glass vs acrylic 300 gallon reef tank

tigershark4 · 02/27/2006, 07:28 AM

I am looking to purchase a 300 gallon tank. I have been talking to Ron at Tenecor. the only thing that I am worried about is it scratching. Most large reef tanks seem to be glass. Does anyone have any ideas and if so what manufactor do you recommend.

Johnsteph10 · 02/27/2006, 08:25 AM

Where do you see most large reef tanks being glass? Most large reef tanks are acrylic!

Tenecor is ok....talk to James at www.envisionacrylics.com - he is the best in the business and I could not recommend him enough!

Marefish · 02/27/2006, 08:31 AM

i've had 2 acrylic tanks one was Tenecor which worked out great.

i wouldnt let scratching stop me from getting another acrylic. use an acrylic cleaning pad and no water circulation (to mix up sand etc.) and thats all you need really.

tigershark4 · 02/27/2006, 04:29 PM

John I sent James a request for a price quote.

john37 · 02/27/2006, 05:48 PM

Get glass. You are going to kick yourself when you scratch your $2500 tank. Just invest in starphire and you can have the best of both worlds.

Ti · 02/27/2006, 06:14 PM

Starfire

chetm2 · 02/27/2006, 08:53 PM

Are you going to have closed loop systems? Do you want eurobracing? I ended up going with a acrylic (Tenecor Tank) because I wanted all of the above and if I went glass the bottom would of had to been tempered as well as the price with regular glass from LeeMar was over 1200 dollars more. I had a glass tank before and scratched it. I had acrylic before and scratched it. I also had the rock wall action going on and didn't zip tie the rock together and when It came tumbling down I'm lucky It didn't break the glass. If you can afford the glass go for it. If money is a factor acrylic is cheaper on the bigger size tanks as well as lighter and better clarity.

tigershark4 · 02/28/2006, 08:33 AM

Who is building large glass tanks? I do not want to buy from glasscage.

anthworks · 02/28/2006, 08:44 AM

I would go glass. The acrylic that I have takes real effort to keep clean. The coraline seems to grow into the acrylic and you cant use a razor or it will scratch. And no matter how hard you try you will end up scratching the tank.

The draw backs to glass are cost and weight.

chetm2 · 02/28/2006, 09:05 AM

Have you tried a credit card? Those fake ones they send work well and getting the coraline algae off.

tigershark4 · 02/28/2006, 09:09 AM

Anthony I have seen you on several threads. I am looking into mrc skimmer, cr and sump. By the way do you know anyone that is building a glass tank. If I did not want a tank 96 x 30 x 30 I would just go to aquarium center and buy a 210. go Nationals

Pyrrhus · 02/28/2006, 09:39 AM

an acrylic tank will not dump onto the floor.

anthworks · 02/28/2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tigershark4
Anthony I have seen you on several threads. I am looking into mrc skimmer, cr and sump. By the way do you know anyone that is building a glass tank. If I did not want a tank 96 x 30 x 30 I would just go to aquarium center and buy a 210. go Nationals

I bought the acrylic tank from Tropical Fish World at Walnut Hill. They offered a good price and some buyers protection. I love the build of the tank but acrylic is a pain. Once your tank gets mature the coraline build up can come on in a couple of days. You have to use plastic scraping and lower down in the tank is tough to get at. If you use a magnet it can scratch easily unless you are really careful. I had been thinking of switching it out for a glass tank but that is such a huge undertaking and my tank is looking great I dont want to disturb everything.

I have a MRC2 with the GENX 8400 submersable and the CR 1 from Andy and have no complaints. I thought about upgrading the skimmer to an H&S but the cost... yikes.

I tried to buy a tank from Aquarium center in Randelstown. I drove from Rockville to Baltimore. When I went to pay with a credit card they said cash only for tank purchases (special orders)??? I was ****ed. So I went with the acrylic tank. The clearity of the acrlyic is incredible... So much better then regualr glass.

If you want you can PM me for more info.

Go Nats!!

gobygoby · 02/28/2006, 10:05 AM

I vote glass

Quote:

an acrylic tank will not dump onto the floor.

I have seen more then enough acrylic tanks seams split. and a few crack.

tigershark4 · 02/28/2006, 10:52 AM

So many people say go glass and go starfire but no one can give me company to build a glass tank/ please help

john37 · 02/28/2006, 12:17 PM

well i dont know about mayland but here in cali i ordered from LeeMar.

I also heard that advanced aquatecs(something like that) is good as well.

Wryknow · 02/28/2006, 01:25 PM

Oceanic will build a custom glass tank (including starfire glass) if you request it through an authorized retailer. I chose to go with glass over acrylic primarily due to the easier maintenance (glass cleaning.)

unit91 · 02/28/2006, 02:34 PM

It wounds like the best advice would be depending on your experience, and how confident you are in your filtration and being able to keep the water crystal clear and free of detritus/algea. if you're not so confident go with glass. If you are and you have spared no expence with filtration, cleanup crews, etc... acrylic.

