Glass or acrylic

[luvnreefer]

Heading says it all. In the market for a new tank and can't decide which to get. I pretty much understand the pros and cons of both. Just want to hear from you guys that might have owned both or might have more knowledge or experince on the subject.

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[pufferpoison]

i prefer glass, but haven't ever had a huge acrylic tank. I've seen some set up for a while, like a long while, and the tank has turned a yellow/brown color. not too pretty.

 

[powdertang05]

have both acrylic is like you try your hardest then one day to scratch it and your **** the whole day but once you get over not try to scratch it its a nice cheap way to have a tank if you make it yourself and light weight.

 

[Shouse94]

We've had an acrylic tank setup for over 30 years now and it's still
crystal clear...don't know nothing about a yellowish/brown color.

 

[luvnreefer]

Alright sounds like Glass, which was the way I was leaning earlier.

However the major reason why I was leaning that way wasn't beacause of the scratches in acrylic but beacause it looses its luster after a couple years. Is there any one else who hasn't had this problem.

 

[CastleRock]

Acrylic does not turn color, plexi glass now thats another matter and thats what they used years ago when plastic tanks started out.
Acrylic you scratch you CAN remove it
Glass you scratch your screwed!
I will always buy acrylic and the luster can be brought back at any time with Micro-Mesh polishing

 

[luvnreefer]

Castle rock thanks. Any one else care to chim in.


Man I can not make up my mind with what size I am driving myself crazy:eek1:

 

[DaveG99]

glass. Scratches suck. And getting them out is even worse. I had a 150 gallon acrylic for a little while and I tried to get the scratches out and it was too much work so I sold it and bought a glass 125 gallon. Now I am happy.

 

[luvnreefer]

How difficult is it to repair scratches in acrylic. Can it be done with out draining tank?

 

[CastleRock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7448919#post7448919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luvnreefer
How difficult is it to repair scratches in acrylic. Can it be done with out draining tank?

Yes you do NOT need to drain to repair, but if you have a bad scratch it will be some work to get it out. minor ones are no big deal.
but acrylic is inert and will not harm anything.
I have done it 100's of times
But if you get sand in your cleaner magnet and scratch your glass....well your done there is no repairing it your doomed to look at it forever

 

[CastleRock]

Oh and the other nice thing about glass.....time to embrace the horror!
this would really suck
Not saying it can not happen to acrylic but I have never had a acrylic tank leak more less crack *shudder*

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=392144&perpage=25&pagenumber=11

 

[luvnreefer]

All the tanks I have had upto date have been glass so I hear what your saying as far as scratches.

As far as scratches in the acrylic it was never to big of a concern. People have commented about it discoloring or looking faded so to speak and that is what I was concerned about. As of rigt now I am leaning back towards Acrylic. Clarity is the main selling point as of know, that and it can be drilled easier. Estimates on glass tanks with starphire have all come in atleast 200 more then the acrylic. The acrylic I can drill myself Glass I'm not so sure.

I think I am going to do a 30x30x30 cube!