for a 90gal tank is acrylic really better than glass? Why?

cichlid666 · 03/01/2006, 01:18 AM

I have had a glass 90 for 7 years now with no problems. I just don't have an overflow, so my sump/fuge is above my tank, what a mess. I don't have room for a bigger tank, but I need a built in overflow. I have decided to use my existing tank as my refugium, and add it to my newer tank I get. I have my fuge set up in the garage, behind my 90g in the house. I would be a bit reluctant to get a tank that was bigger in glass, say a 125, but I'm not.

fish are life · 03/01/2006, 01:34 AM

acrilic has its good aspects and bad ones, the bad ones are that is scratches easier, IMO gets dirty easer, costs more, and once again IMO doesnt look at nice, the good aspects are that it is stronger, when clean looks clearer, lets light penitrate through, is lighter, can come in bigger sizes, can come in any size, and can be patched easily with just anothe rpeice of acrilic. i am shure i missed some things but i hope this is what you were lookin for.

duerr · 03/01/2006, 02:09 AM

acrylic scratches very easily.

DSB + Easily scratched surface = lots of tiny, tiny scratches.

There are types of glass that are comparable to acrylic, as far as clarity goes.

Not to mention the additional cost of acrylic, and its tendancy to be a PITA to build/purchase a stand for.So, as far as I'm concerned, glass>acrylic.

However, acrylic DOES have its place. Its easy to work with, and is great for making baffles, sumps, overflows, and random little gadgets.

I would stick with glass for a display tank, and cheap acrylic for my sump.

However...those "seamless" tanks are damn nice to look at...

staticfishmonger · 03/01/2006, 02:35 AM

its acylic for me, after having a few glass tanks leak i switched and im not going back. yes acrylic can scratch but the scratches can easily be removed from acrylic, where as if you scratch a glass tank it cant be fixed. acrylic is also as mentioned above clearer, stronger, lighter, easier to drill customize/DIY, it insulates better than glass, also acrylic tanks can be made into interesting shapes and look great with rounded corners or even euro-braced. granted you will pay a little more for the tank, but in my opinion and experience it is well worth it for what you get.

Good luck

gchuang · 03/01/2006, 03:13 AM

I have an acrylic 90 and love it. Yes, there are scratches, but once you get over it mentally, they really are not noticable.

I just like the look of acrylic tanks I guess..

docmenace · 03/01/2006, 04:20 AM

can't mentally get over the look of scratches, nope, glass.....

docmenace · 03/01/2006, 04:22 AM

Oh, my fuge is acrylic though, has nice looking scratches....

pargolf · 03/01/2006, 07:49 AM

I have an acrylic 150(reef with dsb) and 3 glass tanks, 2 90 freshwater and a 45 seahorse. Over the years I have had 2 glass tanks leak and one shattered when it was scratched while cleaning. The glass tanks will also scratch and when it does I think the scratch is more noticeable than an acrylic scratch. I have had the acrylic tank for 7 years and it does scratch and it is harder to clean but it has never leaked. When I saw the bill for replacing the carpet, flooring and dry wall it convinced me I will never buy a glass tank again. All my tanks are now in the basement.

asphaltpilot · 03/01/2006, 07:58 AM

The big plus in acrylic is that it's so much easier to drill. Cutting/drilling holes in glass give me a heart attack every time. It's so fragile.

brian3 · 03/01/2006, 08:18 AM

Acrylic tanks can and do leak as well at the seams. After seeing scratched acrylic reef tanks I would never own one. Glass tanks can crack if they are not level, too many holes drilled or are on a poor stand. Set them up properly and you will not have a problem.

03/01/2006, 01:18 AM	#1
cichlid666 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: sacramento ca. Posts: 122	for a 90gal tank is acrylic really better than glass? Why? I have had a glass 90 for 7 years now with no problems. I just don't have an overflow, so my sump/fuge is above my tank, what a mess. I don't have room for a bigger tank, but I need a built in overflow. I have decided to use my existing tank as my refugium, and add it to my newer tank I get. I have my fuge set up in the garage, behind my 90g in the house. I would be a bit reluctant to get a tank that was bigger in glass, say a 125, but I'm not.

