Glass to acrylic dumb,dumb,dumb

tomato clown

tomato clown

Member
I actually like both glass and acrylic.
Glass doesn't scratch as bad, but can and does break
Acrylic scratches, but can be fixed, will hold and last longer
Glass has a great resistance to heat
Acrylic can slowly melt
Glass is heavy
Acrylic is lighter, yet still heavy depending upon thickness
Glass is just that Glass
Acrylic is in reality a strong, long lasting plastic
IMO the pro's and con's somewhat equal out in the end leaving it to personal preference, minor/major decisions in placement, etc...
 
robn

robn

Member
Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water, so the colors that you see are very accurate. Glass, even Starfire, cannot say the same. I've never seen any glass tank that did not give a very slight green tint. Acrylic is 17 times stronger than glass. It also has better thermal characteristics so it holds temperatures better. Glass definitely does have the advantage of not scratching near as easily. I have actually buffed out a scratch in glass also, though it requires alot more muscle than acrylic to buff it....but it CAN be done. Glass tanks are also usually less expensive.
Like I said earlier, to each his own. I'm personally alot more interested in what's BETWEEN the sides of the tank than the sides themselves
 
krazykarel

krazykarel

Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2610281
I have a 280 starphire, and I have one small scratch that I did with a MagFloat way back when. And this was enough to convice me that I would never have an acrylic, not even 10,000 gal, unless it was about 10' out of reach of any visitors, or myself. It's practically impossible to clean these tanks without eventually scratching them. But I'm waiting, because I'm sure there will be somebody to jump in on this with their personal history of going 25 years and it's a God send material.
I'm only 20 but I have had an acrylic tank for 25 years without one scratch
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
Originally Posted by Tomato Clown
http:///forum/post/2612859
I actually like both glass and acrylic.
Glass doesn't scratch as bad, but can and does break
Acrylic scratches, but can be fixed, will hold and last longer
Glass has a great resistance to heat
Acrylic can slowly melt
Glass is heavy
Acrylic is lighter, yet still heavy depending upon thickness
Glass is just that Glass
Acrylic is in reality a strong, long lasting plastic
IMO the pro's and con's somewhat equal out in the end leaving it to personal preference, minor/major decisions in placement, etc...
I agree with your views on both having pros and cons, when glass gets scratched good luck fixing it, when acryllic yellows good luck fixing that.
myself I'm a small tank glass guy all the way (anything under 250) over I prefer the reliability of plastic. I would rather see a depreciation in color due to plastic yellowing than an allout critical failure of a shattered glass panel in a hugemongousgiganticoid tank. (every tank I own is glass)
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/2613166
I agree with your views on both having pros and cons, when glass gets scratched good luck fixing it, when acryllic yellows good luck fixing that.
myself I'm a small tank glass guy all the way (anything under 250) over I prefer the reliability of plastic. I would rather see a depreciation in color due to plastic yellowing than an allout critical failure of a shattered glass panel in a hugemongousgiganticoid tank. (every tank I own is glass)
I feel the same way. Small go with glass. Big go acrylic.
-Justin
 
kjr_trig

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/2613166
when glass gets scratched good luck fixing it, when acryllic yellows good luck fixing that.
About time somebody said that, I have seen glass scratch from cleaning magnets too...My understanding is quality acrylic does not yellow anymore
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2613626
About time somebody said that, I have seen glass scratch from cleaning magnets too...My understanding is quality acrylic does not yellow anymore

But it still turns a nice shade of green....when all of the scratches get filled in with algea and your magfloat will no longer reach those areas
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by robn
http:///forum/post/2613788
T316,
You have problems with algae?


Seriously, I hate it. Even on my glass tank, it's hard to clean down near the sand (don't want to scratch anything). But I have seen a lot of acrylic tanks with inside scratches, and the scratches fill will green algea, so it looks like green lines everywhere, with hair growing out of them (okay, sorry...I know that was not a visual we all needed)
 
flricordia

flricordia

Active Member
I found out tempered glass scratches easier than regular. I scratched the crap out of my new Finnex front seemed every time i used the magfloat or scraper. I had to order another front and replace it this weekend. I did some reading on tempered and though it is harder in the center and only fragments when broken, the outer surface does soften.
No more magfloats or scrapers. Small sponge, credit card and my hand to clean it with.
Guess that's why it was so easy to put scratches in all the round corner tanks I owned, theya re tempered.
I tryed acrylic tnak once and ended up putting scratches in it while putting the LR in. No more of that for me.
 
robn

robn

Member
Thanks T316, now I'll have nightmares for weeks about hairy scratches.
Thanks for the visual!
 
C

calvertbill

Guest
It took three large guys, four pulled muscles and one f***ed lower back to get my tank in place...and it's acrylic! If it was made of glass I'd be a stain on the carpet! (10'x3'x30")
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by Calvertbill
http:///forum/post/2613839
It took three large guys, four pulled muscles and one f***ed lower back to get my tank in place...and it's acrylic! If it was made of glass I'd be a stain on the carpet! (10'x3'x30")
Guess you better do a few exercises before switching to glass then
 
bird dog

bird dog

Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2611641
I have acrylic and love it....Yes, you have to be careful, it is really easy to scratch, but for larger tanks (anything 8 foot or more), I would always go acrylic. I would rather have the occasional scratch (which are repairable quite easily) than a total break. Acrylic is unbreakable, and the seams are stronger than glass.
Sorry they melt and crack. Warranty void if you use a light on top.
 
bird dog

bird dog

Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2612544
You are correct aquafer. But I have also heard of very large glass panels bowing. Not nearly as possible as acrylic, but with all of that weight, it is possible.
....and I hear ya on the wife. Dude, we are dead if it ever happens

If my 210 blows. My wife will end my life and make me collect dolls or something I can't stand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top