Crystal clear: What is your opinion of acrylic reef tanks?

LPS Bum · Mar 2, 2023

shadyraro said:
Wasn’t the Aquadom aquarium that burst in Berlin a few months ago acrylic?

I think it was glass, wasn't it?

If so, that likely contributed to the problem. You can chemically bond the seams of an acrylic tank, but not a glass one. Don't know why anyone would make such a huge cylinder out of glass and not acrylic, but maybe I have that wrong.

pepper89 · Mar 2, 2023

I tend to always lean towards glass tanks. Not because I'm particular towards it, just because small cheap glass tanks from pet stores tend to be easy and affordable. I find the $1/G sales at some large chain pet stores hard to pass up when I am looking for a tank. Though I could see why people would want acrylic specifically, I don't think either is better or worse than the other. I think they both have their places where they are beneficial, and I would probably go with acrylic if I were building something 200G or larger, just for structural integrity with that much water pressure. Plus, those nano tanks with the lighted edges just look cool, so I would totally consider something like that if I were to ever have the money to throw on an AIO system. The scratching doesn't worry me too much, I have had acrylic panels that I've added into glass tanks, and I don't seem to scratch either up too much personally. Though maybe people who get more aggressive with their algae cleaning might have a different experience than me.

Minifoot77 · Mar 2, 2023

I have both but the glass is way easier to keep clean

Cichlid Dad · Mar 2, 2023

LPS Bum said:
I think it was glass, wasn't it?

If so, that likely contributed to the problem. You can chemically bond the seams of an acrylic tank, but not a glass one. Don't know why anyone would make such a huge cylinder out of glass and not acrylic, but maybe I have that wrong.

It was acrylic already been talked about here.

albano · Mar 2, 2023

pepper89 said:
. I find the $1/G sales at some large chain pet stores hard to pass up when I am looking for a tank…

I could be wrong, but I think the ‘famous’ $1/G sale is only on 5-20g tanks…, bigger ones are discounted but not to $1/G.

Cichlid Dad · Mar 2, 2023

albano said:
I could be wrong, but I think the ‘famous’ $1/G sale is only on 5-20g tanks…, bigger ones are discounted but not to $1/G.

In my area 50%off

Cichlid Dad · Mar 2, 2023

Cichlid Dad said:
In my area 50%off

And only to 75 gallon

MyFirstCar · Mar 2, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
I can still kick myself for the many years I refused to go near them in fear of scratches to have acquired my second drop off tank which was acrylic and I was nervous as to when the tank would get its first scratch. It never happened.
I then got my next acrylic which was the 660g and got a couple small scratches from being too careful and have loved them since.
The reduced weight alone despite thickness is a huge advantage not to mention the magnification of what is inside the tank and the nice rounded corners and glow from the lighting

How to you manage to clean the rounded corners? I have a freshwater tank like this and the corners look terrible.

TobyPhatz77 · Mar 2, 2023

Peace River said:
Crystal clear: What is your opinion of acrylic reef tanks?

Reef tank selection includes the choice between glass and acrylic and many people have a strong opinion. Many of the new nano and pico tanks such as the Eshopps Deskmate are constructed with acrylic and have gotten strong reviews. As tanks get larger, weight becomes an issue and acrylic tanks are lighter. The last time I helped move a 500-gallon tank I was glad it was acrylic. I’m also glad there were some really strong people helping! There are other pros and cons such as acrylic tanks can scratch more easily, but scratches can usually be repaired. What is your opinion about acrylic reef tanks? Please share your comments in the comments below!

December 2022 Reef-of-the-Month by Lou Schiavo using an Eshopps Deskmate Pico Tank; Photo by @WWC

More plastic for the sea bed! No!

vetteguy53081 · Mar 2, 2023

tstor said:
How to you manage to clean the rounded corners? I have a freshwater tank like this and the corners look terrible.

I use a stick algae cleaner

YoubetyourWrasse · Mar 2, 2023

tstor said:
How to you manage to clean the rounded corners? I have a freshwater tank like this and the corners look terrible.

Magic Eraser...Melamine foam ftw. It Erases algae. Please get the original...don't want chemicals.

pepper89 · Mar 2, 2023

albano said:
I could be wrong, but I think the ‘famous’ $1/G sale is only on 5-20g tanks…, bigger ones are discounted but not to $1/G.

I believe you are right, well close. I did get a 30g tank with same deal, but it is more their smaller tanks. Plus, tech I don't think they call them that anymore, I think cause really it comes out closer to like 1.25 give or take. I just got my quarantine tank on special but it was about $14 for the 10g.

And the 5.5 was $11, and the 20g was $21, so it sort of depends, it's not exactly $1/g anymore.

WaterMarque · Mar 2, 2023

Whatever is on sale on Facebook Marketplace

Tamberav · Mar 2, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
I can still kick myself for the many years I refused to go near them in fear of scratches to have acquired my second drop off tank which was acrylic and I was nervous as to when the tank would get its first scratch. It never happened.
I then got my next acrylic which was the 660g and got a couple small scratches from being too careful and have loved them since.
The reduced weight alone despite thickness is a huge advantage not to mention the magnification of what is inside the tank and the nice rounded corners and glow from the lighting

ah ya.. weight is a big one too.. when I go big I want to just bring it on the house with no fuss of breaking my back or worrying I will bang a corner... just doo dee doo dee doo... bonus to acrylic if you have any stairs too...

Then if I ever have to move... its acrylic... it won't really be so bad...

Tamberav · Mar 2, 2023

shadyraro said:
Wasn’t the Aquadom aquarium that burst in Berlin a few months ago acrylic?

It took 19 years and 82 feet to burst acrylic aquadome

It takes 2 years and 2 feet to burst a red sea tank

sorry.. it is just too easy to poke fun

Devaji · Mar 2, 2023

I had a GC 240 a decades + ago loved how 2 guys could move it. had glass ever since.
BUT I was tank shopping last BF/CM as really thought about acrylic again. I was right at that spot in my mind of how many gallons I should go lighter .

that said i ended up with a 200 low iron glass glass. but I keep thinking I should have gone bigger and acrylic.

would be a cool experiment to see two same sizr tanks set up one glass the other acrylic and run for a min. of 2 years.

Gophish1982 · Mar 2, 2023

Aspect said:
It will turn the acrylic slightly yellow over time.

My UV light is completely encased in pvc, how is that going to turn an acrylic tank yellow?

Roatan Reef · Mar 3, 2023

I have a 125 fresh acrylic tank...it's not been bad at all to maintain...I actually love it.

Have a 40B glass Saltwater. . love it also...but if I had to algae Scrub the acrylic like I do the Glass....I'm afraid I would scratch the crap out of it.