Glass vs. Acrylic

SaltwaterGeek · 01-20-2008, 05:36 PM

I'm very aware of the qualities and reasons for choosing a glass tank... But what if any, are the pro's to having one made in acrylic?

boozeman · 01-20-2008, 05:38 PM

weighs less is pro...scratches easily is con

ragvette · 01-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Acrylic weights less then glass, holds temperature better then glass (good and bad) and you can get almost any shape in Acrylic.

Just some my quick thoughts before I head out for dinner.

goldenmean · 01-20-2008, 05:42 PM

Acrylic has no seams!

SaltwaterGeek · 01-20-2008, 05:49 PM

I have heard that acrylic is clearer than glass.... Can that possibly be true?

dobejazz · 01-20-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivingTheDream

I have heard that acrylic is clearer than glass.... Can that possibly be true?

Possibly but it doesn't last long once you need to scrape the coraline off

I have a 95g acrylic tank (I needed the shape) and no matter how careful I am I've scratched it

ReefGuy69 · 01-20-2008, 06:02 PM

im a glass fan myself. Like Kelli said no matter how hard you try one way or another you will end up scratching it. If weight, seams, and shape isnt a problem then go for the glass. it will last longer, you will be happier your not ruining it with every wipe you do. JMO

SaltwaterGeek · 01-20-2008, 06:03 PM

Thanks for the help.

Frankie · 01-20-2008, 06:33 PM

I disagree that glass will last longer. Glass has a limited life time being it is silicone together. Acrylic is stronger and the seams are permanent. Acrylic can be easily drilled like crazy for flow and return reasons, it is the clearest material you can get, (more so then Starphire).
There are a ton of pro's and con's with glass and acrylic. It all comes down to your husbandry and how much cleaning time you want to put into a tank. Acrylic also draws coralline like a magnet. This is why people scratch there tanks if not cleaned daily.
Glass scratches also. And when you scratch it, there is no getting it out. Acrylic can be fixed.

dobejazz · 01-20-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie

I disagree that glass will last longer. Glass has a limited life time being it is silicone together. Acrylic is stronger and the seams are permanent. Acrylic can be easily drilled like crazy for flow and return reasons, it is the clearest material you can get, (more so then Starphire).
There are a ton of pro's and con's with glass and acrylic. It all comes down to your husbandry and how much cleaning time you want to put into a tank. Acrylic also draws coralline like a magnet. This is why people scratch there tanks if not cleaned daily.
Glass scratches also. And when you scratch it, there is no getting it out. Acrylic can be fixed.

I agree but I have yet to scratch one of my glass tanks and cleaning the 95 makes me a nervous wreck

I will say with acrylic check your scraper for burrs in the edge I never use mine more than 4-5 times - since I didn't realize the edge was getting bad that contributed to many of the scratches

Frankie · 01-20-2008, 06:43 PM

Kelli, see if you can get a local carpenter to run a 1/2" piece of acrylic through his jointer. It will give you a stronger edge then them dam scrapers they sell on the market.

SaltwaterGeek · 01-20-2008, 06:46 PM

Don't they also have a floss type pad that can be used to clean the acrylic without scratching it?

boozeman · 01-20-2008, 06:47 PM

they say baby diapers work well too

dobejazz · 01-20-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivingTheDream

Don't they also have a floss type pad that can be used to clean the acrylic without scratching it?

They do but coraline is a pain to remove with that - If you are able to wipe the glass everyday it may not be an issue but for me it's not possible

panmanmatt · 01-20-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

They do but coraline is a pain to remove with that - If you are able to wipe the glass everyday it may not be an issue but for me it's not possible

Credit cards work great for scraping acrylic. So once you max them out buying stuff for the tank you can use them to clean the tank.

01-20-2008, 05:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Glass vs. Acrylic I'm very aware of the qualities and reasons for choosing a glass tank... But what if any, are the pro's to having one made in acrylic? __________________ Thanks for the help, My 150g Envision Acrylic Chronicle

01-20-2008, 05:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic weighs less is pro...scratches easily is con __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

01-20-2008, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
ragvette Ricordea Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Villa, IL Posts: 183 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic Acrylic weights less then glass, holds temperature better then glass (good and bad) and you can get almost any shape in Acrylic. Just some my quick thoughts before I head out for dinner. __________________ -Rodney My 20gal Nano Chronicle My 65gal Chronicle Reef Store Locator

01-20-2008, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
goldenmean Beautiful Katamari Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,194 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic Acrylic has no seams! __________________ A 55g link in the GoldenChain My 2nd-QT-Wrasse My Second Quarantine Tank 2 (+) Year Retrospective of a 12g Nano Jeff What You Think Upon Grows... Have a Smooth Day!

01-20-2008, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic I have heard that acrylic is clearer than glass.... Can that possibly be true? __________________ Thanks for the help, My 150g Envision Acrylic Chronicle

01-20-2008, 06:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 746 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic im a glass fan myself. Like Kelli said no matter how hard you try one way or another you will end up scratching it. If weight, seams, and shape isnt a problem then go for the glass. it will last longer, you will be happier your not ruining it with every wipe you do. JMO __________________ Dennis ________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...journal-3.html 55gal AGA w/ built in overflow 15 gal acrylic DIY sump/fuge 75lbs Fiji Live Rock 45lbs of Live Sand 1-1/2inch (1) 96 watt Super Blue Actinic Power Compact (2) 96 Watt 10,000k Power Compacts (2) Ebo Jager 200 watt heaters Seaclone 150 Skimmer (2) Hagen 50's Power Heads for flow (1) Hagen 70 Return Pump DIY ATO system (5 Gal) Mini Aqua Lights for fuge (10k/Actinic03) TLF 150 Phosban Reactor 12X turnover rate 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Peppermint Shrimp, Neon Green Hairy Mushrooms, Red Zoanthus Polyps.

01-20-2008, 06:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic Thanks for the help. __________________ Thanks for the help, My 150g Envision Acrylic Chronicle

01-20-2008, 06:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,105 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic I disagree that glass will last longer. Glass has a limited life time being it is silicone together. Acrylic is stronger and the seams are permanent. Acrylic can be easily drilled like crazy for flow and return reasons, it is the clearest material you can get, (more so then Starphire). There are a ton of pro's and con's with glass and acrylic. It all comes down to your husbandry and how much cleaning time you want to put into a tank. Acrylic also draws coralline like a magnet. This is why people scratch there tanks if not cleaned daily. Glass scratches also. And when you scratch it, there is no getting it out. Acrylic can be fixed. __________________ Click here to visit my thread: New Horizons Text Is a Poor Form Of Communication! If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

01-20-2008, 06:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,105 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic Kelli, see if you can get a local carpenter to run a 1/2" piece of acrylic through his jointer. It will give you a stronger edge then them dam scrapers they sell on the market. __________________ Click here to visit my thread: New Horizons Text Is a Poor Form Of Communication! If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

01-20-2008, 06:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
SaltwaterGeek Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 401 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic Don't they also have a floss type pad that can be used to clean the acrylic without scratching it? __________________ Thanks for the help, My 150g Envision Acrylic Chronicle

01-20-2008, 06:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass vs. Acrylic they say baby diapers work well too __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

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