reefnewbie54321
In Memoriam
whats the pros and cons for both
and what do you have?
and what do you have?
glass vs. acyrlic
- Thread starter reefnewbie54321
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reefnewbie54321
In Memoriam
its a reef tank ... any reasons why I shouldnt get acyrilic
rich99rich
Premium Member
The biggest negative about acrylic is that it scratches easily. The positives are that it is a lot easier to drill, it is does not weigh a lot, and it does not crack as easily as glass.
moonpod
Premium Member
I am an acrylic fan, but starphire (low iron) glass tanks are nice. It is really an individual preference issue IMO. There is a "sticky" on the subject in the equipment section at zeovit.com with discussion. It sort of breaks down like this:
Glass pros: starphire is as clear as acrylic. Much better scratch resistance--therefore easier to clean
Glass cons: harder to drill--you really need to drill panels before the tank is assembled and you have to bear in mind structural considerations. If you scratch you're hosediiyou can scratch glass it's just harder. Much heavier than acrylic. And its seams not bonds at the junctions
Acrylic pros: lighter, clarity, bonded, you can drill willy nilly,
Acrylic cons: you have to have bracing of some sort to prevent tank deflection. Scratches
Glass pros: starphire is as clear as acrylic. Much better scratch resistance--therefore easier to clean
Glass cons: harder to drill--you really need to drill panels before the tank is assembled and you have to bear in mind structural considerations. If you scratch you're hosediiyou can scratch glass it's just harder. Much heavier than acrylic. And its seams not bonds at the junctions
Acrylic pros: lighter, clarity, bonded, you can drill willy nilly,
Acrylic cons: you have to have bracing of some sort to prevent tank deflection. Scratches
reefnewbie54321
In Memoriam
thanks, I think I am going to go with glass and see if they can put in a starphire front pane
I had a 125 gallon glass tank for 6 years and loved it. I recently upgraded to a 225 acrylic. Now that I have had both and I would say it really doesn't matter. My acrylic tank is much clearer than my glass and I liked the price. If you get an acrylic just be careful about the scratches...but I really havn't had that problem...but of coarse I'm very careful.
I am running into this delema as well. I want to have a 96x32x40T tank (two actually, but they will probably only be 84L instead), and the acrylic version is $2400 at the cheapest. I havent checked the glass prices as i dont know where to shop. I really do like the acrylic, but it is a lot harder to clean than glass imo.
xtm
Active member
After recently changing to acrylic, I will never go back to glass. I don't know how I lived through all those years looking at a green tint. Acrylic is so crystal clear and transparent you think there's nothing in between. The only problem is that it's a PITA to clean, but it's definitely worth it though.
Another thing- if you scratch acrylic, you can always use Novus to fix it. If you scratch glass, it's most likely permanent. Acrylic is easy to drill, better insulator, less cack resistant, and you can brace it however you want with pieces of polycarbonate and weld-on
Another thing- if you scratch acrylic, you can always use Novus to fix it. If you scratch glass, it's most likely permanent. Acrylic is easy to drill, better insulator, less cack resistant, and you can brace it however you want with pieces of polycarbonate and weld-on
reefnewbie54321
In Memoriam
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7224612#post7224612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtm
After recently changing to acrylic, I will never go back to glass. I don't know how I lived through all those years looking at a green tint. Acrylic is so crystal clear and transparent you think there's nothing in between. The only problem is that it's a PITA to clean, but it's definitely worth it though.
Another thing- if you scratch acrylic, you can always use Novus to fix it. If you scratch glass, it's most likely permanent. Acrylic is easy to drill, better insulator, less cack resistant, and you can brace it however you want with pieces of polycarbonate and weld-on
I am going to have them put in a low-iron glass fdront pane (aka starphire)
and I am using tube lighting and dont want to have to modify the barcing of an acyrilic tank so I think glass is the best way to go. Plus I am saving $90, and from what ive heard/seen glasscages glass tanks are alot better then there acyrilic ones.
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