Acrylic vs Glass

[wright4lfe]

the only time i've seen acrylic look bad was when it was a homemade tank. i've yet to see one professionally made that looked bad or poorly put together.

for instance, mine is 6 years old and looks new at this point.

bottom line is you get what you pay for. i took a friend of mine with me to look at my acrylic prior to purchasing it to see if it was worth spending the money on. when he gave me the thumbs up i jumped on it.

if i were to by my tank new at a place like tenecor it would run me at least 3K new. with a little work i was able to get it the same tank for 600.00, or 80% of the retail cost.

 

[uapkrn1]

One item I haven't seen mentioned (but was indirectly raised by Rallysman) is the top of a typical manufacturer acrylic tank. The tanks are essentially closed blocks with two openings in the tops. Cut a couple of pieces of egg crate to size, secure them in place, and there ain't nothin' gettin out of there!!! With escape artists (polypterus) or jumpers (arowana etal) I think that's huge. I've got mucho hiding places in my 200g, and if I can't seem to locate one of my buddies I can still rest assured he's in there SOMEPLACE. It sure beats trying to cut hardware cloth or gutter guard to cover all the gaps of a conventional setup, with the knowledge that a well executed jump still may cost you a beloved fish.

To be honest, that's piece of mind I hadn't even thought of until I already had the tank. My teenage son and I got it down the stairs with ease. I'd have needed four linebackers for a glass tank, with the additional risk of stressing a seal with all that weight on end.

Pricey? You bet. Worth it!

 

[hillbilly]

I have 5 glass tanks and 1 acrylic. The acrylic tank is a P.O.S.! I would never buy another acrylic tank. If you look at it too hard, it scratches! One of the overflows cracked, and had to be repaired after only a few months of use. The tank is a 180gal. It's only 2 years old, and it looks 10. It has scratches inside and out. I just gave up on it, and now use it as a grow out and holding tank. My worst tank purchase ever.

 

[rayman45]

i like starfite glass.... crystal clear..... and no scrathes... and with glass you get a nie wide open top for my monsters

 

[hoosier]

i also like the open top on glass tanks. makes it easier to hang hob filters!

 

[Greenaveli]

I built a stand for my 270 gal. acrylic tank and (trying to rush the job) I cracked the bottom because I didnt brace it properly. After I shook the frustration off I searched the web for info on repair. I found someone who calmed me down and explained to me that saving my tank was only a car ride away. Long story short since March 06' (knock on wood) I havent had a problem Oh yea forgot to mention that the crack is in the bottom. If this was a glass tank I woulve watched that $850 walk out the door.

 

[Steve_89]

I hate acrylic. No matter how hard you try to keep it nice it scratches.........it may weigh less, but WHO CARES?! When it's full of water it makes no difference at all. None.

Bingo...

Acrylic scratches far too easily for me to want to buy one.

I saw a discussion about ATF swimming up and down the acrylic and scratching it with their teeth!!! **** that!!! That would bring me to tears!!!

I HATE scratches. Glass will not scratch if you look after it.

And I couldn't agree more about the weight issue. And seriously....I have moved SOOO many glass tanks and really...they are not heavy!!

I see a lot of threads saying something along those lines...Either glass tanks in the U.S are WAY heavier than the tanks we get here...or you guys are just weak

Two people can move a 180 quite easily.

 

[boisblancboy]

Also a cracked bottom in a glass tank is nothing to fix. I have older glass tanks from people that werent taken care off, let alone this was years ago when I didnt know much about the hobby and didnt tank much time to set the stand and tank right. Well cracked the bottom of the tank. Drained it, siliconed it up, never had a drop leak since.