Glass or Acrylic??

[KeithT]

I appreciate the responses to my last question(s). Now, what I have found is more people seem to be moving towards acrylic tanks vs. the traditional glass.

What is the general consensus out there these days? Is acrylic better, or is this comparing apples and oranges? What I have heard is acrylic tends to fog more than glass, but scratches can be repaired while on glass they can not.

[lil Anemone]

Ok heres the deal!:

Acrylic Pros:
1. Lightweight
2. stronger
3. Most have lifeteime warrenty
4. Clearer viewing
5. Insulates heat better(may or may not be a pro)
6. No ugly seams to fail
7. Can repair scratches
8. Easier to modify (drill holes into)

Cons:
1. Scratches easier
2. Insulates heat better(may or may not be a con)


Glass Pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Harder to scratch
2. Retains less heat(may or may not be a pro)

Cons:
1. Glass can shatter/fail
2. Seals can degrade and leak
3. Retains less heat(may or may not be a con)
4. Not a clear as acrylic
5. cant repair scratches
6. Minimal warrenty(if at all even)

[Alice]

My only complaint with my acrylic tanks is that scraping off the coraline is a royal pain! On a glass tank, you can just use a razor blade; acrylic tanks take a little more elbow grease

Three things really sold me on my acylic tanks: 1) They are darn hard to break; I have three kids and sometimes my living room looks like a cross between the WWF and the XFL (heh....we prolly got better ratings )
2) The clarity is fabulous! There are glass tanks out now called "Starfire" that are beautiful and rival the acrylic for clarity without the green tint of glass but they are pretty expensive. 3) Weight. Acrylic tanks weigh a heck of a lot less. I can heft the 125 acrylic by myself...try doing that with a glass tank!

It's a matter of personal preference though. If I were you I'd try to look at a few up-and-running tanks of each to help you make a decision. Of course, price is a factor, too.

HTH,

~Alice

[ivet]

I'm a glass person. You have to be so so very careful with Acrylic as far as scratching goes. My glass tank already has some nice scratches from a single sand particle getting in between my magnet / algae cleaning tools...and believe me, you will be cleaning ALOT.

The clarity is a plus, but I still choose glass. Good luck with your tank!

[ 06-20-2001: Message edited by: ivet ]

[Peter_]

Originally posted by Alice:
I have three kids and sometimes my living room looks like a cross between the WWF and the XFL.

I could just see Alice standing in the middle of her living room shouting:

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!


Oh, by the way, glass, for it's inert properties.

Did you every notice that bottled beer taste best?

[lil Anemone]

Scratches in glass huh?? Too bad it wasnt acrylic, otherwise you could get rid of them!