Upstairs tank acrylic or glass?

marrstarr · 03/03/2006, 03:15 AM

Well I have been planning on getting a new tank for some time now. I live on the second floor so I have decided a 90g would be the best size for me. I wanted to go acrylic but the custom tank and shipping to Hawaii would cost around $1000. Or I can just go down the road and get a 90g glass tank for around $150. I didn't want glass because of the potential for a leak or worse yet the tank breaking. I don't think the down stairs landlord would like 90 gals in his living room. So how often do glass tanks leak/break and is the cost to risk ratio worth it?

pitt_prodigy · 03/03/2006, 05:17 AM

Personally i think your pretty safe getting a glass tank if its brand new. It should not leak and the glass for a 90g is pretty thick so it would be pretty tough to break.

I would be more worried about the tank weight on the second floor. A 90g tank will weigh approx 900lbs with JUST WATER in it. This doesnt take into account the stand or the rocks or sand and all the other stuff thats involved. Im not sayin not to go for it.... just make sure that structurally this is going to work out.

Landlord would get upset if it leaked and came through his ceiling.... but i cant imagine how upset he would be if the whole works came crashing through the floor into his living room!

Teremei · 03/03/2006, 05:35 AM

glass breaks are very rare. And if you get a tank from a good quality manifacturer, with thick glass, given sturdy level ground, extremely rare.

a4twenty · 03/03/2006, 06:58 AM

i think the main cause for a glass tank to break is improper installation. if installed level and on a flat surface i think its very rare for them to fail ( i'm sure someone has a horror story though ) as for the weight on the second floor, it's no different than if it where on the main floor. if you're really worried about it place the tank close to a load bearing wall for support

03/03/2006, 03:15 AM	#1
marrstarr Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 69	Upstairs tank acrylic or glass? Well I have been planning on getting a new tank for some time now. I live on the second floor so I have decided a 90g would be the best size for me. I wanted to go acrylic but the custom tank and shipping to Hawaii would cost around $1000. Or I can just go down the road and get a 90g glass tank for around $150. I didn't want glass because of the potential for a leak or worse yet the tank breaking. I don't think the down stairs landlord would like 90 gals in his living room. So how often do glass tanks leak/break and is the cost to risk ratio worth it?

03/03/2006, 05:17 AM	#2
pitt_prodigy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 751	Personally i think your pretty safe getting a glass tank if its brand new. It should not leak and the glass for a 90g is pretty thick so it would be pretty tough to break. I would be more worried about the tank weight on the second floor. A 90g tank will weigh approx 900lbs with JUST WATER in it. This doesnt take into account the stand or the rocks or sand and all the other stuff thats involved. Im not sayin not to go for it.... just make sure that structurally this is going to work out. Landlord would get upset if it leaked and came through his ceiling.... but i cant imagine how upset he would be if the whole works came crashing through the floor into his living room! __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 72 gallon RR Oceanic, heavily modded ASM G2 skimmer, 30g sump/refugium, AI vega lighting x 2, apex controller, Phos Reactor, etc.

03/03/2006, 05:35 AM	#3
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	glass breaks are very rare. And if you get a tank from a good quality manifacturer, with thick glass, given sturdy level ground, extremely rare.

03/03/2006, 06:58 AM	#4
a4twenty Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,603	i think the main cause for a glass tank to break is improper installation. if installed level and on a flat surface i think its very rare for them to fail ( i'm sure someone has a horror story though ) as for the weight on the second floor, it's no different than if it where on the main floor. if you're really worried about it place the tank close to a load bearing wall for support