runningnreefing
New member
Hello All,
What are your thoughts on glass vs acrylic aquariums.
What are your thoughts on glass vs acrylic aquariums.
Glass vs Acrylic
- Thread starter runningnreefing
- Start date
Glass - more difficult to scratch, but if you do (and I have, it is there forever). Heavy if the tank is large. Very remote chance (but a chance) of the seam going bad and causing a bad leak
Acyllic - very easy to scratch but scratches (if not too deep) can be buffed out. Can crack if you put a MH type light over the bracing or if poorly made. Seams are chemically bonded so shouldn't leak unless poorly made. More expensive if tank is small. Less if tank is very large. Stronger than glass.
I went acryllic as I had some specific things I wanted in it and concerned about scratching the glass (and possibly breakage from my kid throwing something at it).
Realistically, either way is fine, it is personal preference as much as anything.
Acyllic - very easy to scratch but scratches (if not too deep) can be buffed out. Can crack if you put a MH type light over the bracing or if poorly made. Seams are chemically bonded so shouldn't leak unless poorly made. More expensive if tank is small. Less if tank is very large. Stronger than glass.
I went acryllic as I had some specific things I wanted in it and concerned about scratching the glass (and possibly breakage from my kid throwing something at it).
Realistically, either way is fine, it is personal preference as much as anything.
ReefKeepersCorner
Moved On
What size tank are you thinking about getting?
jd summed it up perfectly.
Large acrylic tanks(240 and up) make alot of sense. Cheaper, easier to move and you can buff out scratches.
Glass tanks(220 and under) are still easily movable and alot cheaper than acrylic.
Like jd said, both are fine. Its back to personal preference. I do like glass and how easy it is to clean. The few scraches I do have will always be there though.....
jd summed it up perfectly.
Large acrylic tanks(240 and up) make alot of sense. Cheaper, easier to move and you can buff out scratches.
Glass tanks(220 and under) are still easily movable and alot cheaper than acrylic.
Like jd said, both are fine. Its back to personal preference. I do like glass and how easy it is to clean. The few scraches I do have will always be there though.....
I have a few scratches on my tank but they really are only noticeable if pointed out. I figure once my tank is more settled I'll buff out the one area where I scratched it up.
You do need to be careful though with it. Of course, you need to be careful with glass too (but a grain of sand in a scraper pad wont scratch glass but will scratch acryllic).
You do need to be careful though with it. Of course, you need to be careful with glass too (but a grain of sand in a scraper pad wont scratch glass but will scratch acryllic).
runningnreefing
New member
I am looking at a 140 gal glass aquarium.
Rod Buehler
New member
I have helped people replace more acrylic tanks than I have glass tanks. Whether it was from poor craftsmanship (splitting seams) or from halides baking the top bracing.... either way, its at least 5(acrylic)-1(glass) that I have replaced. Usually the replacements for the acrylic tanks have been glass, and the glass replacements have also been with glass.
For me its a scratching issue. I only have to look at an acrylic tank and scratches seem to appear
ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Why, just this weekend I was helping a former TOTM winner replace his very expensive acrylic tank, whose seams were failing and the panes bowing, threatening 200+ gallons of water all over his kitchen, dining room, and basement.
I think all of these boxes eventually will fail. We keep our collective fingers crossed!
I think all of these boxes eventually will fail. We keep our collective fingers crossed!
True poorly designed tanks in general will fail. And halides are plastic killers for sure.
My experience is 6 glass tanks in 12 years all over 150 gallons all failed but one. All brand new from every manufacturer posible. The only tank that never failed was an all glass 210 gallon that ironicaly was purchased used.
My experience is 6 glass tanks in 12 years all over 150 gallons all failed but one. All brand new from every manufacturer posible. The only tank that never failed was an all glass 210 gallon that ironicaly was purchased used.
bignick
New member
My All-Glass 210 just busted on me a month ago and i replaced it with another All-glass 210.
I choose Glass over Acrylic.
Plus i hear that its more stressful on a tank to fill it and then drain it and then refill it...etc...don't know how much truth there is to that but that's what I've heard.
The only thing i saw with acrylic that i didn't see with glass is versatility. You can get creative with Acrylic but glass your kinda limited.
I choose Glass over Acrylic.
Plus i hear that its more stressful on a tank to fill it and then drain it and then refill it...etc...don't know how much truth there is to that but that's what I've heard.
The only thing i saw with acrylic that i didn't see with glass is versatility. You can get creative with Acrylic but glass your kinda limited.
willhoward
New member
What about Lexan? I've read somewhere that it is something like 250 times stronger than glas, and alot stronger than acrylic. I assume that lexan tanks (if they even exist) will be alot more expensive, but the tank is the one component I would not gamble with! Image waking up the morning to find your house flooded!
