Acrylic or glass

Reel North · 03/07/2014, 01:51 PM

Im looking ahead a year or 2.

Im thinking a 96 x 30w x 24 ish tall tank. It would be somewhere around 300 g

It would be a reef.

What would you recommend? Glass or acrylic?

any reputable manufacturers out there that would be recommended? I live in Canada so would likely have to get in the US

igot2gats · 03/07/2014, 01:57 PM

It really depends on your preference.

Acrylic is lighter, but scratches MUCH easier than glass. You can have rounded edges with Acrylic. Glass is all corners.

Miracles Aquariums is a pretty well respected tank maker, and they're in Canada. You might want to check them out...

Here's a good thread to check out for some research:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...acryl+vs+glass

Ratbrow · 03/07/2014, 02:35 PM

My last glass aquarium busted at teh seem and flooded my livingroom, that was 12 years ago. That is why I decided to go Acrylic this time. Here is what I have found regarding the Acrylic:

1. Very lightweight
2. Love the rounded corners
3. Some will argue, but I think clarity is much better than glass.
4. Scratches "very" easily. This shouldn't be an issue if you are careful.
5. The top of Acrylic tanks need "edging" to support the design. So basically you have much less space in the back to add things, and you have a rim which is very hard to clean under.

I think if you are going with a sump and don't plan on having much of anything hanging on the back than acrylic is a great choice. Especially if you have a canopy or something that hides the waterline.
If you have a set-up like I have (sumpless), it tends to be a little tricky. Plus, keeping condensation and salt from under the rim is next to impossible and it makes the tank much harder to clean and is an eyesore.

G_Sanab922 · 03/07/2014, 02:49 PM

Like ratbrow said above, some will argue but, acrylic has 97% clarity which would definitely allow you to see everything better, especially the colors. And Glass has about 75% clarity.
Even though acrylic scratches easily, it can always be buffed out which isn't too hard.

jdstank · 03/07/2014, 02:56 PM

It might boil down to cost, at 24" high and 8' long it's going to require some seriously thick acrylic - probably 3/4" min. and I would guess most would recommend 1" based on past experience. 1/2" glass should be fine for a tank that size, but acrylic of that height and length will bow without either serious bracing or very thick walls.

Calappidae · 03/07/2014, 02:58 PM

Glass.. acrylic may be clearer but good luck cleaning it when algae and other crap builds up on it. A standard rag will stratch it even.

On the outside I get scratches out with toothpaste.. inside you're in trouble if something scratches midway or bottom.. especially in a large setup you can't take down.

For the cost if someday something happened to the glass you'd atleast be able to afford the replacement instead of look at forever destroyed acrylic..

My 29 gallon glass cost me 69 dollars (with powerfilter, lighting) my acrylic 30 gallon cost me 217 dollars!!

Reel North · 03/07/2014, 03:51 PM

I may have to get it built on site if its glass. Its in my basement, and getting a 700 lb tank down the steps would not be a scene I would want to visit I think lol.

I got a quote from Miracles for the glass only and to was 2500. That wasn't built. Plus 13% tax.

How tough would this be to build myself in glass provided all the edges were polished?

Glass was 3/4" I have been quoted.

jdstank · 03/07/2014, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel North

I may have to get it built on site if its glass. Its in my basement, and getting a 700 lb tank down the steps would not be a scene I would want to visit I think lol.

I got a quote from Miracles for the glass only and to was 2500. That wasn't built. Plus 13% tax.

How tough would this be to build myself in glass provided all the edges were polished?

Glass was 3/4" I have been quoted.

Are you going rimless?
Building yourself wouldn't be that hard, but panes that big will have some weight so definitely recruit at minimum 1 extra body, preferably 2 to help out. Even an acrylic of that size at the needed thickness would pack some decent weight, obviously not as much as glass but still some weight.

danil · 03/07/2014, 04:49 PM

I would say it's all about scratches. If you can leave with them - go acrylic if you think you'll be mad to see some - you must go glass.

mayjong · 03/07/2014, 05:02 PM

glass, glass, GLASS!

think on this- a regular bathtowel, wiped with medium pressure on acrylic will scratch it., heck you can scratch/haze it with a papertowel if you rub hard.
if you have never had a tank, your have to scrape (hard) coralline and other algeas on the inside....result=scratches
buffing out scratches on the outside will work, but along with all the other time you spend, do you NEED to spend even more time doing that? NO!

i do not like my acrylic...can you tell?

use starfire glass...

Reel North · 03/07/2014, 05:41 PM

I have a 150 g now, and I know what you mean about scaling the algae. It was mostly for the weight of moving it downstairs. I was going to go with eurobracing around the outsides.

The scratches, no matter what I think right now, would drive me NUTS.

Gizmo18405 · 03/08/2014, 11:52 AM

I bought a used 300 acrylic and got it cheap spent hours sanding and polishing the scratches out. Then scratched it just by whipping with a terry towel. So I've bought a 380 gallon glass tank and am selling the 300 acrylic. Just my experience and imagine sand getting in between your algae scrubber and scratching your new acrylic tank. That is why I went back to a glass tank. Just my experience.

