Starfire or acrylic?
- Thread starter SPotter
- Start date
I switched to acrylic 20 years ago and would not go back. 2 of my tanks (120g and 130g) are each about 15 years old each, and still look fine!
it scratches easier than glass...but it's very hard to fix scratched glass!
if the MH are properly placed, they're NOT over the acrylic!
Do people still use MH?:rolleye1:
SPotter
Active member
Who built your tank? I have looked at glasscages, miracles and coasttocoast so far. Prices are very different.
SPotter
Active member
I heard that some acrylics will fade or cloud over time. Have you noticed this with yours?
SPotter
Active member
thanks for the feed back. did you buy it new and if so, who was the manufacturer?
My new custom tank is glass with starfire front and sides. I had a 170 that was acrylic, and will never ever get another one. Yea the acrylic can be fixed but it is a huge pain to drain and store everything in another tank while I polished out the scratches before selling it....
James404
I <3 Acros
My tank is being built by Felix at Reef Savvy. I highly recommend him.
James404
I <3 Acros
I have never scratched a glass tank and I really dont have the time to buff out acrylic.
Yes some of us still prefer MH's, I had T5's and wasn't impressed.
some state that starfire scratches easier then acrylic it's just you are hosed when/if a scratch develops
For a tank that size is starfire even needed?
I went through the same dilemma a year or so ago. I was considering starfire or acrylic for my FO tank. Local shop/friend told me to stay away from starfire due to how easy it scratches plus the cost of shipping is a LOT more with glass. I was able to get my acrylic tank for what shipping would of been on a glass tank
How thick would the glass be on that size tank?
I have never scratched a acrylic tank (owned them for 17yrs) & also never scratched glass (about 19yrs). If cared for properly scratching isn't a issue......
For a tank that size is starfire even needed?
I went through the same dilemma a year or so ago. I was considering starfire or acrylic for my FO tank. Local shop/friend told me to stay away from starfire due to how easy it scratches plus the cost of shipping is a LOT more with glass. I was able to get my acrylic tank for what shipping would of been on a glass tank
How thick would the glass be on that size tank?
I have never scratched a acrylic tank (owned them for 17yrs) & also never scratched glass (about 19yrs). If cared for properly scratching isn't a issue......
SPotter
Active member
some state that starfire scratches easier then acrylic it's just you are hosed when/if a scratch develops
For a tank that size is starfire even needed?
I went through the same dilemma a year or so ago. I was considering starfire or acrylic for my FO tank. Local shop/friend told me to stay away from starfire due to how easy it scratches plus the cost of shipping is a LOT more with glass. I was able to get my acrylic tank for what shipping would of been on a glass tank
How thick would the glass be on that size tank?
I have never scratched a acrylic tank (owned them for 17yrs) & also never scratched glass (about 19yrs). If cared for properly scratching isn't a issue......
I've gotten quotes on glass and acrylic. At this point there is a significant difference in price....almost double from some of the more popular companies. Glasscages is closer in price but I question their quality based on some of the reviews.
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If you have never scratched your glass tank, odds are good that you would not scratch an acrylic tank. In the past 20 years, I would guess that 90%+ of the scratches on my acrylic tanks were from family (kids) and friends, that wanted to 'help' clean with my mag floats! ... NEVER, leave the magnets on the tank...people are attracted to them!
BTW, I was only kidding about the MH, because 'everyone' seems to want LEDs.
My 450g acrylic DT is from Glasscages, and I would recommend them. Seems like most complaints are about their 'sloppy' silicone work on glass tanks...but they also say it will clean up nicely.
All my tanks have been glass. I thought about acrylic for my 300, but went with glass (low iron starfire). With my 55, if I left for a few days, or a week I would come home to loads of coraline and everything else on the glass. i would scrape it off with a metal blade or a razor. It was difficult to get off with that, and would surely destroy an acrylic tank. yes it is heavier, and held by "sillycone" instead of bonded by reaction, but the scratch resistance is what I went with.
IMHO it's mostly a question of personal preference depending on what's important to you, and I think most people have touched on the main points here.
Acrylic is superior to glass is just about every way...save 1. Acrylic scratches. I have an acrylic tank and this one reason is enough for me to caution against acrylic. If you have a household w/ kids I just don't see how you can prevent scratches from messing up the view. It can be dealt with, but it's a hassle.
Yes, if you are extremely careful you can avoid most scratching and it is possible to buff it out when you do get scratches in acrylic. The scratches on the outside of the tank aren't the problem, it's the ones on the inside that are a major pita. +1 on not keeping the mag-floats in the tank. Not only do they look ugly and will get covered in algae when left in the tank but there's definitely the risk from family and friends who think they are "helping"...
Also for very large tanks you might want to consider the risk of a major catastrophe since I believe acrylic is less likely to have a major flooding-type failure compared to glass. But then this type of failure is rare anyway, so...again I think it's mostly a question of personal preference.
Acrylic is superior to glass is just about every way...save 1. Acrylic scratches. I have an acrylic tank and this one reason is enough for me to caution against acrylic. If you have a household w/ kids I just don't see how you can prevent scratches from messing up the view. It can be dealt with, but it's a hassle.
Yes, if you are extremely careful you can avoid most scratching and it is possible to buff it out when you do get scratches in acrylic. The scratches on the outside of the tank aren't the problem, it's the ones on the inside that are a major pita. +1 on not keeping the mag-floats in the tank. Not only do they look ugly and will get covered in algae when left in the tank but there's definitely the risk from family and friends who think they are "helping"...
Also for very large tanks you might want to consider the risk of a major catastrophe since I believe acrylic is less likely to have a major flooding-type failure compared to glass. But then this type of failure is rare anyway, so...again I think it's mostly a question of personal preference.
