Glass or Acrylic
- Thread starter Reef_Magik89
- Start date
Glass all the way. I've had both and acrylic just sucks. It scratches like crazy and you can sometimes get distorted views from the "funhouse mirror" effect. Only upside IMO is that it's lighter. But that to me doesn't matter because once its on the stand you don't need to worry about it. Glass is also a good excuse to invite the boys over for a BBQ and beer and the favor of helping you get your new tank in its place.
I had two tanks running at the same time. One glass and one acrylic. After draining both tanks after 8 years the glass looked good as new very clear. The acrylic was very hazed. Even a slight buffing job made it slightly better but never better than glass.
Knock on wood, most of us never experienced a major earthquake here in Southern CA. The last major one was in the 80's where most us was not in the hobby (except a few like me). Not sure how glass tanks vs acrylic will compare then.
Knock on wood, most of us never experienced a major earthquake here in Southern CA. The last major one was in the 80's where most us was not in the hobby (except a few like me). Not sure how glass tanks vs acrylic will compare then.
My next upgrade will likely be a 225 or 300g, I will go acrylic.
Why?
1. Going bare bottom, less prone (not immune) to scratching.
2. Kids in the house, I can see a hot-wheels hurling across the room hitting the tank. This has already happened with the neighbors kid by the way, I ended up with a pretty bad nick on the tank, but it didn't shatter. Buffed right out with help from his dad. Hard to say if a glass tank would have survived that one.
3. Easier to drill after the fact. Needs change and I like the flexibility.
4. Optically clear.
5. Thermal abilities in the winter, although with MH not too much of a problem.
Anything smaller than a 180g, I'd go glass. My 180 is acrylic and I'm looking forward to buffing it out completely and essentially ending up with a "new tank." Or I might just upgrade, we'll see.
PS. Good point on the black car analogy, but just like a black car...when you take the extra time to wash and wax regularly, nothing beats the look of a clean black car. I feel the same way about acrylic.
Here's an idea, construct a tank out of acrylic and coat it when a thin layer of Starfire glass. MONEY!!!
Why?
1. Going bare bottom, less prone (not immune) to scratching.
2. Kids in the house, I can see a hot-wheels hurling across the room hitting the tank. This has already happened with the neighbors kid by the way, I ended up with a pretty bad nick on the tank, but it didn't shatter. Buffed right out with help from his dad. Hard to say if a glass tank would have survived that one.
3. Easier to drill after the fact. Needs change and I like the flexibility.
4. Optically clear.
5. Thermal abilities in the winter, although with MH not too much of a problem.
Anything smaller than a 180g, I'd go glass. My 180 is acrylic and I'm looking forward to buffing it out completely and essentially ending up with a "new tank." Or I might just upgrade, we'll see.
PS. Good point on the black car analogy, but just like a black car...when you take the extra time to wash and wax regularly, nothing beats the look of a clean black car. I feel the same way about acrylic.
Here's an idea, construct a tank out of acrylic and coat it when a thin layer of Starfire glass. MONEY!!!
