GLASS VS. ACRYLIC
- Thread starter TCZeli
- Start date
This is an age old debate but I now feel qualified to toss in my opinion, in case anyone cares.
I have always had glass but recently picked up an acrylic because it was 5 feet long and thus a perfect fit for the wall that was 2 inches too short for a traditional 125. I've heard all the good things about acrylic but so far it's a pain in the butt. It took a ton of work to get it ready to use - sandpaper, orbital buffers, etc (although I will say it's very cool to be able to do that myself) - and it scratches if I look at it funny. I have to buy special wipes to use if I splash a little bit of water over the top at feeding time and I'm always worried about the dog and cat scratching it. And It doesn't seem as clear overall as glass and it reflects glare in a different and more distracting way. It's semi-hex too so it has 4 curved edges that distort things a lot. Plus all my HOB filters that I use as backups won't fit, because acrylics don't have the full top open.
It was cool to be able to walk up and down the street carrying a 110 gallon big tank on my own, and I do like not having silicone anywhere, but I don't think those advantages outweigh the ease and clarity I have always had with glass. Now, if I had an 8+ foot tank, there might be more of an argument. But on anything 6' or under, I'd go glass for sure.
I have always had glass but recently picked up an acrylic because it was 5 feet long and thus a perfect fit for the wall that was 2 inches too short for a traditional 125. I've heard all the good things about acrylic but so far it's a pain in the butt. It took a ton of work to get it ready to use - sandpaper, orbital buffers, etc (although I will say it's very cool to be able to do that myself) - and it scratches if I look at it funny. I have to buy special wipes to use if I splash a little bit of water over the top at feeding time and I'm always worried about the dog and cat scratching it. And It doesn't seem as clear overall as glass and it reflects glare in a different and more distracting way. It's semi-hex too so it has 4 curved edges that distort things a lot. Plus all my HOB filters that I use as backups won't fit, because acrylics don't have the full top open.
It was cool to be able to walk up and down the street carrying a 110 gallon big tank on my own, and I do like not having silicone anywhere, but I don't think those advantages outweigh the ease and clarity I have always had with glass. Now, if I had an 8+ foot tank, there might be more of an argument. But on anything 6' or under, I'd go glass for sure.
The best advantage of acrylic is that it is welded together. It can be injection molded, or 3D formed over a mold, or over several molds and then welded together. No one will ever walk thru a hundred thousand gallon molded glass aquarium display because glass just cant be molded.
Yeah definitely is a no brainer, and as was said the weight difference only matters if it has to be moved. My tank is made of glass called Starfire and is exceptionaly clear so maybe look into that if it is no more expensive than acrylic.TCZeli;963402; said:
I'll take glass over Acrylic any-day,i have 18 glass and 1. 200gl.acrylic tanks,acrylic is a pain in a you know what to keeping getting it scratched.i say glass....
