Acrylic vs. Glass!!

[violet]

Which is better and Why?

[jaysee]

Glass is heavier, breaks easier, is cheaper, doesn't easily scratch, comes in standard shapes and on occasion needs to be resealed.

Acrylic is light, very hard to break, comes in odd shapes as well, scratches easily, is one piece so never leaks and is expensive.

[Cristoff]

Acrylic Pros: Lighter, better clarity, more custom options.
cons: price, scratches easily some distortion on occasions.

Glass pros: less distortion, cheaper, can use different types of stands
cons: less clarity (starfire glass not included), not as shatterproof, HEAVY at the larger sizes.

Of course these are my opinions, and do not reflect the opinions of the community, the fish, or the general populous...:hmm3grin2orange:

[jaysee]

The only opinion I see is about the viewing, which I tend to agree with.

[violet]

lol cristoff... hmmm I'm not so worried about the price nor the fixing of it.. both I can deal with and I know how to fix glass if need be. The starfire glass sounds cool. I'm not so excited about the acrylic seeing as how they scratch easy. I'm looking into a 150gal 5x2x2. Really just want the best choice and deciding is difficult lol.

[jaysee]

IMO acrylic is better for really big tanks because big tanks hold big fish, and big fish can break glass.

[Cristoff]

The only opinion I see is about the viewing, which I tend to agree with.

I know, but I have found that a disclaimer keeps me out of much more trouble.

[violet]

Yes that I agree with... my husband doesn't but I do lol.. We were thinking about getting starfire glass on the front and the rest regular glass. I'm having such a hard time deciding LOL. I just want to get the best tank for the fish.

[jaysee]

Yes that I agree with... my husband doesn't but I do lol.. We were thinking about getting starfire glass on the front and the rest regular glass. I'm having such a hard time deciding LOL. I just want to get the best tank for the fish.

Fish don't care what the tank is made of - they just want it big enough. Get what's best for you.

[violet]

yes I agree.. I'm leaning towards the glass simply for the lack of scratches... hmm we just might go starfire... Do you know anything about starfire?

[jaysee]

Nope, but I bet it's expensive :hmm3grin2orange:

[violet]

Nah, on the tank we are getting it will only be 110. extra so no biggiethumbs2:

[Deleted User]

With what we have, I prefer the look of the glass tanks. We have acryllic eclipse tanks (hate them) and some little acryllic mini bows (those I do like).

[violet]

I think I am going to go with the glass and have the starfire glass on the front pain.. we've decided on 150gal tank and more then likely two canister filters. We've also decided on getting maybe two black gibbiceps pleco's.. Found out they do great in high ph tanks and work well with the ciclids that we have :D so things are coming together nicely.

[Dixie]

I'm right there with you, Violet (seriously considering the same size tank).

Thank you for the name of that company, by the way:22: .When I saw it I was thinking I'd go with the Starphire glass too. Didn't know you could just do certain panes on the tank with it though. If that's so I would do the front and the left end, in my situation (tanks location).

What kind of lighting would you use for a 5 ft. tank? From what I saw on that site, their lighting only comes in 24 or 48" lengths. I would get the stand from them too but I really don't want a canopy. Looks nice but think it would be a pain when it comes to water changes.

I hope this isn't considered highjacking your thread.

[MonkeyPox]

Starfire glass on the front will make a huge visual difference. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.
If you are getting one built, you may want to consider a built in overflow and utilize a sump.

[krystalsohun]

I say acrylic 100% now my opinion is biased as i just recently watched my tank empty onto my floor because my 4 inch jd broke it. :hmm3grin2orange: Because of this learning experience I would say If you are going to house cichlids then you need to have arcylic or risk the chance of cleaning all those gallons off the floor . sorry just my 2 cents

[violet]

I'm right there with you, Violet (seriously considering the same size tank).

Thank you for the name of that company, by the way:22: .When I saw it I was thinking I'd go with the Starphire glass too. Didn't know you could just do certain panes on the tank with it though. If that's so I would do the front and the left end, in my situation (tanks location).

What kind of lighting would you use for a 5 ft. tank? From what I saw on that site, their lighting only comes in 24 or 48" lengths. I would get the stand from them too but I really don't want a canopy. Looks nice but think it would be a pain when it comes to water changes.

I hope this isn't considered highjacking your thread.

