Acrylic or Glass

Jrod381 · May 24, 2019

hello all and happy Friday, well I have been in the hobby for about 8 months and I must say I am hooked and love it. So much so I am already planning on purchasing another larger tank. Looking to do anything 200 gallons or more.

My question for everyone is what is better a glass aquarium such as a water box 230 and redsea 750 or an acrylic tank?

I’m asking because for the price of the glass aquarium I can actually get a tank of 300-400 gallons for the same price.

Is it harder to maintain an acrylic tank such as cleaning the glass etc...?

Curious to know what are everyone’s thoughts

BadFish619 · May 24, 2019

I don't think its harder to maintain an acrylic. They are more insulated so temperature is easier to maintain. You'll need different cleaning equipment for acrylic. They are also built with a top brace to hold it together from weight so it can be more difficult to add any hang on equipment you might use

lapin · May 24, 2019

You asked a loaded question. You will get opinions on both sides. This question has been asked a lot over the years. It is a personal preference not if one is better than another.
Big tanks are more fun.

Jrod381 · May 24, 2019

lapin said:
You asked a loaded question. You will get opinions on both sides. This question has been asked a lot over the years. It is a personal preference not if one is better than another.
Big tanks are more fun.

Yea that’s what I want more fun looking forward to adding some nice size fish and variety not mention more corals:)

albano · May 24, 2019

Seems that most people that don’t like acrylic, have never had one... and the majority of those that have had acrylic would not go back to glass.

Jrod381 · May 24, 2019

albano said:
Seems that most people that don’t like acrylic, have never had one... and the majority of those that have had acrylic would not go back to glass.

Hmmm interesting

hyprc · May 24, 2019

Acrylic is superior in almost every way EXCEPT that it scratches MUCH more easily.... the flip side is if you're willing to do the work, those scratches can be polished out of acrylic where they couldn't be with glass

Jrod381 · May 24, 2019

This is what I’m currently looking at it is a customer builder, asking $4500 dimensions are 96x24x30 300 gal and includes a large sump as well. Thinking September or November to compare to whatever Black Friday specials there may be

RobW · May 24, 2019

I personally like glass. Especially starphire glass! Super clear. Glass doesn't scratch as easy and I think it just looks better. And if you are looking for some superior filtration equipment, check out bashsea.com. his sumps, skimmers, bio reactors, and media reactors are first class and exceptional build quality. It's what I am running on my 280 gallon system that I am currently building.

ReefingBliss · May 24, 2019

Where is that set up from I am in the planning stages and that seems like a good deal to me

Aardvark1134 · May 24, 2019

You have to be careful with acrylic but at long as you are you have a a great tank for life.
Personally I hate the new fad tanks that places like red sea have caused. I much prefer a closed top acrylic with a nice canopy to a glass with net and lights showing. But you basically accidentally has who's opinion is best.
My best advise to you is get the one you like. Make sure you get a quality made one regardless of if you go acrylic or glass. Noone wants 100s of gallons of water on the floor.

RobW · May 24, 2019

This will be something like the sump going under my display. My sump will be 60"L x 20"W x 16"T

Brett S · May 24, 2019

Given the size of the tanks you’re looking at the other thing to consider is the weight of the tank. My 220G glass tank weighs over 400 pounds empty. It takes four guys to move the tank to get it installed (or maybe two very strong guys).

Once you start getting over 250 or 300G I think acrylic starts to make a lot more sense just because it weighs so much less than glass and that makes it easier to move and install the tank.

Jrod381 · May 24, 2019

ReefingBliss said:
Where is that set up from I am in the planning stages and that seems like a good deal to me

It is a local builder here in Florida I spotted his add while searching offer up

KorD · May 24, 2019

Personally it really comes down to the tank you like more.
I have had glass tanks in the past, but my current one is acrylic.
The good things with the glass tanks is that you can use razor blades for scraping the tanks, rocks can tap the glass lightly with an issue, glass dispersed the heat better letting the tank cool, and so on.
Acrylic tanks you have to baby.. nothing sharp around them! They will scratch easy. They tend to hold heat a little bit more,
You can buff the acrylic with a drill and headlight cleaner from an auto parts store if it gets a scratch.. I have had to do that a few times because my Pitt bull LOVES watching the clown fish. She gets a little excited at times.

Another thing I have noticed is the acrylic tanks bow out a little when filled with water.. kind of freaked me out at first.

ca1ore · May 24, 2019

Jrod381 said:
It is a local builder here in Florida I spotted his add while searching offer up

Fishtanksdirect/Suncoast?

My conclusion is glass for anything under 300; acrylic for anything above 300 ... or thereabouts. My current 400 is my first acrylic tank after over 25 years of glass tanks. You have to be careful, certainly; but 18 months in and no regrets. Acrylic tanks look so much better to me. Clarity exceeds even low-iron glass, and the corners on a well made tank are far better than siliconed glass. My 400 weighed 575 pounds empty; a corresponding glass tank would have been close to 1,200. Highly unlikely you’ll pop a seam on an acrylic tank versus glass. At larger sizes, the prices of acrylic and glass mostly converge.