Acrylic vs Glass

[CHINABOY1021]

i've heard many disadvantages and advantages of either. i just want to sum things up before i hop in.

Arcylic being scratched up by catfish? that tiny rubbing can scratch it?

thanks

[Heady]

This is interesting. I just set up a 100 gallon acrylic but am concerned that my 12" pleco may scratch the sides. Has this happened to anyone? What can I do to prevent it?

[CHINABOY1021]

the scratching is just what i heard. it was a post on this forum. I am confused, exactly how soft is acrylic?

hey heady. you DIY tank?

[125gJoe]

http://gordon.sourcecod.com/images/flagicons/american_flag.gif
Yes, I've heard that Pleco's can scratch Acrylic. But, Acylic is supposed to look better optically/visually, and it's stronger..

[thom336]

There are many advantages and disadvantages to both glass and acrylic aquaria. With glass, the larger the tank is, the thicker the glass has to be - and so it becomes heavier. With acrylic this is not the case, and large aquria can be made from thin, light acrylic. Acrylic does scratch more easily than glass, but acrylic isnt as affected by these scratches as glass is - with glass they are disasterous as they create a weak point in the aquaria, with acrylic this is not the case, and scratches do not weaken the aquaria. Glass is clearer than acrylic, and acrylic tanks can begin to let off a slight smell after a while. Acrylic tanks can be made into many more different and interesting shapes to glass tanks, which have their limitations. And acrylic is cheaper...

Thom.

[Sum-X]

They light goes better through acrylic, its stronger and its lighter... But its also more expensive.:cool:

[thom336]

I always thought acrylic was cheaper...maybe not.

[slipknottin]

There are various degrees of both acrylic and glass. Glass can be clearer than acrylic, though the opposite usually is true.

Acrylic is much lighter, more expensive, and much easier to scratch. Small shallow scratches on acrylic can be buffed out, glass cant.

[CHINABOY1021]

i guess i should go with glass considering its cheaper and the tank size i am planning towards isnt giong to be needing too thick of glass. plus weight isnt a big factor since my tank is going to be around 65 gallons. any other things i need to watch for

[thom336]

The step when you're carrying it...

[Heady]

Acrylic tanks only begin to be cheaper in very large aquaria (about 100 gallons or more). Acrylic is significantly lighter. My new 100 gallon acrylic weighs less than my old 55 glass.

Acrylic is supposed to transmit light truer than glass. There have been posts here giving transmission spectra.

Anyone here have plecos in acrylic tanks...?

[slipknottin]

As I said, there are varying degrees of clarity for both acrylic and glass. The typical limesoda glass we use will not be as clear as the common acrylic. There is glass avaliable that is as clear however.