Acrylic or Glass?

WatDatThing · 04/19/2017, 04:58 PM

If you are buying a new 125gal tank. Would you buy acrylic or Glass tank? Assuming they are the same price. Why?

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anthonys51 · 04/19/2017, 05:01 PM

Glass. It's not as easy to scratch and over time acrylic can also could

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chaudhry · 04/19/2017, 05:30 PM

Glass, for me.
Limited choices with acrylic when it comes down to cleaning algae. I actually had both at one point but would not go back to acrylic anymore.

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jccaclimber · 04/19/2017, 05:31 PM

I love my acrylic freshwater tank, but my reefs are all glass. I like to be able to use a razor blade to clean them.

albano · 04/19/2017, 05:33 PM

I've been using acrylic tanks since 1991...I have a couple of 120-130g acrylic tanks that are over 20 yrs old and can be buffed out to like new condition... can't do that with glass... just ordered a new 500g 6'x5' acrylic tank, should be here in June... Seriously, you couldn't give me a large glass tank!

Avoiding scratches and cleaning algae are not that hard to do

ajoe · 04/19/2017, 06:09 PM

GLASS for me. Just too easy to scratch acrylic especially when your doing soo much maintenance every week in the tank and on the surfaces. Doesn't take much to ruin your DT view after a scratch here and a scratch there. Sure, glass can scratch as well but no where near the level of acrylic. IMO

A sea K · 04/20/2017, 05:44 AM

Acrylic is not that bad so long as you are diligent in your tank cleaning duties. If you have the habit of being lazy from time to time such as myself then glass is the better option.

WatDatThing · 04/20/2017, 05:58 AM

Thanks guys. I'm more in the lazy camp.

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nereefpat · 04/20/2017, 08:08 AM

Another thing to consider is the risk of failure at the seams. Acrylic is basically welded together at the seams, and is stronger and much less likely to every leak.

aaronwitt · 04/20/2017, 01:54 PM

I've always been a fan of glass. I can go to town on the thing with a razor blade and not worry if I get lazy with scrubbing the algae off with my magfloat. I think the benefits of glass outweigh the benefits of acrylic.

ktownhero · 04/20/2017, 01:57 PM

IMO, never buy acrylic unless you have a real reason to do so, which is typically an extraordinarily huge tank or oddball shape. For a tank like a 125 there's no reason to even consider it. Glass holds up much better over time (read: essentially doesn't scratch) and the clarity on the newer low iron glass is excellent.

albano · 04/20/2017, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktownhero

Glass holds up much better over time (read: essentially doesn't scratch)...

Can't even remember seeing a used glass tank that wasn't scratched...permanently!

ktownhero · 04/20/2017, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

Can't even remember seeing a used glass tank that wasn't scratched...permanently!

Well people can abuse anything

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jccaclimber · 04/20/2017, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

Can't even remember seeing a used glass tank that wasn't scratched...permanently!

It's funny, I've never gotten a used glass tank that wasn't scratched, yet somehow the glass tanks I've gotten new have no scratches years later. I guess I'm just more careful than others. My acrylic tanks have picked up a few scratches, mostly on top and on the outside. I do buff out the outside once once every year or two, but I don't do the inside ones. I even have all the equipment to do the inside ones without draining the tank, I just don't want to take the time and it's a bit of a pain working around the eurobrace.

JUNBUG361 · 04/20/2017, 10:17 PM

Glass for me

Tooboot · 04/21/2017, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccaclimber

It's funny, I've never gotten a used glass tank that wasn't scratched, yet somehow the glass tanks I've gotten new have no scratches years later. I guess I'm just more careful than others. My acrylic tanks have picked up a few scratches, mostly on top and on the outside. I do buff out the outside once once every year or two, but I don't do the inside ones. I even have all the equipment to do the inside ones without draining the tank, I just don't want to take the time and it's a bit of a pain working around the eurobrace.

