Acrylic or glass?

lightningfront · 12/02/2008, 08:22 PM

So I'm set on a 46 bowfront for my first reef tank (space requirements or i'd get bigger) I'm trying to determine wether to get a aqueon glass tank or the seaclear acrylic tank.

I'm going to be drilling the tank either way for bulkheads and run a "coast to coast" style overflow to a DIY sump/fuge. A friend has the correct glass bit to drill the glass so thats not a issue.

I already have one of those light fixtures that rests on the rim of the tank and sits an inch off the surface on little legs. Does anyone know if these fixtures will even work with an acrylic as it does not have a trim piece around the top?

I have an acrylic sump for my 125 gallon cichlid tank and the sides have bowed out so the lid does not fit anymore. Has anyone had experience with the acrylic tanks bowing out of shape?

The glass tank and glass lids is going to cost me $180 and the acrylic will run $280. Is there reason enough to justify the cost difference?

marinelife · 12/02/2008, 08:51 PM

For that size tank I would go with glass. No real reason for an acrylic tank unless you are in the 200+ range.

Playa-1 · 12/02/2008, 09:11 PM

I would go with the glass tank.

sean_954 · 12/02/2008, 09:43 PM

+1 Glass ...........

ccampo · 12/02/2008, 10:06 PM

Glass all the time.
With acrylic, if you're not very careful when cleaning it, will be full of small scratches

lightningfront · 12/02/2008, 11:02 PM

Thanks for the replies, glad to see the chaeper route is the better one

jawfish1 · 12/03/2008, 03:53 PM

I would also agree with what everyone else has said here. I have both types of tanks (very nice glass and VERY nice acrylic). For the size of tank you are talking about, there is no need to go acrylic. The real reason to spend the extra money on a nice acrylic tank is when you are getting either a very large tank, or a uniquely shaped tank.

Stick with glass unless other factors warrant the need for acrylic. For those of you thinking of going acrylic, be very careful on what type of acrylic tank you purchase.

As ccampo pointed out, most acrylic tanks are usually full of scratches after a couple of months. To make matters worse, you will get calcium and other stuff that will build up in some of those scratches that make them darn near impossible to get rid of!

I have two acrylic tanks. One is a typical 60g normal acrylic tank I bought from the LFS. It is about a year old and just FULL of scratches from various things. It is VERY easy to scratch. In fact just using the acrylic approved magnet cleaner has caused a bunch of scratches (even though it shouldn't have). My other tank is a 240g custom made acrylic tank that uses a special type of hardened and coated acrylic designed to be very scratch resistant. This tank is GORGEOUS. It's now about three years old and it has only one noticeable scratch (from when I was first setting it up I had a bad mishap with a large piece of LR).

Lesson here? If you do go with acrylic, spend the extra $$ on the scratch resistant acrylic...

jeninjohnk · 12/03/2008, 07:40 PM

GLASS!

12/02/2008, 08:22 PM	#1
lightningfront Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 86	Acrylic or glass? So I'm set on a 46 bowfront for my first reef tank (space requirements or i'd get bigger) I'm trying to determine wether to get a aqueon glass tank or the seaclear acrylic tank. I'm going to be drilling the tank either way for bulkheads and run a "coast to coast" style overflow to a DIY sump/fuge. A friend has the correct glass bit to drill the glass so thats not a issue. I already have one of those light fixtures that rests on the rim of the tank and sits an inch off the surface on little legs. Does anyone know if these fixtures will even work with an acrylic as it does not have a trim piece around the top? I have an acrylic sump for my 125 gallon cichlid tank and the sides have bowed out so the lid does not fit anymore. Has anyone had experience with the acrylic tanks bowing out of shape? The glass tank and glass lids is going to cost me $180 and the acrylic will run $280. Is there reason enough to justify the cost difference?

12/02/2008, 08:51 PM	#2
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	For that size tank I would go with glass. No real reason for an acrylic tank unless you are in the 200+ range. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

12/02/2008, 09:43 PM	#4
sean_954 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Coral springs , FL Posts: 50	+1 Glass ........... __________________ " Good is the enemy of being great " Current Tank Info: Building a 150 Gal ( 48 x 24 x 30 ) still in start mode !!

12/02/2008, 10:06 PM	#5
ccampo ORCA Web***** Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 588	Glass all the time. With acrylic, if you're not very careful when cleaning it, will be full of small scratches __________________ good luck, Cesar ---------------------------------------------------- 210g tank 72x24x29, sump with Refuge, Mixed fish and corals reef tank Current Tank Info: 210g SW mixed reef, 30g SW

12/03/2008, 03:53 PM	#7
jawfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Aliso Viejo, CA Posts: 48	I would also agree with what everyone else has said here. I have both types of tanks (very nice glass and VERY nice acrylic). For the size of tank you are talking about, there is no need to go acrylic. The real reason to spend the extra money on a nice acrylic tank is when you are getting either a very large tank, or a uniquely shaped tank. Stick with glass unless other factors warrant the need for acrylic. For those of you thinking of going acrylic, be very careful on what type of acrylic tank you purchase. As ccampo pointed out, most acrylic tanks are usually full of scratches after a couple of months. To make matters worse, you will get calcium and other stuff that will build up in some of those scratches that make them darn near impossible to get rid of! I have two acrylic tanks. One is a typical 60g normal acrylic tank I bought from the LFS. It is about a year old and just FULL of scratches from various things. It is VERY easy to scratch. In fact just using the acrylic approved magnet cleaner has caused a bunch of scratches (even though it shouldn't have). My other tank is a 240g custom made acrylic tank that uses a special type of hardened and coated acrylic designed to be very scratch resistant. This tank is GORGEOUS. It's now about three years old and it has only one noticeable scratch (from when I was first setting it up I had a bad mishap with a large piece of LR). Lesson here? If you do go with acrylic, spend the extra $$ on the scratch resistant acrylic... __________________ - Jawfish1 - Current Tank Info: 60g SPS reef tank (looking for a new 120-150)

12/02/2008, 09:11 PM	#3
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would go with the glass tank.

12/02/2008, 11:02 PM	#6
lightningfront Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 86	Thanks for the replies, glad to see the chaeper route is the better one

12/03/2008, 07:40 PM	#8
jeninjohnk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: lemont,il Posts: 699	GLASS!