I'm just going to get two 24" coralife single bulb T-5 strip lights. I'm also going to get two led moon lights which I've been so interested in for awhile now. As far as the tank goes.. The way they do it is you can either do the front and both sides or just the front. You would not be able to get just one side with the starfire glass, that's why we are only doing the front. I'm not going to get the canopy either, I prefer the look of the tank without it. I am however planning on getting the stand they sell.

And no I don't think it's highjacking. Hay what type of filter system would you be using? Maybe we can be of help to eachother along the way.

[violet]

I say acrylic 100% now my opinion is biased as i just recently watched my tank empty onto my floor because my 4 inch jd broke it. :hmm3grin2orange: Because of this learning experience I would say If you are going to house cichlids then you need to have arcylic or risk the chance of cleaning all those gallons off the floor . sorry just my 2 cents


I just read an article on acrylic tanks. It said that the bottom of an acrylic tank needs to be completly supported. Glass tanks only have to be supported on the corners. If that's the case then why would acrylic be safer then glass? When I hear the cases of ciclids breaking tank it usually involves the fish knocking over rocks that are in the tank. When setting up a tank the rocks should always be put in first and then the gravel or sand should be put in. By doing this it makes the rocks more sturdy...

[violet]

Starfire glass on the front will make a huge visual difference. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.
If you are getting one built, you may want to consider a built in overflow and utilize a sump.

Wont a sump overflow if the power goes out? We have that problem here in southeast texas.

[Northernguy]

Starfire glass is crystal clear and is the stuff they use for glass trophys and plaques.
Starfireglass 1/2" thick is about $20/square ft.
1/2" standard glass is $13/square ft.
These are Canadian prices and I am sure i am paying more than I would in the city.
I think glass tanks are far superior to acrylic because of the clarity and more scratch resistant.

[MonkeyPox]

Wont a sump overflow if the power goes out? We have that problem here in southeast texas.

No. You can either place a check valve in your return, or drill a siphon hole above the water line.
The water level in the sump should be such that when power is lost to the pump, the sump can handle the water volume in the tank until the tank's water line is below the overflow line.
Hence the term "overflow". Water only fills into it when it is above a certain level.

BTW, I used to live (not by choice) in Vidor for a while. It is ridiculous how often the power went out there.

[violet]

Wow... Vidor is real close to us... I've been there once to clean a house but that was it... Some of vidor isn't all that bad, lovely neighborhood that I was in. None the less, thank you for letting me know about the sump, that clears up alot for me.

[violet]

Starfire glass is crystal clear and is the stuff they use for glass trophys and plaques.
Starfireglass 1/2" thick is about $20/square ft.
1/2" standard glass is $13/square ft.
These are Canadian prices and I am sure i am paying more than I would in the city.
I think glass tanks are far superior to acrylic because of the clarity and more scratch resistant.

Thanks a bunch.. I agree with you.. I'm deffenetly going with glass and starfire front.. Looking forward to the tank thumbs2:

[Dixie]

Ok if you can't have just one end starfire then I'll just do the front too. The tank will be against a wall in the back and on one end & I only see that other end in passing anyway.

I really like a lot of light so I think I will go with two 4ft. lights and stagger them. Kinda like this guy did...
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
but will have to have something built to house them.

If I don't keep my 55g. running when I get the 5 ft. tank, I'll probably use the filters off the 55g. except for the smallest one. The ones I'm using on the 55g. are a Fluval 304 canister filter, a HOB filter (don't know the brand) it's black and takes 2 "C" sized (blue pad with black hard plastic vented back with carbon in between) disposable filters... and another HOB filter Aqua Tech 20-40 that takes the same filter cartridge as the first one but it only takes one cartridge. It might sound like alot of filtration for a 55g. tank but I'm very heavily stocked & I like my water super clean.

I have an Aquaclear HOB filter that I just recently got on a 20g.L. tank and I really like it a lot. No disposable pads to throw away. I might get the biggest one of those I can find to take the place of the smaller HOB for the new tank. Either that or another canister.

We should keep in touch about it. I can't wait to get it and get started.

[violet]

Ok if you can't have just one end starfire then I'll just do the front too. The tank will be against a wall in the back and on one end & I only see that other end in passing anyway.

I really like a lot of light so I think I will go with two 4ft. lights and stagger them. Kinda like this guy did...
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
but will have to have something built to house them.

