Acrylic vs glass..again

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D.Wolf

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2013
362
4
18
Slovenia, Europe
This was probably mentioned million times (seems my search engine doesnt work properly) but i have a question for members who had both types of tanks and both over 240g..

We all know pros and cons of those two materials but..

If you would start new tank all over again - what would you choose - acrylic or glass and why would you choose that material? (Based on your experiance - im doing a bit of research on user opinios so please respond only if you had/have both types of tanks)

Thanks to all :)

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I would lean towards acrylic. It is clearer. I bought a used starfire tank and don't find it that much clearer than regular plate. The insulation factor and weight are the other reasons. I have not found scratching to be an issue with my acrylic tanks. I guess a 20 yo glass tank will still be usable and an acrylic one would just be a sump.

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Acrylic, for the following reasons:

Stronger Seams
Stronger Panels
Superior Clarity
Superior Insulating Properties
Lower Weight

The only advantage I see to glass is that it's less prone to scratches, but if you do scratch it you are SOL. Acrylic does scratch rather easily, but if it does, you can buff it out.
 
Acrylic. Smaller tanks don't matter much for me however.

But my 450 took 6 guys to move, it's acrylic. I have no idea how we would have moved it if it was glass, it would have been WAY too heavy and if we dropped it at all, even a minute drop it would have cracked. Acrylic is more durable in my experience.

Only drawbacks are cost, scratch prone, and yellow staining if kept near a window. IMO
 
Glass, Acrylic is so stupidly over priced here its hardly worth it for anything!

Acrylic would also last me 1 week and I would be crying, I would always scratch the tanks no matter what, with glass I have some tolerance.

I also hate the fact acrylic bows, I know everyone says it safe but no thanks!!!

I do have to ask how one measures the strength of the seams?
 
I have a standard glass 210g and an Acrylic 72g bowfront. One thing I will comment on right off the bat is clarity, the glass is tinted and you can see a bit of that green tinge, the acrylic is very clear. Ive scratched both on the inside due to having sand and getting it on the scrubbers and what not. I can buff out my acrylic but Im stuck with the ones on the glass.

But in the long run I still prefer glass, it feels much more solid to me and better priced. If I were ever to get another bigger glass tank it would be a low iron front panel and black silicone.
 
DMD123 said:
I have a standard glass 210g and an Acrylic 72g bowfront. One thing I will comment on right off the bat is clarity, the glass is tinted and you can see a bit of that green tinge, the acrylic is very clear. Ive scratched both on the inside due to having sand and getting it on the scrubbers and what not. I can buff out my acrylic but Im stuck with the ones on the glass.

But in the long run I still prefer glass, it feels much more solid to me and better priced. If I were ever to get another bigger glass tank it would be a low iron front panel and black silicone.
Click to expand...

I have a low iron front on one. I can't tell much difference.

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Dieselhybrid said:
Acrylic. Smaller tanks don't matter much for me however.

But my 450 took 6 guys to move, it's acrylic. I have no idea how we would have moved it if it was glass, it would have been WAY too heavy and if we dropped it at all, even a minute drop it would have cracked. Acrylic is more durable in my experience.

Only drawbacks are cost, scratch prone, and yellow staining if kept near a window. IMO
Click to expand...

"As for yellowing; no longer the case. Years ago cadmium was used as a molecular binder in the material and that would react with UV and begin to yellow. About 15-20 years ago, cadmium was removed from the formula and now it's simply no longer the case. So as a direct answer; it *was* true, but with today's material, not true." -
James- Envision Acrylics



Squirtle919 said:
Glass, Acrylic is so stupidly over priced here its hardly worth it for anything!

Acrylic would also last me 1 week and I would be crying, I would always scratch the tanks no matter what, with glass I have some tolerance.

I also hate the fact acrylic bows, I know everyone says it safe but no thanks!!!

I do have to ask how one measures the strength of the seams?
Click to expand...

Acrylic tanks that bow are underbuilt. An underbuilt glass tank will also bow.

In regards to measuring stength of seams, I can't site a study or an experiment, but you are basically comparing the strength of a glue (silicone) versus the strenth of acrylic which has been chemically melted together. I have welded acrylic pieces together and know that the strength of the joint is insanely strong, so strong that the acrylic itself will break along where the load is being applied before the seam is broken. If you silicone two pieces of glass (butt joint) together and do the same with acrylic, it will be pretty obvious which is stronger.
 
aldiaz33! This is great news! I'm worried about my 450 being in a window I've even put a wallpaper on the back and top to try and stop UV radiation from reaching the acrylic but I'm pleased to know that I was wrong!

My tank I got from Aceface and was constructed earlier this year so I'm confident that it's newest materials.
 
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