Acrylic tanks

[Darkangel]

I am just wondering after reading all the posts, how common are acrylic tanks in the USA? Up here in Canada they seem to be fairly rare. I honestly can not recall ever seeing one for sale in a LFS. I wonder though as they seem fairly common in the US. I can see many advantages to the acrylic and I guess I really am just curious as to how common they are in the US. That is it not a real big deal just a question.

[Anton Wernher]

I have only seen small acrylic tanks <=10 gallons for sale. I have been looking for a 30 gallon acrylic tank with no luck so far.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Acrylic is VERY common here in california. It is ALOT more expensive then glass and scratches easier then glass. I personally like glass better. But with arcylic, you can drill in holes for sumps..

[slipknottin]

you can drill holes in glass too.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Yes.. Im sure you can. BUT it is alot harder then Acrylic. especially on a premade tank.

[GobyGuy5]

I too have only seen acrylic tanks around ten gallons or less for sale, usually a desktop aquarium of some type, the only place I've seen a larger one for sale is on the web.

[JamisonBWolsh]

come to california...they are EVERYWHERE!

[slipknottin]

there is only one reason to buy acrylic tanks....

earthquakes.



unless of course your talking large (over 200 gallon) tanks. then the weight savings could be important.

[JamisonBWolsh]

That would be the reason it is popular here...but im not going to spend 150.00 for a 60 gallon acrylic tank opposed to 50.00 for a glass tank.

[Fishiebusiness]

I spent the extra for the acrylic, but i dont think it'll help much if my whole stand falls over in an earthquake, yikes.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Yes thats true. thats IF the stand collapses. The acrylic tanks wont IMPLODE because of the water pressure inside the tank. Chances are higher with a glass tank of blowing up. Its worth the extra money if you want to spend it. Personally I dont like them because they scratch easier and I dont like how they look. Glass is more clearer IMO, plus wont scratch as easy.

[jiggerpolebill]

if the rupture is caused by pressure within the tank, wouldnt that be an explosion rather than an implosion?

[JamisonBWolsh]

hhmmm... I dont know.. I never thought about it really. someone just told me that a tank can implode in an earthquake. Eithor way, your going to have one big mess. Hopefully, when the quake comes, your at home and can save your fish. Im not sure if that will work though. Northridge earthquake knocked out power for more than week..so Im told.

[slipknottin]

in glass tanks--- during a violent earthquake, the silicone will not be able to keep the glass in place. water pressure pushes the glass outward.

and most glass tanks (all-glass, oceanic, all common glass tanks) are not going to be as clear as acrylic. They will be far more resistant to scratches though. Glass is higher up on the hardness scale than acrylic is.

[JamisonBWolsh]

I wonder, at what earthquake level, would it cause a glass tank to burst? The acrylic tank should outlast most of the earthquakes (as long as it doents tip). With glass, would it survive a 5.0? Im thinking anything over 5.0 is a major earthquake. would it survive 6.0? or 7.0? We get smaller eartquakes here in california frequantly. less than 2.0 and we cant feel them.

I could deal with earthquakes (havent felt a major one yet in 2 years here).

we dont have tornados, hurricanes, or power outages which can mean the destruction of the tank!

[slipknottin]

i dont think anyone has recorded such a thing...

i dont know who would want to find out :eek:

There are likely too many factors to compensate for. How far away the epicenter is, where the tank is located, what kind of stand, what type of silicone, what kind of glass... etc. etc.

too many variables to conduct a controlled experiment. Theres also the "gradual weakening" of tanks that could technically happen. Maybe the first time a 3.0 hits, the tank is fine, but over the course of the next 4 3.0 earthquakes, the tank fails...

[JamisonBWolsh]

Hence the reason poeple in earthquake country should get Acrylic!

However, I am going to gamble and hopefully it wont happen. Slip..your in the east. I used to live in upstate NY. No worries on earthquakes or tornados for you. But those power outages can be rough...

[slipknottin]

i thought Cali had its fair share of brownouts/blackouts?

at least im not bending over each month when the electric bill comes!

[JamisonBWolsh]

I havent seen any blackouts yet in my area...ever. My bill isnt that bad...In the middle of summer my bill is at the most 100.00 and thats for a 2 month period (billed every other month)... so we arent charged that high. IN the winter last year, my bill was 30.00 for 2 months!!

[cacti]

Acrylic tanks in large sizes of 300 gallons and more are common because of the lighter weight of the tanks.

[famman]

I live in LA, never had a problem with glass.
I have a glass 10 gal, and 20 gal.
I have an acrylic 55 gal because I liked the no-blind corners and how light and clear it was.
:)