Acrylic Tank strength..

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

JEAE21

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Aug 19, 2007
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So i read that acrylic is stronger, can get bigger tanks than glass.
and on the other hand i read that glass doesn't scratch too much.

but what is the biggest GLASS tank they can make?

and are acrylic tanks really that EASY to scratch. i saw some "scrach removers" but do they really work? from the inside & out? Do they work even if the tank water is full; or do you have to remove all the water?
 
Take a look at some of the big Public Aquaria.... tens of thousands (or millions??) of gallons of water... in glass... Big enough for ya?

I use acrylic too, but have only gotten used ones that had scratches, so don't know about that one, sorry.
 
As far as strength, thicker glass is going to be cheaper then acrylic.
 
yeah acrylic do scratch easily the scratch removers don't really work like magic but they do remove some scratches but that's a lot of work anyway fine scratches will not be that noticable when there's water inside the tank...but if you plan on cleaning the inside remove the water you don't want to risk the fishes you have.
 
there are so many advantages and disadvantages. i prefer glass over plastic.
 
In the 10 years I have been doing this, I have had 4 major tank disasters all due to glass tanks failing. I have never had an acrylic tank fail at all.

IMO A properly designed and built acrylic will last a life time with standard care. And just about all the public aquariums I have ever been too use nothing but acrylic for the viewing pane.
 
Acrylic tanks are stronger and more durable, the only thing is it is prone to getting scratched a lot easier. But as someone posted, you don't notice the scratches if you have it filled with water. Aside from that..its called common sense in decorating your tank.

If you plan to use rocks, you'd place it nearer to the back and stack them evenly or use aquarium safe cement to hold them together. Besides acrylic is a lot clearer than glass, unless you get a custom glass tank using starphire glass which will cost you quite a bit.

Bottom line is your own personal choice. :D
 
Ok, thanks!

But santoury said aquariums use glass and VLDesign said they use acrylic. do they use both? since monteray bay aquarium used 13" thick acrylic.

and VLDesign, what were your 4 disasters with glass tanks?
 
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