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AF Founder

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A friend of mine plans on setting up a 10-foot reef tank. It would be easier for him to go with plexi due to weight and ease of plumbing, but is worried about long term maintenence. Specifically, he is worried about getting algae, especially coraline, off of the front viewing panel and not scrathing the plexi in the process. I have never had a plexiglass tank and cannot advise him from personal experience. What do you guys think.
Terry
 

GMH320

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I have scratch a GLASS tank in the past doing routine maintenance, I would think that a plexiglass one would be a nightmare. Here's a thought, how about plexi on the sides and back but glass on the front only. (Assuming it is going to be a custom made tank)
 
A

Anonymous

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Well first of all you should do a search on this topic as it's been discussed from top to bottom. Basically it comes down to which problem you would rather, or rather not have. I've kept both, and I'm sticking with glass from now on with anything uder a 180 gallon. I did have a 250 gallon custom made with 3/4' plexi, and the first thing that happened was a rock tumbled down and put a gouge in it. If you get one little piece of sand between the plexi and whatever you are using to clean it with, stratch city!! I mean ANY piece of anyting harder than the plexi. You have to be really carefull with it. It's really a pain in large tanks to because there is so much surface are to clean.
Glass is heavy, and it can break. I don't walk around with my reeftank under my arms though, so I don't care. A 10' tank is very large however, and having it built on site is a practical solution to actually having to carry it in the house. Each pain on such a tank will weigh upwards of 400lbs.
For a tank that big, I would lean towards plexi despite the pain in the ass it is to have to be so carefull with it.
Jim
 

Green Lantern

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Terry, don't you have a huge glass tank? I personally would never take a chance with acrylic because of the ease of scratches. Having said that, I think they are nicer looking if kept in good condition.
 

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