400+ GALLON TANK - ACRYLIC OR GLASS?
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Had a 470 acrylic and 150 frag low iron.
Go low iron glass... it's much much heavier, but you won't have to worry (as much) about scratches from yourself / rock / clean up crew.
Go low iron glass... it's much much heavier, but you won't have to worry (as much) about scratches from yourself / rock / clean up crew.
o2manyfish
Valuable Member
It all depends on how careful you are going to be. Acrylic scratches. But acrylic can be polished.
I was prepared to install a 750g Starfire tank in my house, when our 340g glass sump, only 2 years old, burst out an entire corner seal overnight. When topoff came on to tried to refill the sump it converted the system to freshwater and we lost all our corals --- 1000's of pieces.
I've had a glass frag tank blow a seam as well in the past 10 years. But I have been using Acrylic tanks for almost 40 years and never had one fail. I had a crappy built 400g have a seam start to go bad after 18 years. But it gave us notice and we replaced the tank without any loss of life or water.
I now have the pieces of a 750g starfire sitting in a box in my yard, and a 3 month old 750g Titan Exhibits Acrylic Display tank in my house. Transparent seams on 1.5" acrylic. Crystal Clear. And scratch free for the moment. It will get scratched, but I have the kits to polish both inside and out.
Most importantly, at night I sleep comfortably not worrying that a seam is going to blow.
Dave B
I was prepared to install a 750g Starfire tank in my house, when our 340g glass sump, only 2 years old, burst out an entire corner seal overnight. When topoff came on to tried to refill the sump it converted the system to freshwater and we lost all our corals --- 1000's of pieces.
I've had a glass frag tank blow a seam as well in the past 10 years. But I have been using Acrylic tanks for almost 40 years and never had one fail. I had a crappy built 400g have a seam start to go bad after 18 years. But it gave us notice and we replaced the tank without any loss of life or water.
I now have the pieces of a 750g starfire sitting in a box in my yard, and a 3 month old 750g Titan Exhibits Acrylic Display tank in my house. Transparent seams on 1.5" acrylic. Crystal Clear. And scratch free for the moment. It will get scratched, but I have the kits to polish both inside and out.
Most importantly, at night I sleep comfortably not worrying that a seam is going to blow.
Dave B
areefer01
2500 Club Member
It will still scratch. The long and short of it is for the hobbyist to "always" be careful when cleaning a display regardless of acrylic or glass. To include low iron.
Having a medium sized display that is glass coming in at 210 gallons I wish I went acrylic. Logistically it is a problem. It can be worked around for sure with bodies but to be honest moving large glass boxes is both cumbersome and time consuming. Acrylic is lighter and easier to move around. Quicker to build a temp stand, pick up, set, and move. Glass can be done but it is just, well, heavier.
As O2 mentioned, and it is a great point, you can always buff out both inside and outside scuffs with acrylic. If this is a long term display (and they all should be to be honest) acrylic would be my choice.
Note: I have not owned a display of the size you are describing so this is based off my current 210 glass compared to a 100 gallon acrylic I owned in 2000.
Go with the low iron glass, the best reason for a large in wall tank that you'll probably have for a long time is the simple fact it will scratch much less easier and on a long term setup that's nice to have as the years go on.
True I did in tank scratch removals, but that's for the big scratches.
When you take a weird lighting shot, especially with the lights off, wow you can see how many scatches there are... swirls... etc... this coming from somebody who has owned many black sports cars and has paid $$$$ for paint correction. So saying I'm careful is an understatement.
You couldn't do this with glass though
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Once again the perennial glass v acrylic. Here are two links making the case for acrylic and Tenecor in particular.
All glass tanks will leak >>>
Why acrylic is the better choice >>>
Also think about how you are going to move that glass beast. Heavy is an understatement.
And we can make it from acrylic exactly the way you want for much less than glass.
All the best.
All glass tanks will leak >>>
All Glass Tanks Will Leak
All glass tanks will eventually leak. Don't let this happen to you. Whether it is two years or ten, all glass tanks will eventually develop leaks. Properly constructed acrylic seams are chemical bonds at the molecular level, impossible to take apart and virtually leakproof. With a Tenecor®...
www.tenecoraquariums.com
Why acrylic is the better choice >>>
Why Tenecor® Acrylic is the Better Aquarium Choice
All glass tanks will eventually leak. Don't let this happen to you. Whether it is two years or ten, all glass tanks will eventually develop leaks. Properly constructed acrylic seams are chemical bonds at the molecular level, impossible to take apart and virtually leakproof. With a Tenecor®...
www.tenecoraquariums.com
Also think about how you are going to move that glass beast. Heavy is an understatement.
And we can make it from acrylic exactly the way you want for much less than glass.
All the best.
Guess for huge tanks that all makes sense.
I never dealt with a glass tank larger than 150, which my brother in law and I could move, we might have had a third, can't remember.
