Acrylic or Glass??? Which style of tank do you prefer??? Pros and Cons??
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brettz16
Member
Had both. Acrylic holds temperature better then glass but scratches VERY easy. Be careful even with a "acrylic safe scrubber" because eventually organisms, sand etc with get under the wet side and scratch the surfaces. Acrylic will also bow eventually FYI. I now have a glass and love it much better, but it also depends on the size of tank for me.
EricTheRed
No, I'm not a communist..
The quick answer is that glass is soooo much easier to clean, etc. What I don't like about most glass aquariums is the center support brace which will cause shadows.
Steve1986
Active member
I've also had both and prefer acrylic . If your not carefull acrylic will scratch easier but if it does happen you can always buff it out . If glass scratches your pretty much screwed. Glass is like 5 times heavier than acrylic . Acrylic is better with heat like mentioned above. Glass also has like a green tint to it unless you go with something like starphire glass but then your going into big bucks.
capysolo
New member
Low iron glass (starphire) is also much softer than regular glass. It's clearer, but scratches easy. Not as easy as acrylic, but easier than normal glass.
I've had glass, and acrylic. Haven't had low iron glass.
For me: if it's an odd shape (curved, corner, pentagon, etc), or if weight is an issue, then acrylic is the way to go. Just gotta be extra careful. My scrubber does not stay in the water after cleaning.
If it's your standard rectangle and weight isn't an issue, then it's glass. I'll take the durability over clear-ness and weight savings.
reefOgraphic
New member
I've had both. The clarity of acrylic is a big plus but it's really hard to maintain over the long run. I recently got a really sweet deal on a starphire tank. I don't think I'd ever use anything else again. It's so clear it seems like there's nothing between the water and you. For a reef, I would think the clarity of the material your viewing through is of top priority. I may have not realized that before but having the tank has changed my mind.
Doug
New member
Below is part of an article that I wrote many years ago for Reefkeeping magazine.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/dw/index.htm
Things may have changed since then but the basic concepts are still valid.
Aquarium Materials
Glass or acrylic? The most commonly available aquariums are normally made of glass or acrylic. The advantages and disadvantages of both types of aquariums are as follows.
Advantages of a Glass Aquarium:
Glass aquariums cost less than acrylic aquariums. Because glass aquariums are so common and widely available they normally cost much less than their acrylic counterparts. An All Glass Aquarium 40 gallon breeder aquarium has a cost of approximately $80.00(US) whereas the same size aquarium in acrylic has a cost of approximately $250.00(US).
Glass aquariums are available in many common sizes. In almost any local fish store or pet shop you will find a very large selection of different sized glass aquariums.
Glass aquariums are more resistant to scratches than acrylic. While a glass aquarium can be scratched, it is much harder to scratch a glass aquarium than an acrylic aquarium. You can use a razor blade or abrasive scrapers to clean a glass aquarium whereas the same tools used on an acrylic aquarium would be disastrous.
Disadvantages of a Glass Aquarium:
Glass aquariums are heavy. A 90-gallon glass aquarium has an empty weight of 160 pounds where an acrylic aquarium will weight of approximately 80 pounds. The weights can vary depending upon the thickness of the glass or acrylic used to manufacture the aquarium.
Glass aquariums are more susceptible to leaks and breakage. The seams are more susceptible to leaks because they are bound together with silicone whereas acrylic has a molecular bond, which is said to be five times stronger. An accidental bump with a blunt object or an object thrown into a glass aquarium could be disastrous. Many of the larger, thicker glass aquariums can handle these accidents but can still be broken.
Glass aquariums seams are more visible and susceptible to failure. The seams, where the glass is joined, are more visible and normally have an annoying green tint. Many used aquariums are also susceptible to silicone dry rot. If a used glass aquarium is left empty for a long period of time the silicone which bonds the seams together can dry out and become brittle. Also, if any medication is used, there is a strong chance that the silicone will discolor and take on a blue tint.
Advantages of Acrylic Aquariums:
Acrylic aquariums are available in almost any shape and size. Unlike glass, acrylic aquariums can be made into circular shapes, tube shapes and all of the other common shapes that are not offered in glass.
