glass??? or acryilic?

travstank · 10/12/2013, 12:55 PM

hello fellow reefers,
im somewhat new, and new to salt aquariums.
i having an arguement with my self and would like to know others opinions. i was given a 135gal glass aquarium, its nice but i have always wanted an acryilic tank abouth the same size.. is ther really any differance in the two other than what they are made out of? such as matiance, cleaning, viewing..
i have not started my aquarium yet but hope to buy the begining of the year.. thanks

YoungREEFA · 10/12/2013, 01:16 PM

acrylic scratches more but its really up to you. Most people use glass

dc · 10/12/2013, 04:40 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum....

Timfish · 10/12/2013, 06:04 PM

I build acrylic tanks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5vCPJQP4JA) but would much rather clean a glass tank. Some of the algae spp take elbow grease to remove and with glass you can use a razor blade (NEW not rusted).

ynot65 · 10/12/2013, 10:15 PM

Glass is my choice

rivvir · 10/12/2013, 10:26 PM

Glass all the way

BrianB421 · 10/13/2013, 04:45 AM

Glass. Nothing worse than a tank with a scratch in it. With acrylic, it's just a mater of time.

turkeyty · 10/13/2013, 05:20 AM

glass for longevity...

Ty

Josh_84 · 10/13/2013, 06:18 AM

I would suggest glass as well. Acrylic scratches if you look at it the wrong way, lol

turboreef318 · 10/13/2013, 06:38 AM

I switched over to glass from acrylic about a year ago after getting tired of looking at several large scratches in the front of my 75 gallon acrylic. It is glass for me frm now on.

Twostepper4041 · 10/13/2013, 06:49 AM

Glass baby... I would never go back

Av8bluewater · 10/13/2013, 10:04 AM

I don't even know anyone that would choose an acrylic aquarium. Unless you're installing a giant custom public aquarium.. go glass.

rssjsb · 10/13/2013, 10:59 AM

Ok, just so this thread isn't completely one-sided: Acrylic offers much better visibility unless you get starphire, which scratches almost as easily.

Acrylic does scratch very easily, which is a drag. I've always had acrylic tanks because i live in earthquake country, but I bought a regular glass 120 based on price and always thought it looked dingy compared to my acrylic tanks, no matter what lighting I tried.

jccaclimber · 10/13/2013, 11:04 AM

The clearest tanks I have seen are acrylic. That said, their owners spend an afternoon polishing the front pane every year. These are freshwater tanks though, so no calcified algae.

reeflover62 · 10/13/2013, 11:46 AM

I'm on my third acrylic tank and I sleep good at night knowing that my tank wont leak from a seam. Plus you can repair scratches on acrylic and cant on glass. Here is number three

mtman58 · 10/13/2013, 01:04 PM

I much prefer acrylic. So much clearer. Yes, they will scratch, just have to take your time when cleaning and not rush it.

Kaos · 10/13/2013, 01:11 PM

I prefer glass for the resistance to scratching.

wrxreefer823 · 10/13/2013, 01:35 PM

I had an acrylic tank about a year ago, and I'll never own another one. It scratches ENTIRELY too easily.

Lamnguyen1313 · 10/13/2013, 01:56 PM

i love acrylic better glass

cmb074 · 10/13/2013, 06:20 PM

I manage to scratch glass.....so I better stay away from acrylic!

austings · 10/13/2013, 06:25 PM

Glass for me as well. But, Not worrying about a seam busting could make me considered acrylic.

Mudbeaver · 10/13/2013, 06:29 PM

Not this old nut again, they should make a sticky, with this glass always win at 94% almost all the time so yes glass, all the way. And its glass in every site i go also . And if your ready to pay the price of acrylic go for starfire then its about the same and you get great clarity. A bit softer glass but not that much.

marcgrantphoto · 10/13/2013, 06:30 PM

Acrylic is clear and renders the most accurate colors. Glass has a greenish tint to it. Glass is more forgiving than acrylic when it comes to cleaning. I like glass but in my opinion, acrylic is more appealing to the eye.

tkeracer619 · 10/13/2013, 08:40 PM

Glass without skimping on the stand.

Acrylic is not break proof. Not even close.

Most of the time if a glass tank breaks its because the stand is twisted/on the wrong type of stand and the water sprays out of the seam in a timely manner and is fixable. Most of the time when acrylic tanks break the bracing goes and the crack extends all the way to one side or down to the bottom.

Neither is earthquake proof but yes I would go with a thicker acrylic tank. Best thing to have in an earthquake is a steel stand that is not bolted to a wall.

Russell F · 10/14/2013, 05:58 AM

Acrylic is pretty but it rarely stays that way long. I prefer glass for DT's, And 'Starfire' on the viewing panel if the glass is going to be thick. As for sumps, Acrylic all the way. I hate removing coraline from acrylic, but glass is a breeze. And not sure if anyone else notices this, but it seems like coraline likes acrylic better!

10/12/2013, 12:55 PM	#1
travstank Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nevada Posts: 4	glass??? or acryilic? hello fellow reefers, im somewhat new, and new to salt aquariums. i having an arguement with my self and would like to know others opinions. i was given a 135gal glass aquarium, its nice but i have always wanted an acryilic tank abouth the same size.. is ther really any differance in the two other than what they are made out of? such as matiance, cleaning, viewing.. i have not started my aquarium yet but hope to buy the begining of the year.. thanks

10/12/2013, 04:40 PM	#3
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	This thread has been moved to the current forum.... __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

10/12/2013, 06:04 PM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I build acrylic tanks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5vCPJQP4JA) but would much rather clean a glass tank. Some of the algae spp take elbow grease to remove and with glass you can use a razor blade (NEW not rusted). __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

10/12/2013, 10:15 PM	#5
ynot65 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: okeechobee florida Posts: 385	Glass is my choice __________________ Keep on reefin Independence Tank, build http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2309295 Current Tank Info: DT 150gal w/ a 55 gal sump, also have a 55gal mixed reef as well as a 40 breeder and a 16gal nano. All are SW

10/13/2013, 04:45 AM	#7
BrianB421 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 189	Glass. Nothing worse than a tank with a scratch in it. With acrylic, it's just a mater of time. __________________ Who knew small animals, salt water, and electricity could be so much fun? Current Tank Info: Tank Info:140gal glass bull nose peninsula/180lbs+ LR/Tao Tronics LEDs/Hydor wave maker/Reef Octopus PS and MR

10/12/2013, 01:16 PM	#2
YoungREEFA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 895	acrylic scratches more but its really up to you. Most people use glass

10/12/2013, 10:26 PM	#6
rivvir Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Austin Tx Posts: 93	Glass all the way

10/13/2013, 05:20 AM	#8
turkeyty Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: kansas Posts: 92	glass for longevity... Ty __________________ 340+ Frankenstein System Current Tank Info: 340+ Frankenstein System

10/13/2013, 06:18 AM	#9
Josh_84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kitchener, On Posts: 201	I would suggest glass as well. Acrylic scratches if you look at it the wrong way, lol

10/13/2013, 06:38 AM	#10
turboreef318 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 65	I switched over to glass from acrylic about a year ago after getting tired of looking at several large scratches in the front of my 75 gallon acrylic. It is glass for me frm now on.

10/13/2013, 10:04 AM	#12
Av8bluewater Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 763	I don't even know anyone that would choose an acrylic aquarium. Unless you're installing a giant custom public aquarium.. go glass.

10/13/2013, 10:59 AM	#13
rssjsb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,243	Ok, just so this thread isn't completely one-sided: Acrylic offers much better visibility unless you get starphire, which scratches almost as easily. Acrylic does scratch very easily, which is a drag. I've always had acrylic tanks because i live in earthquake country, but I bought a regular glass 120 based on price and always thought it looked dingy compared to my acrylic tanks, no matter what lighting I tried. __________________ Robin

10/13/2013, 11:04 AM	#14
jccaclimber Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 528	The clearest tanks I have seen are acrylic. That said, their owners spend an afternoon polishing the front pane every year. These are freshwater tanks though, so no calcified algae.

10/13/2013, 11:46 AM	#15
reeflover62 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 581	I'm on my third acrylic tank and I sleep good at night knowing that my tank wont leak from a seam. Plus you can repair scratches on acrylic and cant on glass. Here is number three

10/13/2013, 01:04 PM	#16
mtman58 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 47	I much prefer acrylic. So much clearer. Yes, they will scratch, just have to take your time when cleaning and not rush it.

10/13/2013, 01:11 PM	#17
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	I prefer glass for the resistance to scratching. __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

10/13/2013, 01:35 PM	#18
wrxreefer823 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 601	I had an acrylic tank about a year ago, and I'll never own another one. It scratches ENTIRELY too easily. __________________ "Before you swim you've gotta be okay to sink..." Current Tank Info: Currently setting up a Red Sea 625 XXL

10/13/2013, 01:56 PM	#19
Lamnguyen1313 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 56	i love acrylic better glass

10/13/2013, 06:20 PM	#20
cmb074 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Harwinton, CT Posts: 27	I manage to scratch glass.....so I better stay away from acrylic!

10/13/2013, 06:25 PM	#21
austings Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 59	Glass for me as well. But, Not worrying about a seam busting could make me considered acrylic.

10/13/2013, 06:29 PM	#22
Mudbeaver Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Gatineau , Canada Posts: 1,379	Not this old nut again, they should make a sticky, with this glass always win at 94% almost all the time so yes glass, all the way. And its glass in every site i go also . And if your ready to pay the price of acrylic go for starfire then its about the same and you get great clarity. A bit softer glass but not that much.

10/13/2013, 06:30 PM	#23
marcgrantphoto Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kansas City, Mo. Posts: 46	Acrylic is clear and renders the most accurate colors. Glass has a greenish tint to it. Glass is more forgiving than acrylic when it comes to cleaning. I like glass but in my opinion, acrylic is more appealing to the eye.

10/13/2013, 08:40 PM	#24
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Glass without skimping on the stand. Acrylic is not break proof. Not even close. Most of the time if a glass tank breaks its because the stand is twisted/on the wrong type of stand and the water sprays out of the seam in a timely manner and is fixable. Most of the time when acrylic tanks break the bracing goes and the crack extends all the way to one side or down to the bottom. Neither is earthquake proof but yes I would go with a thicker acrylic tank. Best thing to have in an earthquake is a steel stand that is not bolted to a wall. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/14/2013, 05:58 AM	#25
Russell F Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 62	Acrylic is pretty but it rarely stays that way long. I prefer glass for DT's, And 'Starfire' on the viewing panel if the glass is going to be thick. As for sumps, Acrylic all the way. I hate removing coraline from acrylic, but glass is a breeze. And not sure if anyone else notices this, but it seems like coraline likes acrylic better! __________________ Russell Current Tank Info: 65g reef. Prop tank in the works.