Acrylic or Glass - Page 2

dippin61 · 09/21/2006, 05:48 PM

its fine and nice for people to say you can sand out scratches on your tank.. but what theyre forgetting to tell you, you have to empty out your tank to the level of your scratches to buff em out. now if theyre near the sand bed, your talking about a full tank removal..

now how plausible is that?

anyways.. ive had 2 acrylic tanks.. both bowed, both got scratched to hell.. never ever again.

glass.

jab502 · 09/21/2006, 11:12 PM

You do not have to empty your tank to repair acrylic scratches. I repair scratches all the time underwater. I use 4,000, 8,000, and 12,000 grit sandpaper. My LFS sells it for this use. $10 worth of the stuff will last you a year. I scrub with the 4,000 to start and the scratch usually disappears but the acrlyic appears slightly hazy. Then I buff the spot with the 8,000 and the scratch and haze is gone. I have never had to use the 12,000 but I have it if I need it. I would estimate that this takes about 30 seconds per grit for average scratches.

beetle-b · 09/21/2006, 11:28 PM

definatley agree with jabs, dippin is dead wrong about needing to empty tank to get scratches out...Check out this website: http://www.etr-inc.com/

Although this is an endless debate, I have done both glass and acrylic and agree with what most people say if you are running DSB glass is probably the way to go, but if you want a tank that is lighter, stronger, has no seams, and won't leak, then maybe you might like acrylic. And just to add another spin to the debate...IMO acrylic is more clear. I used to not think so but I have a glass tank and acrylic right next to each other and every time people visit me at my house they ask why the acrylic tank looks clearer. Of course maybe because since it is larger people think it looks clearer, but I am always suprised at the number of comments I get on how much clearer it looks.

09/21/2006, 05:48 PM	#26
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	its fine and nice for people to say you can sand out scratches on your tank.. but what theyre forgetting to tell you, you have to empty out your tank to the level of your scratches to buff em out. now if theyre near the sand bed, your talking about a full tank removal.. now how plausible is that? anyways.. ive had 2 acrylic tanks.. both bowed, both got scratched to hell.. never ever again. glass. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

09/21/2006, 11:12 PM	#27
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	You do not have to empty your tank to repair acrylic scratches. I repair scratches all the time underwater. I use 4,000, 8,000, and 12,000 grit sandpaper. My LFS sells it for this use. $10 worth of the stuff will last you a year. I scrub with the 4,000 to start and the scratch usually disappears but the acrlyic appears slightly hazy. Then I buff the spot with the 8,000 and the scratch and haze is gone. I have never had to use the 12,000 but I have it if I need it. I would estimate that this takes about 30 seconds per grit for average scratches.

09/21/2006, 11:28 PM	#28
beetle-b Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 174	definatley agree with jabs, dippin is dead wrong about needing to empty tank to get scratches out...Check out this website: http://www.etr-inc.com/ Although this is an endless debate, I have done both glass and acrylic and agree with what most people say if you are running DSB glass is probably the way to go, but if you want a tank that is lighter, stronger, has no seams, and won't leak, then maybe you might like acrylic. And just to add another spin to the debate...IMO acrylic is more clear. I used to not think so but I have a glass tank and acrylic right next to each other and every time people visit me at my house they ask why the acrylic tank looks clearer. Of course maybe because since it is larger people think it looks clearer, but I am always suprised at the number of comments I get on how much clearer it looks.