GLASS VS. ACRYLIC

[prophets]

Simple way to figure out:

Glasscages GLASS TANK

240L 96X24X25
Basic Tank: 590
Reef Ready(Holes drilled w/overflow): 150
Black Silicone Seams: 35
Hinged Tops: 60
Acrylic cover for Overflows: 70
Starphire Glass front (CRYSTAL CLEAR) 160
TOTAL: 1065
Shipping to my area east coast 815
GRAND TOTAL: 1880


TENECOR ACRYLIC

240L 96X24X24
SHOW TANK w/PREFILTER: 1659
(HOLES DRILLED W/Matching OVerflow)
Black Background (included) N/A
TOTAL: 1659
ShippingUS States except AK,HI) 200
GRAND TOTAL: 1859


So it would seem that the acrylic tank is a much better deal, aside from being lighter, est weight of 274lbs.
Plus tenecor is having a special of 10% off the total price which will make it around 1693.
SOLD!

​

 

[TCZeli]

I went on tenecor.com and did the same thing as you except I used a smaller tank (72,24,36) and after shipping it came up to $3,466.

then went on glasscages.com and did the same thing as you INCLUDING size (96,24,25) and after shipping (to east coast also) it came to $1,570.

Both tanks were drilled and came with over flows, and black background.

I added the starphire glass front, black silicon, hinged tops on the glass tank. And the glass tank is bigger and The glass set up still was $1,896 cheaper thent he acrylic set up.

Maybe you have a special deal with them where you get stuff cheaper then everyone else? Or maybe I just can't navigate the site correctly?

 

[prophets]

tenecor has different types of tanks.

The one you looked at might be the entire setup.

What I listed was just the basic tank with the prefilter, standard background color...nothing else.

Did you click on the custom aquarium or the complete packages? If you did that's probably the difference in price. Click the design your own link instead.

 

[prophets]

Alright I see which one you were looking at. Its the Ultraquarium model. I looked at the Rectangular shape ones.

Besides the dimensions are different as you have stated. 72x24x36 as opposed the glasscages 96x24x25. Check the same dimensions from tenecor.

BTW forgot to mention that Tenecor will have my tank to me by end of the month, with the first week in august as the latest if I place the order by end of this week.

All I need to do is butter up the ol' wife and its a done deal.

 

[TCZeli]

yea, had a feeling it was a navigation problem. Acrylic set up is only $289 more then glass. Not bad for acrylic

Is this brand good? have you gotten it before? according to T1K, American acrylic is crap.


oh and good luck with the wife
if shes anything like my girl your gonna have to buy her somthing first

 

[prophets]

Well from checking around Tenecor has been around for quite some time and they do large tanks and what not for public aquariums (Brooklyn Aquarium), schools, govt...etc. I know their tanks are primarily used a lot by SW enthusiasts and I figure if it can withstand SW for a long time..FW should be a cakewalk.

Funny thing, I re-checked glasscages...talked to someone there and they said I can save a bundle on shipping if I pick it up when they have shows in the east...White Plains, NY. They have a schedule listing on their site.

So now the debate begins again...the guy told me that if I pick it up myself at the shows..it'll cost 1070 give or take with the all the trimmins and starphire glass for the front only.

Now...this sucker weighs around 400+ lbs as per them. He said loading your truck or van wouldn't be a problem from the show since everyone that orders one will be there also...so plenty of helping hands. Fun part is getting it back to the house..off loading it.

That means I have to work out a plan to get friends over to help with it...with a screwed up work schedule I have...when I'm at work friends are off work...and vice versa. Weekends? What's that?

If I go with the tenecor...they'll have it delivered and it only weighs 274 lbs I can get 1 person to help me out and put it into the wall where I plan on having it.

I'm still leaning on getting the tenecor even if it costs me a few hundred dollars more. The simplicity of it and the weight is a major factor for me at this point. According to glasscages it will take an extra 2 weeks or so for the starphire front glass, and to make that savings I need to be able to get out to White Plains when they come around for a expo which is usually once a month...but its on the weekends. Plus I'd probably have to rent out a van or the uhaul trucks.

Decisions..decisions..

 

[TCZeli]

yea, the thing with glass cages is they wont ship glass tanks via UPS for obvious reasons. So it cost alot to ship because they actually a truck shipper. So if you pick it up at one of the shows, it saves you alot.

The weight, time, and shipping is all on the acrylics side. I like glass better but wouldn't use it for large tanks because it jsut weighs to much.

but then again with the ammount of money you will spend on filtration and lighting and decor and the fish. You may want to save $700-$800 dollars.

but if you dont have a friend with a truck you will be spending some money on a truck and gas.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I agree.

to me, acrylic has always looked, well, like plastic.

it looks sort of "cheap" to me, even though it is more expensive..

 

[Wolf3101]

I just noticed a 1000 gallon GLASS tank for sale on E bay. The metal stand is part of the assembly and it's designed to be moved (when empty of course...) using a forklift. This is also a very low lead (very clear) glass that obviously set someone back a fair piece of coin.

Strangely enough...those of us old enough to remember back that far can remember that when they came out...acryllic tanks were not only clearer and lighter than glass they were also about 35% cheaper as well for the same sized aquarium.

One thing I'm not sure anyones concidered yet is that acryllic tanks... even the cell cast ones... tend to yellow with age and will eventually get more and more difficult to see through than glass.

 

[prophets]

I just noticed a 1000 gallon GLASS tank for sale on E bay. The metal stand is part of the assembly and it's designed to be moved (when empty of course...) using a forklift. This is also a very low lead (very clear) glass that obviously set someone back a fair piece of coin.

Strangely enough...those of us old enough to remember back that far can remember that when they came out...acryllic tanks were not only clearer and lighter than glass they were also about 35% cheaper as well for the same sized aquarium.

One thing I'm not sure anyones concidered yet is that acryllic tanks... even the cell cast ones... tend to yellow with age and will eventually get more and more difficult to see through than glass.

Yeah...I remember when it was cheaper. Problem was didn't have a house to put a huge tank.

So acrylic tanks yellow with age? Are you talking about FW or SW? The only ones I've seen turn yellow with age are the FW basically and it was ill kept/maintained. Back in college this girl I knew, her brother had a tenecor tank that is SW wasn't "yellowy" at all. The last time I saw his SW tank was about 5 years ago...and College days was over 20 years ago for me. He pretty much bought that tank when it first came onto the market.

Personally I think its how well you maintain your tank plays a major role in it. The same would go for glass too. If its not maintained on a routine basis the glass will get dirty as hell and lets say if it dries (not topping off when necessary) that dried caked on gunk is pain to remove. Although its true it can be removed eventually but why let it get to that level in the first place?

So with routine maintenance of any tank, you should be able to enjoy a beautiful tank for a lot of years.