Acrylic VS Glass?

[zoohouse]

The solvent welds on acrylic tanks are prone to split open in time, especially when exposed to uv lights for long periods. I perfer acrylic over glass mostly due to weight and the ease to drill if need be. The most important question is manufacturer.

 

[Andrew69]

The fact that acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass and that the seams on acrylic tanks are essentially fused together makes them much less likely to fail.

So why does it seem that acrylic is so much thicker than glass? I read a thread where someone was building an acrylic tank thats the same size as my glass tank but was recommended almost double the thickness of my glass?


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[Chromobotia]

So why does it seem that acrylic is so much thicker than glass? I read a thread where someone was building an acrylic tank thats the same size as my glass tank but was recommended almost double the thickness of my glass?


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Acrylic bows where glass won't, that's why I believe there is a difference in thickness. Perhaps the person you were quoting was thinking about how acrylic won't shatter like glass. Acrylic can withstand a stronger "direct hit" than glass.

 

[f1shy]

I'm oldschool. Glass is way better for me.

 

[wvdiscus]

I'm oldschool. Glass is way better for me.

Hear Hear! I go with glass myself, just he way I've always done it. Now, I don't have a "monster tank" say 240+ gallons, if I did, then I would consider acrylic just for the weight issue, however, like someone posted earlier, once it's in place the weight issue really doesn't matter. As for silicone wearing down after years of use, I've had a 55 gallon-4ft long footprint-running for 20 years and never had a leak.

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

Hear Hear! I go with glass myself, just he way I've always done it. Now, I don't have a "monster tank" say 240+ gallons, if I did, then I would consider acrylic just for the weight issue, however, like someone posted earlier, once it's in place the weight issue really doesn't matter. As for silicone wearing down after years of use, I've had a 55 gallon-4ft long footprint-running for 20 years and never had a leak.

Yeah, I'm running a 55 gallon that I had passed down to me from a friend and the tank is dated April 28th 1983, and there are no leaks.

 

[Andrew69]

Acrylic bows where glass won't, that's why I believe there is a difference in thickness. Perhaps the person you were quoting was thinking about how acrylic won't shatter like glass. Acrylic can withstand a stronger "direct hit" than glass.

Thank you, that makes since. I was just wondering cuz I'm plaining to build a tank. I'll probly go with glass than for that reason



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[jantilla]

I have a 210 which is glass. It's heavier than hell but only took me and another guy to move it. It has been moved many times. I guess I'm not just good looking I'm strong to lol. I have only had it a couple months and already put scratches in it. I probably would have really scratched up a acrylic tank by now.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Glass all day long. If its huge, geet starphire glass for the front. Costs more, but just as clear as acrylic. Its heavier but will out last an acrylic. Easy to reseal, and if u cant get it in to where you want take it down and rebuild it(which a member did before). Lets see you do that with an acrylic.

 

[Bderick67]

I have a 210 which is glass. It's heavier than hell but only took me and another guy to move it. It has been moved many times. I guess I'm not just good looking I'm strong to lol. I have only had it a couple months and already put scratches in it. I probably would have really scratched up a acrylic tank by now.

If it were acrylic you could repair or buff out those scratches, but since it's glass you are stuck with them.