Glass vs. Plexiglass?

[daveydoodle]

Any draw back to using Plexiglass as the cover lids on a tank? Just wondering if it hindered light differently, begins to bow or sag, etc?

 

[Burgess]

Hope some posts come up i would like to know my self.

 

[5DollarFootLong]

glass is stonger then plexi it also weighs more good and bad

 

[Burgess]

i would like to know if it will melt if i have a light above it Aprox 9'' from the Plexiglass lid.


Sry for high jacking the thred.

 

[5DollarFootLong]

if your using floresent bulbs then im sure you should have no problem

 

[12 Volt Man]

glass is better. it doesn't warp like plastic can.

 

[daveydoodle]

But flourescent lights don't get as hot. A regular T12 or similiar I wouldn't think would bow or warp a 1/8" plexiglass top, would it? I'm asking because I keep coming across great deals on Craigslist for tanks, but every time the lids are cracked or uncleanable, so I keep replacing them with glass. I was just wondering because Plexiglass is so much cheaper. I have a half-dozen tanks in my garage and I can't seem to get them set up fast enough.

 

[Bderick67]

The plexiglass will warp and sag from the humidity in the tanks. I have 1/4 think on top my tank and have to rotate it every 6 weeks or so.

 

[aldiaz33]

The plexiglass will warp and sag from the humidity in the tanks. I have 1/4 think on top my tank and have to rotate it every 6 weeks or so.

X2. I built lids out of 1/4" acrylic and they warp away from the water quite a bit. It's very annoying. If you go with acrylic I think you would have to use at least 1/2" thick to avoid the warping issue, which at that thickness, glass may be cheaper.

1/8" will definitely warp. If I could do it over again, I would go with glass lids.