Glass or Acrylic

lennon

lennon

Member
Hi all..
Should I get glass or acrylic for my 55 gallon?
I heard of the pros and cons but wondered what advise you had to give.
I read Fenners book and he seemed to prefer acrylic..but I am nervous abou the scratching and the glass makes me nervous about the leaking and cracking..
Thanks all
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
I have tanks made of both.........I have an old acrylic that has been thrown around drung around and used hard for all kinds of things, lots of scratches, but its never broke o9r leaked.........I can say the same for the majority of my other glass tanks as well. I have a lot of freshwater fish I keep in glass tanks outside all year round..........Scratches on the glass are not a big deal either, up to a certain point anyhow........In over 35 years of fooling with fish I have had only 2 tanks that had minor leaks and three that got broke, and two of those was during a hurricane, so IMHO glass or acrylic is a personal choice, I would not be afraid of either.
If I had a bunch of youngins running around, I would probably go acrylic.........no youngins, either/or , or whatever I got the best price on.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
i would do a search on it I believe there have been a billion and 3 posts about it. Hope you find your answer.
 
lennon

lennon

Member
[QUOTE=chipm
If I had a bunch of youngins running around, I would probably go acrylic.........no youngins, either/or , or whatever I got the best price on.
Hey Chip. I do have a 6 year old, an almost 3 and 2 year old. They are pretty good kids
not destructive..but things happen. I guess maybe I'll go with acrylic..I just pray that no scratches and dullness forms. I heard that scratches are not as easy as they say they are to get off.
Thanks for the input!!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Glass and yeah you have young ones running around, but imagine them getting a hold of something and taking it to the front of that acrylic tank?????? I have a 15 and 4 year old and have never had a problem in the past 15 years with the kids messing with the tank
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Glass and yeah you have young ones running around, but imagine them getting a hold of something and taking it to the front of that acrylic tank?????? I have a 15 and 4 year old and have never had a problem in the past 15 years with the kids messing with the tank

The glass must still be pretty strong. I just heard acrylic is much stronger. Who knows..I just hope I make the right decision...
thanks for the input!!
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
I would HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you go with a different sized tank other than a 55, they are a PIA for saltwater tanks. If you want the 48" length go with a 75 gallon or 90 gallon, if you want something closer to the 55gallon amount, then go with a 58gallon or a 65 gallon tall (they are 36" long, but much deeper 18" I believe, 55 gallon tanks are just so narrow they give you little options for aquascaping and vitually no options for having corals on the sandbed. IF you are just going with fish, then you have very little room for swimming, once you have your LR in the tank.
I prefer glass tanks for the most part, but if I get a large tank someday it will probably be acrylic.
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by Birdy
I would HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you go with a different sized tank other than a 55, they are a PIA for saltwater tanks. If you want the 48" length go with a 75 gallon or 90 gallon, if you want something closer to the 55gallon amount, then go with a 58gallon or a 65 gallon tall (they are 36" long, but much deeper 18" I believe, 55 gallon tanks are just so narrow they give you little options for aquascaping and vitually no options for having corals on the sandbed. IF you are just going with fish, then you have very little room for swimming, once you have your LR in the tank.
I prefer glass tanks for the most part, but if I get a large tank someday it will probably be acrylic.
Oops...sorry, it is a 58 gallon. I only have 40" long in the area where I can put the tank. So I am going with the 58. I can do a 65 or 70 show..but I heard it is really not better for the fish since it is just taller and will now require more lighting...
thanks much!!
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
i didnt see anyone mention the weight factor...moving this tank will be infinitely easier, and acrylic gets a better look in the fish IMO, i have a 75 glass, that

[hr]
is heavy, but the price difference is huge though....from what i see is clarity is better on acrylic over time. also the integrity factor, no leaks, cracks etc...acrylic is one piece whereas glass is bonded together...acrylic is infinitely better but pricey too!!!
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by carshark
i didnt see anyone mention the weight factor...moving this tank will be infinitely easier, and acrylic gets a better look in the fish IMO, i have a 75 glass, that

[hr]
is heavy, but the price difference is huge though....from what i see is clarity is better on acrylic over time. also the integrity factor, no leaks, cracks etc...acrylic is one piece whereas glass is bonded together...acrylic is infinitely better but pricey too!!!

thanks for your opinion...
Let me ask you..are you able to use the magnetic tank cleaner without scratching it. I would rather use that but get nervous to scratch acrylic.
Would you say the price is double on acrylic. I don't mind..I just want to buy what is best for my system.
 
birdy

birdy

Active Member
clarity on a 58gallon (great size by the way!) is not going to be any different on a glass tank or an acrylic, When you get into thick glass then there is a difference, but on that small of a tank it is not an issue, and the weight of a 58 is not bad either, I just don't see spending the extra money for acrylic on a 58gallon, spend that extra money on equipment or corals.
DO get a reef ready tank though!
I would go with glass a lot less worry about scratching IMO.
 
carshark

carshark

Active Member
Originally Posted by Birdy
clarity on a 58gallon (great size by the way!) is not going to be any different on a glass tank or an acrylic, When you get into thick glass then there is a difference, but on that small of a tank it is not an issue, and the weight of a 58 is not bad either, I just don't see spending the extra money for acrylic on a 58gallon, spend that extra money on equipment or corals.
DO get a reef ready tank though!
I would go with glass a lot less worry about scratching IMO.
agreed but in general as info, i suggest an acrylic, but no a 58 is not heavy, and for that size tank because of thickness will not be an issue, just a general help comment on acrylic..
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by Birdy
DO get a reef ready tank though!
I would go with glass a lot less worry about scratching IMO.
All the advise from everyone is greatly appreciated.

I guess maybe I'll do the glass.
TRUST ME I want to do the reef tank..but after reading Fenners book..it kind of pursuaded me to just do fish. He said reef is much harder and the maintenance may be a bit too much for me. Do you agree. How much maintenance do you do? Once established..did you have to do less? Anyone please answer with your advise on this too.
Oh, plus..I do not want to get MH lights..for several reasons..I will have a canopy and heat is an issue, I don't want to have to get a chiller, mercury vapors ( a big one), cost.
Do I need MH if I do a reef on a small tank like a 58 that is just 24" high?? :thinking:
 
lennon

lennon

Member
Originally Posted by CELACANTHr
no you could probably do a with like the orbits and have softees polyps and lps
can I do any corals or anemones?
 
oceanist

oceanist

Member
fenners book is awesome isnt it , i read the whole thing , im reading it again , i feel like i have taken marine biology from all the knowledge i got from that book , 40 bucks well spent
 
nofish

nofish

Member
i'm gettting a 120gl but short 48" long i think i am going to get glass. what you all think? oh yeah it going to be a reef tank.
:cheer:
:jumping:
 
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