03/07/2014, 01:51 PM	#1
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	Acrylic or glass Im looking ahead a year or 2. Im thinking a 96 x 30w x 24 ish tall tank. It would be somewhere around 300 g It would be a reef. What would you recommend? Glass or acrylic? any reputable manufacturers out there that would be recommended? I live in Canada so would likely have to get in the US

03/07/2014, 01:57 PM	#2
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	It really depends on your preference. Acrylic is lighter, but scratches MUCH easier than glass. You can have rounded edges with Acrylic. Glass is all corners. Miracles Aquariums is a pretty well respected tank maker, and they're in Canada. You might want to check them out... Here's a good thread to check out for some research: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...acryl+vs+glass __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

03/07/2014, 02:35 PM	#3
Ratbrow Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 183	My last glass aquarium busted at teh seem and flooded my livingroom, that was 12 years ago. That is why I decided to go Acrylic this time. Here is what I have found regarding the Acrylic: 1. Very lightweight 2. Love the rounded corners 3. Some will argue, but I think clarity is much better than glass. 4. Scratches "very" easily. This shouldn't be an issue if you are careful. 5. The top of Acrylic tanks need "edging" to support the design. So basically you have much less space in the back to add things, and you have a rim which is very hard to clean under. I think if you are going with a sump and don't plan on having much of anything hanging on the back than acrylic is a great choice. Especially if you have a canopy or something that hides the waterline. If you have a set-up like I have (sumpless), it tends to be a little tricky. Plus, keeping condensation and salt from under the rim is next to impossible and it makes the tank much harder to clean and is an eyesore. __________________ 50 gallon Acrylic, AquaLife 6 bulb t5 HO with LED, 2 Tunze 6045 powerheads, Eheim Ecco 2236 Canister, Cobalt Neo-Therm 150 heater, Aquamaxx HOB skimmer, 60 lb live Rock, 70 lbs live sand.

03/07/2014, 02:56 PM	#5
jdstank Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: MD Posts: 182	It might boil down to cost, at 24" high and 8' long it's going to require some seriously thick acrylic - probably 3/4" min. and I would guess most would recommend 1" based on past experience. 1/2" glass should be fine for a tank that size, but acrylic of that height and length will bow without either serious bracing or very thick walls. __________________ 37x33x18 95g Shallow Reef Current Tank Info: 150 gallon reef

03/07/2014, 02:58 PM	#6
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	Glass.. acrylic may be clearer but good luck cleaning it when algae and other crap builds up on it. A standard rag will stratch it even. On the outside I get scratches out with toothpaste.. inside you're in trouble if something scratches midway or bottom.. especially in a large setup you can't take down. For the cost if someday something happened to the glass you'd atleast be able to afford the replacement instead of look at forever destroyed acrylic.. My 29 gallon glass cost me 69 dollars (with powerfilter, lighting) my acrylic 30 gallon cost me 217 dollars!! __________________ Joe

03/07/2014, 02:49 PM	#4
G_Sanab922 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Keys Posts: 1,392	Like ratbrow said above, some will argue but, acrylic has 97% clarity which would definitely allow you to see everything better, especially the colors. And Glass has about 75% clarity. Even though acrylic scratches easily, it can always be buffed out which isn't too hard.

03/07/2014, 03:51 PM	#7
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	I may have to get it built on site if its glass. Its in my basement, and getting a 700 lb tank down the steps would not be a scene I would want to visit I think lol. I got a quote from Miracles for the glass only and to was 2500. That wasn't built. Plus 13% tax. How tough would this be to build myself in glass provided all the edges were polished? Glass was 3/4" I have been quoted.

03/07/2014, 04:49 PM	#9
danil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 935	I would say it's all about scratches. If you can leave with them - go acrylic if you think you'll be mad to see some - you must go glass.

03/07/2014, 05:02 PM	#10
mayjong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 2,426	glass, glass, GLASS! think on this- a regular bathtowel, wiped with medium pressure on acrylic will scratch it., heck you can scratch/haze it with a papertowel if you rub hard. if you have never had a tank, your have to scrape (hard) coralline and other algeas on the inside....result=scratches buffing out scratches on the outside will work, but along with all the other time you spend, do you NEED to spend even more time doing that? NO! i do not like my acrylic...can you tell? use starfire glass... __________________ No Tanks... I'm out! still lurking, though...

03/07/2014, 05:41 PM	#11
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	I have a 150 g now, and I know what you mean about scaling the algae. It was mostly for the weight of moving it downstairs. I was going to go with eurobracing around the outsides. The scratches, no matter what I think right now, would drive me NUTS.

03/08/2014, 11:52 AM	#12
Gizmo18405 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 38	I bought a used 300 acrylic and got it cheap spent hours sanding and polishing the scratches out. Then scratched it just by whipping with a terry towel. So I've bought a 380 gallon glass tank and am selling the 300 acrylic. Just my experience and imagine sand getting in between your algae scrubber and scratching your new acrylic tank. That is why I went back to a glass tank. Just my experience.