James77 · 02/28/2006, 02:37 PM

These guys gave me a decent quote when I was looking into having a starfire tank built.

http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/

02/27/2006, 07:28 AM	#1
tigershark4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 96	glass vs acrylic 300 gallon reef tank I am looking to purchase a 300 gallon tank. I have been talking to Ron at Tenecor. the only thing that I am worried about is it scratching. Most large reef tanks seem to be glass. Does anyone have any ideas and if so what manufactor do you recommend.

02/27/2006, 08:25 AM	#2
Johnsteph10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The South Posts: 2,537	Where do you see most large reef tanks being glass? Most large reef tanks are acrylic! Tenecor is ok....talk to James at www.envisionacrylics.com - he is the best in the business and I could not recommend him enough! __________________ John Current Tank Info: None

02/27/2006, 05:48 PM	#5
john37 Super Rad Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 92867, 90240 Posts: 2,772	Get glass. You are going to kick yourself when you scratch your $2500 tank. Just invest in starphire and you can have the best of both worlds. __________________ Romans 10:9 Current Tank Info: ange!

02/27/2006, 06:14 PM	#6
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Starfire __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/28/2006, 09:39 AM	#12
Pyrrhus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 2,713	an acrylic tank will not dump onto the floor. __________________ Severe Knowledge In Plumbing

02/27/2006, 08:31 AM	#3
Marefish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York Posts: 25	i've had 2 acrylic tanks one was Tenecor which worked out great. i wouldnt let scratching stop me from getting another acrylic. use an acrylic cleaning pad and no water circulation (to mix up sand etc.) and thats all you need really.

02/27/2006, 04:29 PM	#4
tigershark4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 96	John I sent James a request for a price quote.

02/27/2006, 08:53 PM	#7
chetm2 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,089	Are you going to have closed loop systems? Do you want eurobracing? I ended up going with a acrylic (Tenecor Tank) because I wanted all of the above and if I went glass the bottom would of had to been tempered as well as the price with regular glass from LeeMar was over 1200 dollars more. I had a glass tank before and scratched it. I had acrylic before and scratched it. I also had the rock wall action going on and didn't zip tie the rock together and when It came tumbling down I'm lucky It didn't break the glass. If you can afford the glass go for it. If money is a factor acrylic is cheaper on the bigger size tanks as well as lighter and better clarity.

02/28/2006, 08:33 AM	#8
tigershark4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 96	Who is building large glass tanks? I do not want to buy from glasscage.

02/28/2006, 08:44 AM	#9
anthworks Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,071	I would go glass. The acrylic that I have takes real effort to keep clean. The coraline seems to grow into the acrylic and you cant use a razor or it will scratch. And no matter how hard you try you will end up scratching the tank. The draw backs to glass are cost and weight.

02/28/2006, 09:05 AM	#10
chetm2 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,089	Have you tried a credit card? Those fake ones they send work well and getting the coraline algae off.

02/28/2006, 09:09 AM	#11
tigershark4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 96	Anthony I have seen you on several threads. I am looking into mrc skimmer, cr and sump. By the way do you know anyone that is building a glass tank. If I did not want a tank 96 x 30 x 30 I would just go to aquarium center and buy a 210. go Nationals

02/28/2006, 10:52 AM	#15
tigershark4 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 96	So many people say go glass and go starfire but no one can give me company to build a glass tank/ please help

02/28/2006, 12:17 PM	#16
john37 Super Rad Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 92867, 90240 Posts: 2,772	well i dont know about mayland but here in cali i ordered from LeeMar. I also heard that advanced aquatecs(something like that) is good as well. __________________ Romans 10:9 Current Tank Info: ange!

02/28/2006, 01:25 PM	#17
Wryknow Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,203	Oceanic will build a custom glass tank (including starfire glass) if you request it through an authorized retailer. I chose to go with glass over acrylic primarily due to the easier maintenance (glass cleaning.) __________________ You cannot use reason to change the opinion of a person that did not use reason to form their opinion in the first place. Current Tank Info: 65 G RR, w/ 50 G sump/refugium, DIY LED lighting, AquaMaxx CO-1 skimmer, Tunze 1073.050 return

02/28/2006, 02:34 PM	#18
unit91 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BC Posts: 52	It wounds like the best advice would be depending on your experience, and how confident you are in your filtration and being able to keep the water crystal clear and free of detritus/algea. if you're not so confident go with glass. If you are and you have spared no expence with filtration, cleanup crews, etc... acrylic. __________________ 72gal bowfront fowlr w/approx 40lbs fiji LR + 50lbs LS, 20gal sump. Rena XP3 canister, Remora skimmer 1-Picasso trigger 1-Coral Beauty 1-Diadema Dottyback 1-Six Line Wrasse 1-Percula Clown Current Tank Info: 72gal bowfront w/overflow, fowlr

02/28/2006, 02:37 PM	#19
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	These guys gave me a decent quote when I was looking into having a starfire tank built. http://www.miraclesaquariums.com/ __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater