Glass vs Acrylic

[fishnugget]

Thoughts for 180 gallon reef. Glass vs acrylic?

All Glass- is it agood brand?

Bio Rocker by Kent Vs wet Dry? Thoughts!!

So much stuff sooo confusing

 

[Anonymous]

All Glass is very popular. I have found, however, that most all glass aquariums are essentially the same. Personally, I prefer glass. Glass tanks aren't manufactured with limited (which = committed) openings as acrylic is, it is FAR easier to clean, won't scratch as readily. Also, if there's ever a break or crack, it is FAR easier to repair than acrylic, only requiring addition glass and silicone.

Don't know anything about the Bio Rocker, so I can't comment. Filtration is best determined after you decide what you're looking to have/keep. Same would definitely go for lighting.

 

[hdtran]

Have a 29 gallon acrylic tank. When I upgraded to a bigger tank (120), I went with glass.

Acrylic: Clearer, but not that much clearer. Corners can (should) be made seamless, so they're invisible. Microscratches on the interior are essentially invisible. Tank is lighter when empty (e.g. easier to maneuver into place in your house).

Glass: Only one partition across the top with large tanks. Acrylic tanks (even small ones) have a built-in top, with weird cutouts in weird places. Good luck maneuvering large pieces of live rock through the cutouts :wink:

Brands: Oceanic; Perfecto; All-Glass; all good brands--I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

 

[Reef Guy11]

All Glass is good, But I also think that Visio is also a very good and well crafted tank too. I never had any problems with visio.

 

[Anonymous]

Visio is aquariums, too? Not just computer software?? Intemesting..

 

[Jolieve]

I say go with glass. I am regretting the choice of a large acrylic aquarium, though I do like my minibow for my planted tank.

 

[Reef Guy11]

Visio Are aquariums SM. My 80 gal is well done. Our Company uses them alot and sell a lot of them too.

 

[Anonymous]

All-glass is an excellent brand. And definitely glass over acrylic.

For a reef tank you do not want a wet dry or a bio rocker. Both those systems yield nitrate as an end product, which is fine for a fish only tank but bad for a reef.

All you need for filtration is a good skimmer and live rock in the tank.

 

[hdtran]

Need to add one more pro/con glass vs. acrylic:

Acrylic: You drop a large chunk of live rock in your tank while acascaping. The LR bounces off the side, leaving a scratch (which is virtually invisible when immersed.)

Glass: You drop a large chunk of LR... If you're lucky, the LR bounces off the side and lands on your substrate. If you're grossly unlucky, you've just chipped your tank...

 

[Anonymous]

Ive had an acrlyic...it is lighter other than that i perfer Glass...It doesnt scratch as easy and if it leaks IMO far easier to fix...they both have advantages and disadvantages...you can get more customized designs out of acrylic vs glass...if you just want a plain rectangular tank go with glass....

 

[jhaag]

I have a 90gal glass reef and a 210gal acrylic reef tank. If I had it to do over again, I would definately go with glass period. It doesn't matter how careful I am, I still end up with micro scratches that drive me craze on the inside of the tank. I actually bought a Magfloat for acrylic and it scratch the tank the first time I cleaned it and I am KNOW the Magfloat was perfect. I have since purchased an algeafree magnet (almost $100) and I haven't put any new scratches in the tank, but somehow there are still faint ones that show up every now and then. Maybe my fish put them there.

 

[Anonymous]

You cant get bowfront glass i dont think...i agree with the glass for the most part being better, but for most i guess for a lack of a better word "oddshaped" aquariums arylic is the way to go

 

[hdtran]

You can get bowfront glass tanks (also S-curved front glass tanks). Oceanic, among others.

You can't get seamless glass tanks. You'll always have that butt joint (or if you're really lucky, miter joint) at the corners, whereas a good acrylic tank just bends the corners...

That said, you can't get (or rather, can't afford) "weird" shapes in glass (such as domes).

Finally drilling for overflows: You can (or just about anyone can) drill an acrylic tank for overflows or other custom plumbing. Don't do glass at home!