I might be buying a new aquarium. What are the pros and cons for acrylic and glass. I currently have glass. Ive heard acrylic scratches easily and is hard to keep clean, It gets white stuff on it and such... is this true?
acrylic vs Glass
- Thread starter kyazh
- Start date
I have a 5g acrylic and it's okay but it does scratch easy, and when acrylic ages, it gets brittle and will simply shatter or crumble once it's lost it's strength. It's much, much lighter than glass however and I think removing scratches out of it is pretty easy. A downside is it tends to yellow over time, making the water look discolored.
It's "one piece" unlike glass so it's built into the shape it will be instead of "glued" like glass so the odds of a leak are reduced. It has a few other advantages and disadvantages I can't think of right now.
Glass on the otherhand lasts a lot longer, isn't as easy to scratch but it is harder to remove scratches (almost impossible in some cases). Glass can be more durable to heat, it won't melt like acrylic can at lower temperatures (though this is usually not an issue unless a heater malfunctions) and glass is the mainstay of the aquarium hobby.
Really, it comes down to personal choice. I prefer glass to acrylic.
It's "one piece" unlike glass so it's built into the shape it will be instead of "glued" like glass so the odds of a leak are reduced. It has a few other advantages and disadvantages I can't think of right now.
Glass on the otherhand lasts a lot longer, isn't as easy to scratch but it is harder to remove scratches (almost impossible in some cases). Glass can be more durable to heat, it won't melt like acrylic can at lower temperatures (though this is usually not an issue unless a heater malfunctions) and glass is the mainstay of the aquarium hobby.
Really, it comes down to personal choice. I prefer glass to acrylic.
lol. A thread comes up on this topic every week. anyways. From what i know acrilc gets more scratchs but looks alot nicer and glass dosent get as many scratches but is block like. Personly i've never had glass but thats what i hear from som people here
hope this helps
hope this helps
Go with glass!!!! I can't stand acrylic! Acrylic tanks tend to get kinda warped after a while and you have to buy things specially for acrylic. Don't get me started on how easily they get scratched! If you just tap it with your fingers it gets scratched. They dont make tops for them, except lighting hoods and be VERY careful of the products you buy if you chose acrylic (like algae scapers, tank cleaners/wipes, etc.)
I would go with glass if i were you, but this is just my opinion.
I would go with glass if i were you, but this is just my opinion.
I was at a local pet store a while ago, I saw a nice glass aquarium make of 3 peices. A bottom piece a back piece, and a single front and side piece, make of BENT glass, it was slightly curved but made a nice regtangular tank. I believe the manufacturer was JEBO. This tank really caught my attention. Any pros or cons on bent glass?
i am a big fan of acrylic. they are not THAT easy to scratch as long as you becareful and use acrylic cleaning products. Both of my acrylic tank is still crystal clear and without any visible scratch.
I wont list the pro con as they have been discussed many times over. But if you want a living room show tank with crystal clear viewing and seamless curved edges etc go for acrylic. If you are a pro hobbist with multiple tanks and just want to keep fish, not to show it off. Go with glass, because it's cheaper.
I wont list the pro con as they have been discussed many times over. But if you want a living room show tank with crystal clear viewing and seamless curved edges etc go for acrylic. If you are a pro hobbist with multiple tanks and just want to keep fish, not to show it off. Go with glass, because it's cheaper.
