acrylic vs Glass
- Thread starter kyazh
- Start date
I love my Jebo tanks. NO problems whatsoever. The tanks with the all inclusive hoods work very well. I have a few of them set up with ceramic rings, filter pads, and/or bio balls, and they keep the water clear and well-balanced. The CF lighting is first rate as well. I have friends with these tanks and they enjoy good luck as well.
Jebo also has a line of tanks with aluminum hoods that house massive CF lighting. They are first rate, and inexpensive.
Any tank of any brand can and probably will develop leaks after several years. Silicone, when in contact with water and all the critters that the water supports can suffer a delamination of the bond between the silicone and glass. I know it's a hassle to drain a tank and move the contacts, but resiliconing is relatively simple and uneventful. A few single edge razor blades can clean up the old silicone, and a couple tubes worth of new silicone can make an old tank brand new. Don't try to remove the old silicone from between the glass components, rather just cut the buildup off at right angles to each perpendicular surface. Make sure to clean up all the areas that will be resiliconed with denatured alcohol. You can reapply the new silicone in the original fashion or use masking tape to keep uniform lines. It's pretty easy just to squirt the silicone into the intersecting corners of the glass with a consistent bead, then go back over the bead with your index finger forcing the silicon into the intersecting corners and ploughing the excess ahead of the fingertip. Keep several paper towels nearby to clean the excess off your finger as you go. I don't think this is too much trouble after a tank has given you several years of service. I would much rather repair a leaking tank every decade or so, to buffing out scratches in acrylic constantly.
I have one acrylic 50 gallon tank. It holds water, & is light to move around when necessary. It's got a black background which really highlights the fish and interior decoration. It's clearer than glass, but, it scratches just by looking at it, and it changes shape more than a changling. The top is constantly bowed up or down, the lids made of the same material started out flat and are now bowed more than a 1/4" on each end. Stilll, with clearer than glass, and weight issues, it's nice to have. If transporting and moving the tank without help is an issue for you, Acrylic is the answer.
Jebo also has a line of tanks with aluminum hoods that house massive CF lighting. They are first rate, and inexpensive.
Any tank of any brand can and probably will develop leaks after several years. Silicone, when in contact with water and all the critters that the water supports can suffer a delamination of the bond between the silicone and glass. I know it's a hassle to drain a tank and move the contacts, but resiliconing is relatively simple and uneventful. A few single edge razor blades can clean up the old silicone, and a couple tubes worth of new silicone can make an old tank brand new. Don't try to remove the old silicone from between the glass components, rather just cut the buildup off at right angles to each perpendicular surface. Make sure to clean up all the areas that will be resiliconed with denatured alcohol. You can reapply the new silicone in the original fashion or use masking tape to keep uniform lines. It's pretty easy just to squirt the silicone into the intersecting corners of the glass with a consistent bead, then go back over the bead with your index finger forcing the silicon into the intersecting corners and ploughing the excess ahead of the fingertip. Keep several paper towels nearby to clean the excess off your finger as you go. I don't think this is too much trouble after a tank has given you several years of service. I would much rather repair a leaking tank every decade or so, to buffing out scratches in acrylic constantly.
I have one acrylic 50 gallon tank. It holds water, & is light to move around when necessary. It's got a black background which really highlights the fish and interior decoration. It's clearer than glass, but, it scratches just by looking at it, and it changes shape more than a changling. The top is constantly bowed up or down, the lids made of the same material started out flat and are now bowed more than a 1/4" on each end. Stilll, with clearer than glass, and weight issues, it's nice to have. If transporting and moving the tank without help is an issue for you, Acrylic is the answer.
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