A
Anonymous
Guest
I've been wondering whether I should consider getting an acrylic tank when I set up next year rather than glass.
This is for two reasons:
1. My career is one of those mobile careers. Even though I know we're going to Japan next year, it's likely that we will move country again 4 years later. Having a tank that's 48% lighter than a glass tank might make this doable.
2. If I ordered a custom acrylic tank from a vendor recommended here, I can get them to make it to my specification with little chance of language problems! Whereas if I try and get one made in Japan, where I've yet to see the mod I want (external overflow, as discussed in the other thread) in all the sites I've been browsing, it might be a losing battle and I might end up with a tank which is fine, but not exactly what I want. Plus I can just about see it being viable to ship an acrylic tank of modest size (36" x 24" x 18") over the Pacific, even if a glass tank would be too expensive, given that it is that much lighter. Of course that might be cancelled out by the extra cost of getting an acrylic tank...
I know the major downside is the possibility that the tank will scratch, but aside from that, there seem to be plenty of upsides (weight, strength, clarity).
Are there any vendors that people have personal experience of that it would be worth me making enquiries of over the next few months? If the cost would be competitive with what I would get charged in Japan, it might be worth me doing.
This is for two reasons:
1. My career is one of those mobile careers. Even though I know we're going to Japan next year, it's likely that we will move country again 4 years later. Having a tank that's 48% lighter than a glass tank might make this doable.
2. If I ordered a custom acrylic tank from a vendor recommended here, I can get them to make it to my specification with little chance of language problems! Whereas if I try and get one made in Japan, where I've yet to see the mod I want (external overflow, as discussed in the other thread) in all the sites I've been browsing, it might be a losing battle and I might end up with a tank which is fine, but not exactly what I want. Plus I can just about see it being viable to ship an acrylic tank of modest size (36" x 24" x 18") over the Pacific, even if a glass tank would be too expensive, given that it is that much lighter. Of course that might be cancelled out by the extra cost of getting an acrylic tank...
I know the major downside is the possibility that the tank will scratch, but aside from that, there seem to be plenty of upsides (weight, strength, clarity).
Are there any vendors that people have personal experience of that it would be worth me making enquiries of over the next few months? If the cost would be competitive with what I would get charged in Japan, it might be worth me doing.