If I don't keep my 55g. running when I get the 5 ft. tank, I'll probably use the filters off the 55g. except for the smallest one. The ones I'm using on the 55g. are a Fluval 304 canister filter, a HOB filter (don't know the brand) it's black and takes 2 "C" sized (blue pad with black hard plastic vented back with carbon in between) disposable filters... and another HOB filter Aqua Tech 20-40 that takes the same filter cartridge as the first one but it only takes one cartridge. It might sound like alot of filtration for a 55g. tank but I'm very heavily stocked & I like my water super clean.

I have an Aquaclear HOB filter that I just recently got on a 20g.L. tank and I really like it a lot. No disposable pads to throw away. I might get the biggest one of those I can find to take the place of the smaller HOB for the new tank. Either that or another canister.

We should keep in touch about it. I can't wait to get it and get started.

You don't have to buy your light system from them drsfostersmith.com has t-5 lighting in any length or configuration you require. If you like bright, two t-5 ho bulbs per 30" would be plenty even for coral.
As for filtration we are partial to rena canister filters. Thinking of doing one of those and a emperor bio wheel hob. I have a bio wheel on my 29 gal planted aquarium and have never had a problem with the water. A rena xp4 and an emporer 400 (that should be 850gph,thinking that should be enough) is what we want to do for the tank.
We should deffenetly stay in contact about it. I added you as a buddy on my list I think if you add me it makes it show up some way. We can start a blog on either your page or mine to make it easier to talk. It's kinda fun knowing that there's someone else out there doing the same thing as us... We can share pictures and everything :hmm3grin2orange:

[Tetris]

I'm regurgitating a fair bit of this information from another member here...

They do sell scratch-protective options for acrylic tanks which helps to negate that problem.

One benefit to acrylic is the clarity. You will be able to see a truer colour, as regular aquarium glass tends to tint things a little green. Starphire glass on the other hand will give the same clarity, but has the disadvantage of being weaker than standard aquarium glass.

Acrylic aquariums offer the peace of mind that your aquarium wont shatter or start leaking which can really be a disaster if you should ever experience this worst case scenario.

As aquariums get larger, the glass must also be thicker. So as you go larger, the gap between the cost of glass and acrylic narrows.

I'm not sure exactly what the properties of acrylic are that make it more durable, but my guess would be that the acrylic is less rigid and can be bent or stretched more before breaking. If you throw a rock at a sheet of glass, it breaks. If you throw a rock at a sheet of acrylic, it vibrates.

In my own personal opinion I think I would go with acrylic if I could afford it. Just be careful and make sure any products you use against the glass (ie. cleaning magnets, etc) are safe to use on acrylic. It's not like you have to rub steel wool on your aquarium to clean it, so you really just have to remember to be a little careful. Unless the tank's going in a basement where flood damage would be minimal, in which case starphire would be nice... But I'm a little paranoid about leaks and exploding glass panes so maybe that's just me...

[Scrup]

few things I didn't see mentioned..

most larger acrylic tanks have tops with holes cut in them, as opposed to an open top glass tank with a support brace.

acrylic scratches are(depending on the depth) pretty easy to buff out with acrylic polish. (got a 225G for $300 because of a scratch on the front that is gone now :19: )

some pleco's will make acrylic hazy after a few years.

acrylic is able to be safely filled while unlevel, whereas glass will probably 'splode on you.

I transported my 8' long tank in the back of a pickup with just a blanket down, on bumpy roads and all, with about 1.5' sticking out past the tailgate.
Don't think I would have made it out of the driveway with a glass tank. so..acrylic definitely has portability...




and yes...I suggest getting the tank pre-drilled if you have even an inkling of an interest in a sump system. Until you get around to ordering/building it, you can always just put in bulkheads and cap them. If it is done right a sump will not overflow in a power outage.



EDIT: forgot- Acrylic bends. depending on the depth of the tank vs thickness of the sheet, you may get a front/back that bulges out, and the top will bow upwards. Actually normal. Scared the hell outta me the first time I saw it...and kinda has a fishbowl effect when you stand real close, but is relatively harmless. Will be going with 1" acrylic next time I get a 8' 2000lb tank...lol

[Red]

I have always used glass and never owned aryclic...

[violet]

You all make outstanding points. It's been a hard choice but I still have time to decide. I want to make sure I will be happy for the rest of my life with this tank (even though I'm sure there will be more throughout the years). As of right now we are leaning towards glass with starfire front. I love the sound of starfire glass. I plan on siliconing all my rocks toghether in the way that I want them first and then adhering them to the bottom of the tank before I even put the gravel (going with sand actually) in. Hopefully by the time we get it it will never have to be moved :ssuprised: