Acrylic or Glass?

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Mr_Detail

New Member
As far as purchasing a tank goes does anyone have a preference of one over the other regarding the composition (acrylic vs. glass)?
I think the acrylic tanks are more expensive but they tend to get scratched alot if the LR gets moved around. I like the idea of glass better for this reason but I am not sure of the advantages. Let me know if you like.

Thanks!
 
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Trogdor

New Member
Personally I will only use glass. Acrylic scratches very easily. Coraline is almost impossible to get off of acrylic unless you use a razor adapter on a mag-float.
 
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davenia7

New Member
I dunno, I like my acrylic tank. But I also like glass.
Here's what I like about my acrylic:
I don't have to worry about sudden explosions like glass can do.
It has little feet that allow air flow under the tank and makes it less likely to get a bottom crack.
I don't have to have the ugly styrofoam underneath it to keep vibrations to a minimum for fear of breaking.
It's lighter if you have to move it.
Not as much glare.

Here's what I like about my glass:
The facia is easier to clean, algae comes off a lot easier.
The surface is glossy not matte like the acrylic.
Cheaper by far.
Less likely to scratch, easier to move around your rocks.

So really here's the argument:
Would you rather be plagued with a few scratches or the constant fear of a tank explosion?

This is why I lean to acrylic and will probably be buying more acrylic and less glass from here out.
Also, the lighter thing is great. I can lift and move my 5 gal. hex to clean under it. I can not lift a previous 5 gal. glass tank for the same purpose.
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
I've always used glass but in this day and age, I guess I wouldn't be against trying an acrylic tank out just for fun. Good pros and cons davenia7. You've got me thinking.
 
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reefman23

New Member
I actually got an acrylic 40B and started cleaning it up a bit. I found little scratched here and there, then I think I scratched it in the process, then I began to think about the time and effort it would take to buff it out and just didnt want to go down that road. I ended up selling it and just keeping the oak canopy and stand for a glass 40B somwhere down the road. We have almost all acrylic tanks at the aquarium at my college and they are all scratched inside and out and we take very good care of them.

Jesse
 
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Trogdor

New Member
It only takes the smallest grain of sand to get between your algae scrub pad and the acrylic to get a scratch. I just like the clarity of glass over acrylic
 
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davenia7

New Member
Well, I loved glass until I saw a rocking chair go through a glass tank.
Let me add that I am quite possibly the clumsiest person you will ever meet.
Fear of tank explosion is why I will be slowly switching to acrylic, unless like my latest 29 gal....i get a glass tank for free.
 
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skinson

New Member
Hmmm! I was 11 years old when That was first out. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. What I do believe was that American moral was at an all time low, and that something had to be seen to be being done about it. But it turned out to be a lie! a bit like WMD in Iraq really!!!! And the next big lie seems to be the same in Iran!!
Dave
 
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davenia7

New Member
lmao... are we really going there?

but seriously, ask some people on here who have seen it happen.
heck, someone busted one while moving it just the other day. It'll break your heart.
 
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reefman23

New Member
skinson said:
Fear of tank explosion?????
Click to expand...
It happens more than you think... especially with the all in one tanks like the nanocube. An uneven stand, a bump, a bad seam... thats all it takes especially when you start looking at seamless glass tanks with the bent corners.

Jesse
 
K

KidNano

New Member
My friend just gave me an 60 gallon acrylic. he had it for about 2 years and now i've got it up and running, still no scratches. knock on wood, huh?

Dave, you're amusing.
 
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skinson

New Member
Chris. does that mean I could come and stay with you for a month or two on vacation? :pom Of course you'd have to pay my flight from the UK, but seeing as how you Americans are loaded that shouldn't be a problem eh? I'll e-mail you so you know where to send the money.
dave
 
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KidNano

New Member
Well, I could buy you a ticket over, but I'm not sure that i'd like to keep you for an entire month. Pretty sure my wife would be against it. How about you stay there in the UK and keep sharing your theory's with us?

Back on topic: I'm with davenia7. They both have their assets and liabilities.
 
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skinson

New Member
I suppose I could stay with the wifes aunt! she lives in Orange county! Her uncle used to work for Votow engineering.
dave
 
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johnanddawn

New Member
i've had a glass tank crack (jbj nanocube 12 in the bent seam) - it does happen but it is very rare with standard rectangular tanks. i prefer glass though many times over. and yes glass does scratch too, my 15 year old 125 is full of scratches - however if it were acrylic it would obviously be far worse. i know a guy that tried to remove some scratches from a very large acrylic tank and in doing so it seemed to me that he got rid of the scratches but lost some clarity in those spots. acrylic tanks may have a place i guess, but i will never own one.
 
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