Glass Vs. Acrylic

[Layne Conitz]

So I have only been keeping fish for a couple years now and have heard multiple views on this topic. Glass Vs. Acrylic. When I expand to a 300+ gallon tank what should I get? People say acrylic scratches easily but doesn't shatter. Glass on the other hand, doesn't scratch as easily but can shatter and crack. I'm not 100% sure what to do. A lot of you guys have large set ups. Opinions? Thanks

 

[jwh]

I have 500g glass, would have preferred acrylic, much lighter, and as you say doesn't crack or shatter as easily, more resilient to distortions, scratches are easier to polish out...my 2c worth...

 

[boldtogether]

Huge tanks should be acrylic....much stronger and much lighter. Anything 300 and up.
jus my opinion

 

[DMD123]

Ive owned acrylic and glass and I prefer glass.

I just purchased a 300g and went the glass route. Yep its heavy but its not like Im moving it regularly. I set it in place and I was done.

 

[Drstrangelove]

I'm not 100% sure what to do. A lot of you guys have large set ups. Opinions? Thanks

View attachment 1148998

http://www.matsyam.com/products/large-aquariums-all-glass-and-glassconcrete/

You'll never reach 100%. The world has both glass and acrylic tanks sized from small to gigantic because there are advantages to each that are desired by different people at each size. You really can change your own personal variables and conclude one or the other is better.

 

[asteele.19]

my preference on large tanks is acrylic. While it's true you won't be moving it much, when you do have to move it, it's nice not to have to call 10 people to move it. My brother and I can handle my acrylic 240 no problem. The stand is heavier than the tank.

 

[spiff44]

I used to like glass.. but switched over to the acrylic team now after getting rid of a glass tank because I was too lazy to reseal it... the glass tank's Achilles heel.. silicon is always degrading and eventually it'll fail.

 

[Layne Conitz]

I redid my 120 before I put it up. The person I received it from never did it in 20 years and still solid. Its glass. My buddies acrylic 240 is lighter. I believe I'm going to go acrylic on this next tank.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I have acrylic, and I WISH I could tell you to just go acrylic. I can't.

No royal pleco's, or any pleco's, in an acrylic tank--that's a real serious problem. I understand stingrays scratch up acrylic tanks, too. So another serious problem. So that's 2 of the top 3 best reasons to keep FW aquaria, you can't put in your tank.

BUT--and this is just me now--I just can't get comfortable with a glass tank over 250-300 gallons. Too much water, glass panels are too long, it just bothers me. And if it ever does scratch, it's just scratched. Scratch acrylic, you can get it out. Not with glass.

Acrylic is lighter, warmer, easier to drill, somewhat kinda repairable if scratched, and I LOVE the way the overflows/lip/lid are all fused together so there's no way for fish to get into the overflow. Can't really do that with glass tanks.

But, acrylic's EXPENSIVE. Unreasonably expensive.

But, I HAVE seen people with HUGE glass tanks--12 foot long glass tanks, been up for years--but I wouldn't try it. That's just me.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Now, I have a glass 125 gallon. I'm not worried about that one at all. I'd probably do a glass 240/260 gallon. But a 400, 500, 600 gallon?