A guy from the local reef club and I got the 470 into the house ourselves.
Had tons of space!
BTW : Funny looking back on that tank, that house we bought in 2009 for 390k, sold in 2019 for 690k and today is worth 1.4m... have to love the Austin market!
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Talk about a tight fit. Nice.
RedoubtReef
Valuable Member
I'd go acrylic. lighter than glass so it's easier to move and even glass can scratch. You can never polish scratches out of glass. The seams are also welded together by the solvent and stronger than silicone.
Yeah I had it built to fit the wall exactly, didn't think about getting it in...
Really sad the tank builder passed away a year or two ago, I had just spoken to him pretty close to when he passed. Even made his website.
Fit well on the wall
Yeah I had it built to fit the wall exactly, didn't think about getting it in...
Really sad the tank builder passed away a year or two ago, I had just spoken to him pretty close to when he passed. Even made his website.
Fit well on the wall
OP, see the video? Only acrylic can give you this kind of clarity. No kind of glass can come close to this. For your reference, here is a 72 inch 400 gallon we offer. Beginning at $3,000.
Tenecor® Fat Boy Acrylic Freshwater Aquarium 404 Gallon 72x36x36
Tenecor® has been the premium acrylic aquarium brand for over 45 years. Tenecor® has been setting the quality standard for over 45 years and has built more acrylic aquariums than anyone. Each tank is carefully crafted using only cell cast acrylic and other top grade materials. Precision CNC...
www.tenecoraquariums.com
Devaji
5000 Club Member
I was in the same boat for a while went back in forth. i wanted a large FOWLR . however the tank will be above a basement . floors are supported, but not to the degree for a large system. so i end up going with a 200 gal. glass mast produced tank got on sale for 40% off
anyway to your question. my honest option make the take a peninsula room divider you will thank we later.
if you have the builder move in the tank and you dont think you're going to move anytime in the next 10-15 years then maybe glass.
but if you and a few friends have to move the beast into the house then acrylic?
man it's a hard choice i owned a 240 GC years and years ago 2 guys could move it was so nice.
I think that there are move glass tank out there so ppl are more comfortable with them. I have been thinking of getting a small acrylic tank just to have experience with them.
some day i would like a monster tank.
anyway good luck and keep us posted on the journey, I want to see what you do.
anyway to your question. my honest option make the take a peninsula room divider you will thank we later.
if you have the builder move in the tank and you dont think you're going to move anytime in the next 10-15 years then maybe glass.
but if you and a few friends have to move the beast into the house then acrylic?
man it's a hard choice i owned a 240 GC years and years ago 2 guys could move it was so nice.
I think that there are move glass tank out there so ppl are more comfortable with them. I have been thinking of getting a small acrylic tank just to have experience with them.
some day i would like a monster tank.
anyway good luck and keep us posted on the journey, I want to see what you do.
Devaji
5000 Club Member
Yeah I had it built to fit the wall exactly, didn't think about getting it in...
Really sad the tank builder passed away a year or two ago, I had just spoken to him pretty close to when he passed. Even made his website.
Fit well on the wall
nice tank man, i even like the sound of the water sloshing around. not sure I could live with it full time tho. lol the other half heck no I would be in the dog house.
it sure is a beauty what are the dems?
We have been doing this for some time now. Also have a commercial fabrication division. Let us know if we can help you out. Here is our latest business line Grade Displays. Reptile habitats are rolling out in January.
ChrissyK75
New Member
Can you discuss concerns about bowing and yellowing with acrylic? I've heard those can be issues. But I do like the idea of being able to buff out scratches and lighter weight.
piranhaman00
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Modern acrylic does not yellow; that is a myth that glass manufacturers continue to talk about. Bowing can occur on any material that is not adequately sized.
o2manyfish
Valuable Member
Going back like 35 years ago the original acrylic used for aquariums if left out in the sun could yellow. But that hasn't been the case with acrylic in decades.
Bowing is only an issue pending the size of material used. My previous 560 the front panel was 10x3 made from 1.25" material and had no bowing. My new tank is a 750 front panel is only 10x2.5 but there is 4' of water pushing against it. The tank is made from 1.5' material and it is laser straight in the top / middle / bottom of the main panel.
Dave B
"
Bowing is only an issue pending the size of material used. My previous 560 the front panel was 10x3 made from 1.25" material and had no bowing. My new tank is a 750 front panel is only 10x2.5 but there is 4' of water pushing against it. The tank is made from 1.5' material and it is laser straight in the top / middle / bottom of the main panel.
Dave B
"
Devaji
5000 Club Member
to quote my own post for anyone searching...
about 4 months later i still dont have my glass tank. I knew it was going to be a long wait.
but in that time I keep thinking i should have gone bigger and acrylic as this build is for a FOWLR 200 is on the smaller side for me.
when talking big tanks i think acrylic is the way to go? if I was to do it again I might get a small acrylic tank and run it for a year then decide.
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