I have had countless Glass tanks and only 1 acrylic. I like the finish of the large acrylic but I hate the way they scratch. I prefer glass myslef but you are right. They are the SUCK to move!
Arkangel77
Arkangel77
New reason why Glass is better than acrylic
- Thread starter CWO4GUNNER
- Start date
I bought a buffing kit from home depot to attach to my drill for $10 for the scratchy tank I just picked up as well, so I'll also post a review on how it does. I must say I LOVE being able to carry a 75 gallon tank alone, that never happened with my glass 46.
Well I know they are heavy - heck I dropped my 225 when I moved it (that repair was no fun) It chipped the slab floor of the house lol. Still though - I am a glass guy. I guess if there was a way to easily remove the scratches then maybe? I just dont trust thoes scratch removal kits. Its not like you can move a 300lb acrylic by yourself anyway? Have Justahannah build your stand and you will be in GOOD shape!
There are pros and cons to anything and it makes both sides right in their opinion as to why they like one or the other. My personal choice is for glass. I am willing to trade off the weight for ease of care. Having had other acrylic item, I found it especially hard to maintain a clean surface without scratching it. Because I am "anti-waterspot" (it gives me something to do) I wipe down the glass several times a day. Having multiple tanks causes me to fill my time by keeping them clean. Acrylic would need buffing, etc under those conditions.
"Having multiple tanks causes me to fill my time by keeping them clean. Acrylic would need buffing, etc under those conditions."
That's true. I found out my Oceanic Systems tank I bought used was 10 years old but after a canopy and stand refinish and glass polishing its like brand new. Now I just wipe the outside down every other day with RO/WDV and the inside with a magnet cleaner and its a gem to look through. What would an acrylic tank look like in 10 years. I remember our acrylic security camera housings would completely haze up and crumble after 5 years. Even an acrylic motorcycle wind screen gets scuffed up from cleaning with a paper towl after a year or so.
OK I think Im convinced. Since Im not rich and really cant afford to buy a new acrylic anyway, I guess Ill stick with somthing I know from exspirience I can bring back from years of neglect. Glass it is, oh I can already feel my back going out lol.
That's true. I found out my Oceanic Systems tank I bought used was 10 years old but after a canopy and stand refinish and glass polishing its like brand new. Now I just wipe the outside down every other day with RO/WDV and the inside with a magnet cleaner and its a gem to look through. What would an acrylic tank look like in 10 years. I remember our acrylic security camera housings would completely haze up and crumble after 5 years. Even an acrylic motorcycle wind screen gets scuffed up from cleaning with a paper towl after a year or so.
OK I think Im convinced. Since Im not rich and really cant afford to buy a new acrylic anyway, I guess Ill stick with somthing I know from exspirience I can bring back from years of neglect. Glass it is, oh I can already feel my back going out lol.
Totally true.
Lucky you... it happened to me. It was a 3 inch tiger pleco that did it. There were little teeth marks all over the acrylic. I'm pretty much done with acrylic tanks unless I were to find a KILLER deal on a huge tank. Our house is on a concrete slab so we aren't too concerned with the weight of our tanks anyway.
Acrylic has some major pros like a better refraction ratio to water, and the "invisible" rounded front corners. The idea of welding a tank shut at the seams is also pretty satisfying... However, I really think the cons outweigh, and I'm not sure I could ever buy a plastic fish tank. It all boils down to durability.
Weight is an issue for shipping and/or moving, sure, but those things happen infrequently. I think the choice should be based on what the tank will do 99.9% of the time not just portability. Besides, getting 10 guys together to move a tank is also sorta prestigious, don't you agree? And in those cases the heavier the better.
Frankly, I wish we had a material even stronger than glass. To get something softer goes against everything I believe in.
Weight is an issue for shipping and/or moving, sure, but those things happen infrequently. I think the choice should be based on what the tank will do 99.9% of the time not just portability. Besides, getting 10 guys together to move a tank is also sorta prestigious, don't you agree? And in those cases the heavier the better.
Frankly, I wish we had a material even stronger than glass. To get something softer goes against everything I believe in.
i dont think i will ever buy an acrylic tank just because of the scratch issues. The weight to me, is of little concern because how often are you moving a tank, especially of the magnitude that you are talking. Even though there is a very decent weight difference in the tank itself, at the weight you are talking full of water and substrate and decor, weight is a concern no matter what tank you purchase.
Glass, once scratched is a lost cause unfortunately whereas acrylic it can be buffed. However, glass is far more scratch resistant. by the way, 1800 for an acrylic tank is expensive, i dont know where you are finding a glass one that is more expensive than that, i suppose shipping is a *****, i guess in the end, with shipping to your door, costs would probably equal out.
have you tried www.glasscages.com ?
Glass, once scratched is a lost cause unfortunately whereas acrylic it can be buffed. However, glass is far more scratch resistant. by the way, 1800 for an acrylic tank is expensive, i dont know where you are finding a glass one that is more expensive than that, i suppose shipping is a *****, i guess in the end, with shipping to your door, costs would probably equal out.
have you tried www.glasscages.com ?
Transparent Aluminum, its coming...
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/20033
And I get the part about 99% usage and 1% transport. My mom & pop LFS really tried to talk me out of acrylic and when I asked why they use it almost exclusively, they said for ease of cut pluming the sides of 50 tanks into one large jacuzzi pump filter and manifold. But at home they only have glass.
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