylic tank looked fabulous, however a few years later with coraline growing all around the edge because those parts were a pain to get to, not so much, meanwhile my softy tank made of glass, I take a razor blade swipe swipe swipe and the tank looks like a day1 tank again and WAY nicer than the acrylic. So with that said, I would lean towards glass, do take in mind the glass thickness was 1/2" and I only at extreme angles did I really notice any green tint, which then wasn't horrible, if you go to 3/4" glass all bets might be off, although looking straight through probably won't be that much of a difference and any difference you'll just think is the norm (I really hate those side by side acrylic/glass photos)
There aren't many tanks in the 300g range that are "standard" (Marineland DD is the only one that really comes to mind right now), so that means custom, I would say your choices of manufacturers that are feasible should ultimately make you decide, for instance if you want glass and are thinking Cadlights or Glasscages... then I'd probably go with acrylic made by a monkey with a hot glue gun (aka ATM!
) over them.
My own personal experience with both is that the argument of acrylic being way clearer than glass only holds true if you actually keep the acrylic absolutely pristine, my day 1 acrylic tank looked fabulous, however a few years later with coraline growing all around the edge because those parts were a pain to get to, not so much, meanwhile my softy tank made of glass, I take a razor blade swipe swipe swipe and the tank looks like a day1 tank again and WAY nicer than the acrylic. So with that said, I would lean towards glass, do take in mind the glass thickness was 1/2" and I only at extreme angles did I really notice any green tint, which then wasn't horrible, if you go to 3/4" glass all bets might be off, although looking straight through probably won't be that much of a difference and any difference you'll just think is the norm (I really hate those side by side acrylic/glass photos)
There aren't many tanks in the 300g range that are "standard" (Marineland DD is the only one that really comes to mind right now), so that means custom, I would say your choices of manufacturers that are feasible should ultimately make you decide, for instance if you want glass and are thinking Cadlights or Glasscages... then I'd probably go with acrylic made by a monkey with a hot glue gun (aka ATM!
) over them.
I'd chose glass as far as scratching goes. After keeping acrylic tanks for a few years, I chose to go Starfire on the last large tank. removing scratches on acrylic even on the outside was turning into a chore I didnt want to spend time on, and not wanting to constantly harass the kids to "stay away"; we kept a large(r) tank so the kids enjoy and learn as much or more than we did.
If you have kids or kids visiting very often, then its a matter of time the tank will host a toy car.
If you have kids or kids visiting very often, then its a matter of time the tank will host a toy car.
karimwassef
Active member
My current 380 is starphire. I've had both glass and acrylic...
Starphire does scratch easier than regular glass, but not as much as acrylic.
You can buff acrylic on the outside, but it's the inside that's the problem.
Personally, I think it depends on whether you expect particulates to find their way into your magnets. I have a thick sand bed- that made acrylic a non-starter.
Tanks that are treated with kid gloves are ok with acrylic. I've accidentally pushed rocks, sand, etc... against the walls. Even my starphire has fine scratches (which you can buff with an oxide - boron?). I know myself and I can't work with acrylic.
I needed a crane and 7 men to get my tank in.. It was worth it.
Starphire does scratch easier than regular glass, but not as much as acrylic.
You can buff acrylic on the outside, but it's the inside that's the problem.
Personally, I think it depends on whether you expect particulates to find their way into your magnets. I have a thick sand bed- that made acrylic a non-starter.
Tanks that are treated with kid gloves are ok with acrylic. I've accidentally pushed rocks, sand, etc... against the walls. Even my starphire has fine scratches (which you can buff with an oxide - boron?). I know myself and I can't work with acrylic.
I needed a crane and 7 men to get my tank in.. It was worth it.
Cerium oxide
FuzzyZipperbaum
New member
The debate can go both ways. However, I believe you may want to consider how you manage your own personal life. If you tend to be a neat freak, take your time cleaning, very attune to detailing say your car, etc... go Acrylic. Otherwise go glass.
I clean my 2 FIVE hundred G tanks once a week. I use a new scotch erase pad..I cut them in half each time. I use hotel room keys to get rid of the coralline on the front and rear glass. I use a kent scraper for hard to reach. I take my time, I make sure I have no blown sand moving around when I clean, etc.... no scratches yet... I say yet because it will happen and I will deal with it then. But you really have to clean regularly to not let the algae build up using less work and force to clean it.
Good luck with your decision.
I clean my 2 FIVE hundred G tanks once a week. I use a new scotch erase pad..I cut them in half each time. I use hotel room keys to get rid of the coralline on the front and rear glass. I use a kent scraper for hard to reach. I take my time, I make sure I have no blown sand moving around when I clean, etc.... no scratches yet... I say yet because it will happen and I will deal with it then. But you really have to clean regularly to not let the algae build up using less work and force to clean it.
Good luck with your decision.
shred5
Premium Member
Come on I have been in the hobby a very long time and have seen lots of acrylic tanks crack or burst. I had a seam pop on my acrylic frag tanks. Should this happen no but there are flaws or mistakes made. Acrylic or glass should have no issues if they are constructed right with good materials.
