Acrylic Tanks

[cane76]

are they more expensive than glass or cheaper?any recomended websites?

 

[demonmagus]

more expensive, dunno about sites

 

[furryrabbit]

they scratch alot easier than glass , so beware

 

[AMS]

I personally think acrylic is superior to glass. It may be a tad more expensive, but worth every penny. Acrylic is much lighter, about half the weight of glass. Acrylic is up to a whopping 17 times stronger than glass, making it ideal of heavy aquascape such as Malawi or Reef tanks, it also will bend slightly without breaking. Acrylic is also slightly clearer than glass. Acrylic is a better insulator than glass, so temperatures stay more stable. Acrylic is also near 100% leakproof due to the molecular bonding process, seams don't weaken or discolor with age. (Also doesnt have that eye-sore sealant around corners). They also have a much longer warranty.

The only disadvantages are the slightly higher price and the scratching. Scratches can sometimes be deep but almost all can be buffered out.

 

[andywg]

I have also seen and heard of acrylic tanks yellowing with age, though once you are into the higher tank sizes (past 300 gallons) they tend to become a necessity purely to allow the tank to be handled.

A lot easier to drill though, especially useful for when setting up larger reeefs that require a lot of closed loop circulation.

 

[Fighterfish]

Hey,
Cane76 what size tank are you looking for. I have a 13 gallon for sale £115 delivered anywhere in England.
It comes with internal filter and heater. Are you interested?
Tanks

 

[Qays]

I personally think acrylic is superior to glass. It may be a tad more expensive, but worth every penny. Acrylic is much lighter, about half the weight of glass. Acrylic is up to a whopping 17 times stronger than glass, making it ideal of heavy aquascape such as Malawi or Reef tanks, it also will bend slightly without breaking. Acrylic is also slightly clearer than glass. Acrylic is a better insulator than glass, so temperatures stay more stable. Acrylic is also near 100% leakproof due to the molecular bonding process, seams don't weaken or discolor with age. (Also doesnt have that eye-sore sealant around corners). They also have a much longer warranty.

The only disadvantages are the slightly higher price and the scratching. Scratches can sometimes be deep but almost all can be buffered out.

Acrylic tanks are not as clear as glass actually. And scratches are a pain, so i dont think rocks are a good idea, you'd have to be really careful.

They both have their ups and downs. but glass wins for smaller tanks (1>300 gallons)

 

[AMS]

Acrylic tanks are not as clear as glass actually.

I have to disagree. Every source I have read says acrylic is clearer.

All these below links say acrylic is clearer than glass:
Selecting an Aquarium
Pet Education
Why Acrylic?
Tropical Aquarium Fish
nano-reef.com
Aquarium Care for Dummies

I have yet to find any source that says glass is clearer. Would you like to find any sources that say otherwise?

 

[SamUK]

Hey,
Cane76 what size tank are you looking for. I have a 13 gallon for sale £115 delivered anywhere in England.
It comes with internal filter and heater. Are you interested?
Tanks

i think youll find hes thinkin about his 7ftx3ft foot print tank.


could be wrong tho.

 

[cane76]

thats right sam 7x3x2 and im now in the position to be ordering my new tank to be made but i still cant decide on acrylic or glass.to be honest im not bothered which ones clearer glass is fine.but i have 4 kids and acrylic sounds safer and easier

 

[CFC]

Acrylic is at least twice the price of glass and with kids about much more likely to get scratched, the only real advantage of acrylic is that it is much much easier to handle and move the tank about.

 

[Qays]

Indeed, your not likely to break a glass tank.

 

[dgwebster]

not all that likely to breakan acrylic one either - bu more open to human caused damage.

For that size id personally go acrylic with an electric fence around it to prevent kids getting too close.

 

[SamUK]

is telling them theres a kid eating fish in there out of the question?