I'd like to hear more about how you buff the acrylic on the outside (process and products), and even more so related to how you buff the inside without draining (assuming you still need to take out the livestock).

jccaclimber · 04/22/2017, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tooboot

I'd like to hear more about how you buff the acrylic on the outside (process and products), and even more so related to how you buff the inside without draining (assuming you still need to take out the livestock).

An air powered rotary buffer designed for wet use. It vents remotely, and I modified it to remove all the copper components and seal it up a bit better. I run mineral oil for lubricant. It takes a LONG time to get through a decade of coraline, and it's very easy to make a tank full of swirl marks.

WatDatThing · 04/24/2017, 10:04 AM

That does not sounds good. I will go glass XD

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DancingShark · 04/24/2017, 10:08 PM

Glass for me as well. But for those wondering about buffing acrylic with water in the tank here you go.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2538092

accordexi · 04/25/2017, 06:38 AM

I had both and like Glass a bit better now.

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04/19/2017, 04:58 PM	#1
WatDatThing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 830	Acrylic or Glass? If you are buying a new 125gal tank. Would you buy acrylic or Glass tank? Assuming they are the same price. Why? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

04/19/2017, 05:33 PM	#5
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	I've been using acrylic tanks since 1991...I have a couple of 120-130g acrylic tanks that are over 20 yrs old and can be buffed out to like new condition... can't do that with glass... just ordered a new 500g 6'x5' acrylic tank, should be here in June... Seriously, you couldn't give me a large glass tank! Avoiding scratches and cleaning algae are not that hard to do __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

04/20/2017, 05:44 AM	#7
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Acrylic is not that bad so long as you are diligent in your tank cleaning duties. If you have the habit of being lazy from time to time such as myself then glass is the better option. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

04/20/2017, 08:08 AM	#9
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Another thing to consider is the risk of failure at the seams. Acrylic is basically welded together at the seams, and is stronger and much less likely to every leak. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

04/25/2017, 06:38 AM	#20
accordexi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 52	I had both and like Glass a bit better now. Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk __________________ Reefer 525 XL

04/19/2017, 05:01 PM	#2
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	Glass. It's not as easy to scratch and over time acrylic can also could Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/19/2017, 05:30 PM	#3
chaudhry Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 155	Glass, for me. Limited choices with acrylic when it comes down to cleaning algae. I actually had both at one point but would not go back to acrylic anymore. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

04/19/2017, 05:31 PM	#4
jccaclimber Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 528	I love my acrylic freshwater tank, but my reefs are all glass. I like to be able to use a razor blade to clean them.

04/19/2017, 06:09 PM	#6
ajoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 297	GLASS for me. Just too easy to scratch acrylic especially when your doing soo much maintenance every week in the tank and on the surfaces. Doesn't take much to ruin your DT view after a scratch here and a scratch there. Sure, glass can scratch as well but no where near the level of acrylic. IMO

04/20/2017, 05:58 AM	#8
WatDatThing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 830	Thanks guys. I'm more in the lazy camp. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

04/20/2017, 01:54 PM	#10
aaronwitt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	I've always been a fan of glass. I can go to town on the thing with a razor blade and not worry if I get lazy with scrubbing the algae off with my magfloat. I think the benefits of glass outweigh the benefits of acrylic.

04/20/2017, 01:57 PM	#11
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	IMO, never buy acrylic unless you have a real reason to do so, which is typically an extraordinarily huge tank or oddball shape. For a tank like a 125 there's no reason to even consider it. Glass holds up much better over time (read: essentially doesn't scratch) and the clarity on the newer low iron glass is excellent.

04/20/2017, 10:17 PM	#15
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Glass for me

04/24/2017, 10:04 AM	#18
WatDatThing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 830	That does not sounds good. I will go glass XD Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

04/24/2017, 10:08 PM	#19
DancingShark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 126	Glass for me as well. But for those wondering about buffing acrylic with water in the tank here you go. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2538092