Insulating Properties of Acrylic

ca1ore · 05/21/2017, 09:32 PM

I've noted proponents of acrylic tanks extolling the insulating properties versus glass tanks. I've always had glass tanks, but my next one will be acrylic. Curious from folks that have owned both, will there be any practical differences? It going to be a big tank so surface to volume ratio means it'll warm up slower, but also cool down slower. Will acrylic versus glass make this process even slower? Or is it a distinction without a difference?

mcgyvr · 05/22/2017, 05:42 AM

Glass is roughly 5 times as thermally conductive as acrylic..

The difference in energy required should not be that much different though unless you have a top on this tank. Most of the heat loss will be from evaporation/open top/surface than though the walls of the tank..

jda · 05/22/2017, 08:44 AM

None of it is even close to the power of evaporation. I ran the numbers once probably a decade ago and it was a rounding error compared to heat loss through the overflows and sumps.

ca1ore · 05/22/2017, 11:41 AM

Right chaps, thanks; rather as I suspected, a distinction without a difference.

jda · 05/22/2017, 04:15 PM

Somebody back in the day used to advertise that the acrylic is bulletproof... maybe Tene- cor? Yet another useful "feature" if you want to take target practice with your tank as a backstop.

05/21/2017, 09:32 PM	#1
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Insulating Properties of Acrylic I've noted proponents of acrylic tanks extolling the insulating properties versus glass tanks. I've always had glass tanks, but my next one will be acrylic. Curious from folks that have owned both, will there be any practical differences? It going to be a big tank so surface to volume ratio means it'll warm up slower, but also cool down slower. Will acrylic versus glass make this process even slower? Or is it a distinction without a difference? __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/22/2017, 05:42 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Glass is roughly 5 times as thermally conductive as acrylic.. The difference in energy required should not be that much different though unless you have a top on this tank. Most of the heat loss will be from evaporation/open top/surface than though the walls of the tank.. __________________ Who me?

05/22/2017, 11:41 AM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Right chaps, thanks; rather as I suspected, a distinction without a difference. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

05/22/2017, 08:44 AM	#3
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	None of it is even close to the power of evaporation. I ran the numbers once probably a decade ago and it was a rounding error compared to heat loss through the overflows and sumps.

05/22/2017, 04:15 PM	#5
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Somebody back in the day used to advertise that the acrylic is bulletproof... maybe Tene- cor? Yet another useful "feature" if you want to take target practice with your tank as a backstop.