GLASS VS. ACRYLIC

[zennzzo]

Maybe I missed something, but!

Why don't people use some scratch resistant polycbarbonate for acrylic tanks?

I believe it has something to do with the water permeability and that it is harder to chemical weld...
Polycarbonate is more suitable for aircraft canopies that are heat formed to a mold or plug...
They typically use cellcast acrylic for it's properties of clarity and weld-ability
as well as it's low water absorbtion...

 

[HexHammer]

I believe it has something to do with the water permeability and that it is harder to chemical weld...
Polycarbonate is more suitable for aircraft canopies that are heat formed to a mold or plug...
They typically use cellcast acrylic for it's properties of clarity and weld-ability
as well as it's low water absorbtion...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=invisibleshield&aq=f theres these modern polycabonates (I assume) that is highly scratch resistant, just that they are expensive and toxicity is unknown to me.

 

[gibbusmd]

are glass rimless tanks better than acrylic once you get to the 90gallon plus sizes?

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Ok, I've read the first 15 pages so I'm gonna post thoughts and questions. I'm looking at getting tank over 500 gallons, maybe a 12 ft 1,000 gallon tank.

Glass is best if you can manage the instillation regardless of weight because the upkeep is dramatically easier. Acrylic wins in specific situations, bends, etc. But glass kind rules the square and boring space proudly. As for glass tanks and age, my moms 55 gallon is almost 30 years old and never been resealed, I guess I should get on that... I have a old acrylic hex and its scratched and yellow so just saying it can happen. Razor blade cleaning is everyones enemy.

Not that I think acrylic is bad but its deffinately not my choice knowing how I'm not a careful guy and the people in my life tend to scratch things that belong to me.

Any way I would really like glass, people talk about shattering glass and I feel fortunate. I keep cichlids predominantly and All I can say is I know how to scratch and ding glass from trying to fit rocks to large in tanks where they don't belong. I watched that video of the weight lifting tank disastor and thought how I've hit my tanks with worse and luckily they are still in one piece with gaint chunks missing.


Any way the design of this tank I want would be in a basement behind a wall so the front is the only thing that need be clear and durable. I just wonder how much quality acryilic costs per squar inch/ft. vs. starfire glass. I might find a local shop to build one in my basement of my future house in the next year or so. But I'm just trying to become informed.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Anyone know a place besides glass cages that does monster glass tanks?

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

I personally own normal float glass, starphire glass, and acrylic tanks, and I think it is impossible to make a clear-cut choice between any specific material (glass or acrylic). It is all depending on situation and personal preference.

The only thing I've decided on now, to change to specifically, is that I will always be using either acrylic, or starphire glass for the viewing panels. After having set-up my acrylic and starphire tanks, I can see a massive difference in the clarity when compared to regular 'float' glass... It is unbelievable and makes the tank 'pop' so much more. I will continue to build tanks out of acrylic and glass, but will usually opt for starphire glass on viewable panels from now on.

What is allglassaquariums made of. That is all the tanks I have. If that is floated glass I'll be very excited to see starfire glass.

 

[waqar zaib]

can't i use glass to make 900 gallon tank? i want to use glass because of long run and other factors ?

 

[jjk_reef00]

Glass is limited whey you want to build a tall tank.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Anyone ever look into this company:
http://www.tspinc.com/index.html
They claim to have 5' x 10' sheets:
http://www.tspinc.com/pdf/tsp-duravue-1500.pdf

 

[juanynfante]

I never use acrylic, i have a 180 glass tank, i live in a project apt, the floor is concrete, my tank is really heavy but in the near future i want a bigger tank, like 350 or 400...in my opinion it will be to heavy for the apt(3 floor)...so i think about acrylic, the weight of the acrylic will help me set up my tank easily and i will be able to get it into my apt...thats why i prefer the acrylic for a big tank setup but if i move into a hause i think i will get a glass tank....any suggestions about my opinion ?