Acrylic aquariums are visibly clearer than glass aquariums. Glass aquariums, especially thick glass, have a tendency to distort the view of the inhabitants. Most acrylic does not have the common green tint that is normally associated with standard glass aquariums. Acrylic may still have color, and this should be taken in to consideration when purchasing your tank.
Acrylic aquariums are much lighter than glass aquariums. As specified under glass aquarium disadvantages, the weight of an acrylic aquarium is half that of an aquarium made of glass.
Acrylic aquariums are stronger than glass aquariums. Even though an acrylic
aquarium can be broken, they can withstand accidents and mistakes better than glass.
Acrylic aquariums are better insulators than glass. An acrylic aquarium will hold the water temperature easier than a glass aquarium. The ambient room temperature will not have as large of an impact on an acrylic aquarium as it will on a glass aquarium.
Acrylic can be refinished. Unlike glass, if acrylic is scratched, it can be repaired. Kits are available that will allow scratches to be polished out of acrylic. With glass aquariums, once they are scratched, they are scratched for life.
Acrylic aquariums are easier to drill than glass aquariums. While you can purchase drilled glass aquariums, there is always a greater risk of breakage during drilling compared to an acrylic aquarium.
Disadvantages of Acrylic Aquariums:
Acrylic aquariums cost much more than glass aquariums. While the cost of acrylic aquariums have come down one can expect to pay almost double the cost for an acrylic aquarium when compared to glass. Because of manufacturing costs and limited availability the cost is more than glass aquariums.
Acrylic aquariums are less commonly available. Many local fish stores stock only a few sizes of acrylic aquariums, if any. As an example, the LFS near my house has four different sized acrylic aquariums in stock and nearly 30 different sized glass aquariums.
Acrylic aquariums may significantly deform when full of water, causing bowing of the edges and deformation of the sides. Additionally acrylic aquariums need to be supported completely across the bottom; metal stands which support aquariums only on the edges need to have a piece of plywood or other support completely across the bottom of the tank.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/dw/index.htm
Things may have changed since then but the basic concepts are still valid.
Aquarium Materials
Glass or acrylic? The most commonly available aquariums are normally made of glass or acrylic. The advantages and disadvantages of both types of aquariums are as follows.
Advantages of a Glass Aquarium:
Glass aquariums cost less than acrylic aquariums. Because glass aquariums are so common and widely available they normally cost much less than their acrylic counterparts. An All Glass Aquarium 40 gallon breeder aquarium has a cost of approximately $80.00(US) whereas the same size aquarium in acrylic has a cost of approximately $250.00(US).
Glass aquariums are available in many common sizes. In almost any local fish store or pet shop you will find a very large selection of different sized glass aquariums.
Glass aquariums are more resistant to scratches than acrylic. While a glass aquarium can be scratched, it is much harder to scratch a glass aquarium than an acrylic aquarium. You can use a razor blade or abrasive scrapers to clean a glass aquarium whereas the same tools used on an acrylic aquarium would be disastrous.
Disadvantages of a Glass Aquarium:
Glass aquariums are heavy. A 90-gallon glass aquarium has an empty weight of 160 pounds where an acrylic aquarium will weight of approximately 80 pounds. The weights can vary depending upon the thickness of the glass or acrylic used to manufacture the aquarium.
Glass aquariums are more susceptible to leaks and breakage. The seams are more susceptible to leaks because they are bound together with silicone whereas acrylic has a molecular bond, which is said to be five times stronger. An accidental bump with a blunt object or an object thrown into a glass aquarium could be disastrous. Many of the larger, thicker glass aquariums can handle these accidents but can still be broken.
Glass aquariums seams are more visible and susceptible to failure. The seams, where the glass is joined, are more visible and normally have an annoying green tint. Many used aquariums are also susceptible to silicone dry rot. If a used glass aquarium is left empty for a long period of time the silicone which bonds the seams together can dry out and become brittle. Also, if any medication is used, there is a strong chance that the silicone will discolor and take on a blue tint.
