Pros/Cons of Acrylic Tanks?

[starrfish]

I know all the pros/cons of acrylic and glass...but I'd like to hear from people who have acrylic tanks:

- what do you like about it?
- what don't you like about it?
- are the scratches really an issue?
- is it really clearer than glass?
- is it tough to clean the inside walls given the hole access at the top?
etc, etc

I'm beginning to plan my big move to a 180 - still don't know whether to go acrylic or glass.

Thanks for any and all input.

Daire

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

The Good:

1. Scratches can be buffed out of acrylic, glass scratches are permanent
2. Tank is more easily plumbed with hole saw
3. Acrylic's index of refraction is closer to water which means it is more transparent than glass
4. Acrylic is lighter so you need less people to lift it into place
5. Acrylic tank seams last longer and as such these tanks hold their value better
6. Easily cleaned with a "magnet" type cleaner (I use magnavore acrylic magnet & kit)
7. Acrylic is more insulating than glass which helps stablize temperature

The Bad:

1. Getting corraline off of the front, especially in the corners and seams is tough to do using a plastic scraper. However, I use the Kent metal scraper (not a razor) and if you are careful you can minimize scratching so that it is invisible!
2. Yes, acrylic scratches much easier than glass
3. There is limited access from the top , but you can work around this pretty easily
4. Acrylic tanks are usually more expensive

I have a 300 gallon acrylic tank and have managed to keep it relatively free from visible scratches. If it does get scratched, I use my scratch repair kit to buff out the scratches (without draining the tank or removing fish). Scratching was mostly and issue when I set up the live rock. After the initial setup, the only wat I have gotten scratches is via careless cleaning....believe it or not with the plastic Kent scraper. I now use the metal Kent scraper and have minimized scratching to hairline scratches that fill up with water and are invisible.

I think the biggest reason to go with glass above acrylic is that you can use a razor blade to get the corraline off. But if you keep up the cleaning with a Magnavore magnet or other magnet cleaner, this minimizes the drudgery of scraping off the corraline.

The top access problem does limit your ability to get into the tank, but it is not impossible to do what you need to (place rock, corals, cleaning, etc.). Especially if you do not plan to clean every surface of the tank...I do not clean the back wall.

 

[Rob]

acrylic

I have an 180 acrylic, love it but I do have a few scratched from moving LR. I have the scratch remover kit but am afraid to use it......dont want to cause more damage than thats there.

How was it to use?


Rob

 

[Armando]

Chuck why the acrylic tanks have limited top access ? Is it because the tanks have a large top acrylic surface around the borders? Do all acrylic tanks have this?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I have an 180 acrylic, love it but I do have a few scratched from moving LR. I have the scratch remover kit but am afraid to use it......dont want to cause more damage than thats there.

How was it to use?


Rob

Rob,

Definitely use it...it is very easy as long as you follow the step-by-step directions. I used it to take out a 12 inch scratch and the area looks like new !

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Chuck why the acrylic tanks have limited top access ? Is it because the tanks have a large top acrylic surface around the borders? Do all acrylic tanks have this?

Armando,

Yes, I believe all acrylic tanks have a "lip" around the circumference of the tank top. But mine also has a large center brace about 12" wide and it runs from front top back. Actually my acrylic tank has more like an enclosed top, with removable acrylic access panels. I removed the panels for good gas exchange and better temperature reduction.

Regards,
Chuck

 

[starrfish]

All of the ones I've seen have these "access panels" on the top. Chuck - do you keep yours off all the time? I would think that would be best. Does the large center brace interfere with lighting?

 

[Armando]

wow that could be a bummer. i like having full access to the tank interior "walls". but for my big tank (long long term project) i'll probably use acrylic anyway.

How about safety? Is Acrylic considered safer than glass as far as leaks, cracks, etc?

 

[starrfish]

Armando - that is my biggest concern with going acrylic. I also like to have free access to the inside walls. Cleaning them is tough enough as it is, but having to reach "inside" an access hole would make it even more challenging (I would think).

 

[Armando]

right. "lip" is actually a good name for it . we need a small lip.

 

[ducker]

Hm, I don't have an acrylic, but what about bowing over time? From what I've read a number of the larger tanks tend to bow in the middle.

-Mike

 

[RobboT]

Bowing is an issue in either case. Glass bows too but acrylic more so. I have a 365g acrylic tank that I bought from PetClub a long time ago that needs repair as a result of bowing. The tank was not designed well though. The tank is 4' tall, 6' long and 2' deep. It bowed in the center causing cracks at the seams about 2' up from the base on each of the end panels. This was probably because of the 6' length combined with the 4' height. Point is that any tank you buy needs to be appropriately designed. Manufactured tanks are usually designed according to some general rules, the only time to really think about bowing is with custom tanks or DIY projects.

 

[RobboT]

For a 180 I would hope its made from 1" acrylic, 3/4" at a minimum.

 

[dedfish]

Rob, cut that tank in half and put a bottom on the cut off part and you could have two sweet frag tanks!

 

[RobboT]

Nah better idea, cut off the 4' x 6' front, weld it to what is now the top, flip the tank on its back and I have a 365g tank 4' deep by 6' long by 2' tall. Already planning it just have to relocate the laundry room.

 

[JayG]

For a 180 I would hope its made from 1" acrylic, 3/4" at a minimum.

When I was doing research on acrylic tanks I was amazed on how thin of acrylic some of the "budget" companies used. I was looking for a 96X24X30 tank at the time. I talked to one company that said they would use 1/2" acrylic and another that said they would use 5/8". I then talked to a high end manufacture who said 3/4" would be absolute minimum but he suggested 1".

The thickness of acrylic has a lot to do with how much the tank bows.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I bought a Tenecor 5 years ago almost ! The middle does bow, but is not a concern. Acrylic tanks usually outlast glass tanks and take the stress of the static water pressure better over time. You are right though...companies do skimp on the acrylic to save money. My tank is 3/4 inch acrylic. 1" and over is tough to find and it would be really expensive if you did find one.

Starrfish, yes I leave the acces doors off all the time. The center brace does not seem to affect the lighting. I did not put a lamp directly over it. Instead I put 2 400 W MH lamps off center from the tank's midpoint. That way some of the MH lamps hangs over the access holes and part of the lamps are over the acrylic.....my tank is REALLY Bright...never had problems with too little light !

As far as cleaning...you just need the right tools. I have 3 Kent Scrapers...short handheld, 1 foot, and 3 foot scrapers plus the best thing I ever bought...a Magnavore VII cleaner !

If anyone is making critical decisions on wether or not to go acrylic, you are welcome to stop by and take a look at the tank. I will even let you clean it so you can get a feel of how easy or difficult you think it is ! LOL !

 

[Armando]

Anyone has comments about the safety issue? Cracks, seams, leaks, etc.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Armando, yes acrylic tanks tend to leak less and hold their structural integrity better over time than glass. The reason is that acrylic bends easier and any time you have a gradient of pressure in a certain location caused by a less than level tank, nonhomogeneity in the acrylic, or whatever, the acrylic will bend and thus put less pressure on the seams. Also, the seams are pretty much fused together via the acrylic bonding process and are much stronger than the glass seams that are "glued" together. Another point is that you can have less seams in an acrylic tank by getting rounded corners so that you only have seams on the top and bottom, eliminating 4 seams! This type of design is much stronger than a comparable glass tank.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Hey Starrfish, your little doggie is cute....is he a Jack Russel Terrier. I have Schipperke puppy....I'll have to post some pix of her...just really busy lately !