Acrylic vs Glass Tanks

dhanson1123

AC Members
Aug 12, 2008
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What is your opinion of acrylic tanks vs glass. I realize that acrlic is more prone to scratches but the big plus for me is that I want to get as big of a tank as I can afford but then I run in to issuses of being able to carry it myself. Acrylic allows me to get say a 45-55 gallon tank and I can haul it myself. Used acrylic tanks seem to pop up occasionally for decent prices
but do people reccomend them or is glass the way to go?
 
personally i would go with acrylic because it is lighter and stronger that glass. but as you said it can scratch easily and its more expensive.
 
I prefer glass personally. It's easier to clean and they can be resealed should the need arise.
 
I like both for various reasons...
 
I prefer glass for the issue of scratching, especially used as I have never seen a used acrylic without major scratches.
 
I like acrylic better than glass.
Mostly because it's lighter and stronger.
But maybe cause I dropped my glass tank and it shattered. :wall:
 
I dislike acrylic, for the usual reasons. If you have algae on acrylic, it is a big ol' PITA to get it off; stuff that will come off glass with a gentle sweep takes dedicated scrubbing to come off acrylic. And you WILL scratch it, unless you are Earth's most patient person. Acrylic's light weight comes in real handy on the days when you are moving the tank, but glass's ease of maintenance comes in handy all the other days of the year.

Acrylic and glass also transmit light differently, giving them slightly different looks. I prefer the look of glass, but obviously this is totally a matter of personal taste. You should check out both types of tanks filled before making your decision.
 
I personally like glass as it is cheaper and easier to maintain. However, if you scratch glass there is no way to get it off. If you have a major scratch in acrylic, there are ways to get it out.
 
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