Advantages of Acrylic Aquariums:
Acrylic aquariums are available in almost any shape and size. Unlike glass, acrylic aquariums can be made into circular shapes, tube shapes and all of the other common shapes that are not offered in glass.
Acrylic aquariums are visibly clearer than glass aquariums. Glass aquariums, especially thick glass, have a tendency to distort the view of the inhabitants. Most acrylic does not have the common green tint that is normally associated with standard glass aquariums. Acrylic may still have color, and this should be taken in to consideration when purchasing your tank.
Acrylic aquariums are much lighter than glass aquariums. As specified under glass aquarium disadvantages, the weight of an acrylic aquarium is half that of an aquarium made of glass.
Acrylic aquariums are stronger than glass aquariums. Even though an acrylic
aquarium can be broken, they can withstand accidents and mistakes better than glass.
Acrylic aquariums are better insulators than glass. An acrylic aquarium will hold the water temperature easier than a glass aquarium. The ambient room temperature will not have as large of an impact on an acrylic aquarium as it will on a glass aquarium.
Acrylic can be refinished. Unlike glass, if acrylic is scratched, it can be repaired. Kits are available that will allow scratches to be polished out of acrylic. With glass aquariums, once they are scratched, they are scratched for life.
Acrylic aquariums are easier to drill than glass aquariums. While you can purchase drilled glass aquariums, there is always a greater risk of breakage during drilling compared to an acrylic aquarium.
Disadvantages of Acrylic Aquariums:
Acrylic aquariums cost much more than glass aquariums. While the cost of acrylic aquariums have come down one can expect to pay almost double the cost for an acrylic aquarium when compared to glass. Because of manufacturing costs and limited availability the cost is more than glass aquariums.
Acrylic aquariums are less commonly available. Many local fish stores stock only a few sizes of acrylic aquariums, if any. As an example, the LFS near my house has four different sized acrylic aquariums in stock and nearly 30 different sized glass aquariums.
Acrylic aquariums may significantly deform when full of water, causing bowing of the edges and deformation of the sides. Additionally acrylic aquariums need to be supported completely across the bottom; metal stands which support aquariums only on the edges need to have a piece of plywood or other support completely across the bottom of the tank.
reefOgraphic
New member
Did you come across any stats regarding the clarity of the 3; acrylic, std. glass, straphire? I seen read some general observations by have never seen numbers.
- It's true about the stability of glass. While I've never heard of or had a leak of tank keeping in over 30 years, my current tank (less than 2 years old) started leaking from the front middle seam one morning at 5:00 am. What a fun day that was!
- It's true about the stability of glass. While I've never heard of or had a leak of tank keeping in over 30 years, my current tank (less than 2 years old) started leaking from the front middle seam one morning at 5:00 am. What a fun day that was!
Lil BamBam
Premium member
Doug that was great info 
I have a 100 gallon 60" acrylic. I swear my acrylic tank scratches when I sneeze next to it. Those ultra fine scratches eventually start to accumulate over time and you start dealing with cloudiness due to algae growing in those fine scratches. It still cleans fine, but ultra care is needed. I am replacing my acrylic with a Miracles Starphire 140 gallon (60"). Miracles and other custom builders apply bottom euro-bracing to their tanks on top of thicker glass which creates a very thick seam, that's how it makes up for bond strength compared to acrylic. Plus starphire glass is as clear as acrylic and much more scratch resistant. When your talking how easy does starphire scratch, 1 out of 10 where 1 is acrylic and 10 regular glass, starphire is like 8 or 9, its still glass. I read countless threads of people scratching their starphires and most people who say they scratched them are due to creating a rock large tumble that's hits the glass too hard. I never heard of someone scratching their starphire using a razor blade to clean or other means of cleaning.
Thats the main thing I was worried about, the maintence of the acrylic. You know the best way to learn is just to jump in and see how it goes. From the information, it looks like most of yous feel like acrylic is a pain in the ***. I'll give it a go and see what results I get. If I don't like it I can always sell it and switch tanks.