Acrylic VS Glass

[masroberts9]

So which is better, acrylic or glass?

[greeneyed]

Depends..... most notably on size.
Lots of variables.

[masroberts9]

so, which is better, big glass or big acrylic?

[biggin]

Acrylic....

All around if properly handled.

Lighter in weight
Easier to modify (drill, add overflow, etc)
I like the appearance of acrylic better(personal but just me)
If you get a scratch in it, you can easily remove it.

[tsunderl]

I'll second what Biggin says. I have two 180g, one glass and the other acrylic. My hubby and I can lift the acrylic where it takes four to move the glass tank.

Also, according to what I've read, acrylic tanks have a stronger bond than glass because the edges are actually fused together. No silicone to break down.

[kewlkatdady]

acrylic is great if you can prevent scratching....

thats its only downfall.

[biggin]

I think the scratching is a little bit of a misunderstanding. it is not that easy to scrach.

Take at it with a key or holey rock and it is going to scratch but so is glass.

acrylic is great if you can prevent scratching....

thats its only downfall.

[tsunderl]

I've bumped the sides of my tank with holey rock and left no scratches.

[kewlkatdady]

never said it was easy... but acrylic is much easier to scratch than glass.

[kSpieler]

...you can bust out a glass tank with just the right tap of a rock edge ... but not acrylic.
It is easier to scratch the outside surface of acrylic than glass ... but it's also easier to remove those same scratches.

If I were to invest in a bigass tank, I'de most surely look for Acrylic if for no other reason than it's a helluva lot lighter, and less likely to leak.

[EAST_TX_RN]

I have a 50 glass and a 55 acrylic. I actually prefer the glass because it is easier to clean. Algae is much harder to get off acrylic than glass! I think there are pros and cons for each of them, so just figure out what is important to you.

[tsunderl]

never said it was easy... but acrylic is much easier to scratch than glass.

I know... Just didn't want folks to think that acrylic scratches at the drop of a dime.

[biggin]

I am not sure about breaking the tank...

MAYBE if you had a cheap 55g tank and hit it JUST right....

Tanks are a lot harder to break the glass then you think....A LOT harder....

...you can bust out a glass tank with just the right tap of a rock edge ... but not acrylic.
It is easier to scratch the outside surface of acrylic than glass ... but it's also easier to remove those same scratches.

If I were to invest in a bigass tank, I'de most surely look for Acrylic if for no other reason than it's a helluva lot lighter, and less likely to leak.

[kewlkatdady]

Blake I agree with you completely...
There is no way my 125 should be able well over 300lbs:eek: of holey rock.

I"ve since reduced that about 75 but, it amazing how much rock i've seen in tanks.

[ElijahTurtle]

I would have to say acrylic, it's lighter & clearer than standard glass. It's also less of a termal conductor, so it will somewhat insulate the tank temps. As for the scatches, you can get a polishing kit to keep the outside nice and blemish free.

[cichlidfan]

I remember reading that some of the larger plecos (esp. Panaquae sp.) could "badly scuff" acrylic tanks with abrasive mouth parts...anyone witnessed this? Or maybe it's of the "easy to repair to new" category and not a legit concern

[biggin]

I have heard about this.

After spending a lot of time repairing my tank from a ton a Coraline(sp) algae and a couple idiot moves on my behalf....

I really doubt it.

It is just not that easy to scratch it....it is HARD to break a tank....it is TOUGH to scratch a acrylic tank....

I remember reading that some of the larger plecos (esp. Panaquae sp.) could "badly scuff" acrylic tanks with abrasive mouth parts...anyone witnessed this? Or maybe it's of the "easy to repair to new" category and not a legit concern

[AndrewH]

Price is also a concern...

Normally for smaller tanks (say 300 gallons and under) glass is cheaper, but once you get over 300 gallons the glass gets more expensive then acrylic is cheaper.

[mrsadler]

:exactly:...you can bust out a glass tank with just the right tap of a rock edge ... but not acrylic.
It is easier to scratch the outside surface of acrylic than glass ... but it's also easier to remove those same scratches.

If I were to invest in a bigass tank, I'de most surely look for Acrylic if for no other reason than it's a helluva lot lighter, and less likely to leak.

[fishyjoe24]

acrylic lighter,stronger,and cheaper.

[bra8ndy8]

acrylic is not cheaper....

[tsunderl]

My acrylic 180 cost the original owner over $1000 to have it made. Glad I'm not him!

[fishyjoe24]

brandy you are looking at the wrong sites, or someone was lying to me then.

[biggin]

It is hard to say that acrylic is cheaper.... maybe once you get to the 400+ gallon range but even then it is debatable.

[tsunderl]

20 Gallon Long Acrylic Aquarium 30x10x14 20 Gallon Long Acrylic Aquarium 30x10x14
Item #TRU-20LPrice:$116.64Sale:$97.20
http://www.innovativelights.com/tru-20l.html

20 Long30 x 12½ x 13 Tall$41 Plate glass
www.Glasscages.com (http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/www.Glasscages.com)

[bra8ndy8]

:brandy::brandy::brandy::brandy::brandy:

[fishyjoe24]

look at the monster size tanks.

[ElijahTurtle]

:face palm:

[biggin]

On glasscages a 300g glass is $600 less.

Acrylic is not cheaper.....

look at the monster size tanks.

[bra8ndy8]

I won......lol.... I just like to say it!

[fishyjoe24]

I've seen acrylic cheaper. but forgot where I will go with out sleep for months till i find the site.

[biggin]

Craigslist?

Especially after the recent rise in acrylic prices(shouldn't they go down now that oil prices are down?) it is hard to find them new and cheaper then glass.

[fishyjoe24]

it's been a while since I seen the prices. glass may be cheaper now.

[greeneyed]

Well, at least now you can get some sleep.