Acrylic or Plywood? Costs, Pros and Cons

[FreshyNut]

I am going to finally build my own tank! Was planning on going acrylic as it is relatively simple and light weight. Going for a 300ish gallon set up, currently the measurements are going to be 72Lx24Hx36W and the cheapest price I could find in my area was around $850 for 3/4", pre cut to the needed sizes.
What does everyone think about this price?
Would it be more cost effective to build a plywood aquarium instead? (With front and side viewing)
What has experience taught you about to pros and cons of the two types?
Another question is do I have to brace the top or make a frame to keep it together properly?

 

[twentyleagues]

I am going to finally build my own tank! Was planning on going acrylic as it is relatively simple and light weight. Going for a 300ish gallon set up, currently the measurements are going to be 72Lx24Hx36W and the cheapest price I could find in my area was around $850 for 3/4", pre cut to the needed sizes.
What does everyone think about this price?
Would it be more cost effective to build a plywood aquarium instead? (With front and side viewing)
What has experience taught you about to pros and cons of the two types?
Another question is do I have to brace the top or make a frame to keep it together properly?

I've been looking into plywood aquariums. Top bracing is needed. You can build a frame if you want to, it would be a stronger more ridged construct that way. It sounds like it would probably be cheeper to go acrylic for that price though. From what research I've done I have found plywood is around $50/sheet for 3/4" if you don't build a frame you will need to double it up in some fashion like cutting strips for exterior bracing. Then epoxy seems to run around $200-300 depending on type then you are looking for glass or acrylic. I've heard acrylic is harder to use on a plywood build. Sheet of glass could run you up to $900. I think that was an 8' piece that one of the guys here had but I figured part for the front and part for 1 side for you bout the same. I've done some acrylic stuff nothing that big but I don't remember weldon being all that expensive. So at that price I'd say acrylic.

 

[FreshyNut]

Ouch OK thanks. I have heard the same about acrylic being a pain compared to using glass in Pl ywood aquariums. And the cost of glass definitely isn't in my budget.
And sorry I should've specified, do I need any sort of bracing for the acrylic build?

 

[twentyleagues]

Ouch OK thanks. I have heard the same about acrylic being a pain compared to using glass in Pl ywood aquariums. And the cost of glass definitely isn't in my budget.
And sorry I should've specified, do I need any sort of bracing for the acrylic build?

Yes you will want to either design the top of the aquarium so that it will serve as the brace or just use strips of acrylic from front to back as braces. Get say 4 3-4" strips attach two one on either end to the front and the back and 1 side then the other two evenly spaced in the middle of the tank 1 at say 14" from the end and the other 14" from that or what ever looks good and will give you decent bow protection.

 

[Niners4952]

I have my 600 plywood for well over a year. I am very impressed with it, no problems at all. You have a lot of options with plywood. I would only use glass as your view panel. My 600 has 1/2" thick glass. You really need to think about how big you can go, I would not build a plywood tank under 300, it is only about $200 more to go from 300 to 600 gallon

 

[badassissimo]

I agree with N Niners4952 . I don't have one of my own but if cost is at all mentioned, go for the bigger bang for the buck. It's mentioned so the best advice is to provide yourself with a decent sized tank to justify the cost. $850 is about the same as the builds I've seen in the past. It seems you could do either for same cost. The build I'm planning is being done using used materials from a broken aquarium and left over materials. My build cost will therefore be quite low. This may be something to consider for your build. Do you have broken aquariums? Have you seen any? I bet you could find one this weekend if you look today. Glass tables are cheap too. You wouldn't be able to make a tall aquarium but you could go long and wide after a few cuts. Glass shops sometimes have scrap pieces. Those could be your braces. I'm speaking more to the cost goal you mentioned and I hope that appropriate frugal choices and networking will help you reach your goal like they did for me.