03/01/2006, 02:35 AM	#4
staticfishmonger Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: san diego Posts: 1,727	its acylic for me, after having a few glass tanks leak i switched and im not going back. yes acrylic can scratch but the scratches can easily be removed from acrylic, where as if you scratch a glass tank it cant be fixed. acrylic is also as mentioned above clearer, stronger, lighter, easier to drill customize/DIY, it insulates better than glass, also acrylic tanks can be made into interesting shapes and look great with rounded corners or even euro-braced. granted you will pay a little more for the tank, but in my opinion and experience it is well worth it for what you get. Good luck __________________ one day the strength of men will fail...but that is not this day.......THIS DAY WE FIGHT!!! Current Tank Info: 125g mixed LPS, soft coral display. 165lbs of mixed fiji, tonga, and lalo rock. 440watts of VHO lighting. 30g sump with euro-reef CS6-2 skimmer. 60g refugium with LR and various macro algae's.

03/01/2006, 07:58 AM	#9
asphaltpilot Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL Posts: 126	The big plus in acrylic is that it's so much easier to drill. Cutting/drilling holes in glass give me a heart attack every time. It's so fragile. __________________ Happiness is: the R6Network.com forum Current Tank Info: Helping a buddy out

03/01/2006, 01:34 AM	#2
fish are life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: tucson AZ Posts: 171	acrilic has its good aspects and bad ones, the bad ones are that is scratches easier, IMO gets dirty easer, costs more, and once again IMO doesnt look at nice, the good aspects are that it is stronger, when clean looks clearer, lets light penitrate through, is lighter, can come in bigger sizes, can come in any size, and can be patched easily with just anothe rpeice of acrilic. i am shure i missed some things but i hope this is what you were lookin for.

03/01/2006, 02:09 AM	#3
duerr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 49	acrylic scratches very easily. DSB + Easily scratched surface = lots of tiny, tiny scratches. There are types of glass that are comparable to acrylic, as far as clarity goes. Not to mention the additional cost of acrylic, and its tendancy to be a PITA to build/purchase a stand for.So, as far as I'm concerned, glass>acrylic. However, acrylic DOES have its place. Its easy to work with, and is great for making baffles, sumps, overflows, and random little gadgets. I would stick with glass for a display tank, and cheap acrylic for my sump. However...those "seamless" tanks are damn nice to look at...

03/01/2006, 03:13 AM	#5
gchuang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: santa clara, CA Posts: 63	I have an acrylic 90 and love it. Yes, there are scratches, but once you get over it mentally, they really are not noticable. I just like the look of acrylic tanks I guess..

03/01/2006, 04:20 AM	#6
docmenace Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 93	can't mentally get over the look of scratches, nope, glass.....

03/01/2006, 04:22 AM	#7
docmenace Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 93	Oh, my fuge is acrylic though, has nice looking scratches....

03/01/2006, 07:49 AM	#8
pargolf Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 44	I have an acrylic 150(reef with dsb) and 3 glass tanks, 2 90 freshwater and a 45 seahorse. Over the years I have had 2 glass tanks leak and one shattered when it was scratched while cleaning. The glass tanks will also scratch and when it does I think the scratch is more noticeable than an acrylic scratch. I have had the acrylic tank for 7 years and it does scratch and it is harder to clean but it has never leaked. When I saw the bill for replacing the carpet, flooring and dry wall it convinced me I will never buy a glass tank again. All my tanks are now in the basement.

03/01/2006, 08:18 AM	#10
brian3 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: PA Posts: 216	Acrylic tanks can and do leak as well at the seams. After seeing scratched acrylic reef tanks I would never own one. Glass tanks can crack if they are not level, too many holes drilled or are on a poor stand. Set them up properly and you will not have a problem.