Glass or acrylic??

[RJKain-777]

Looking at manufacturers for my new tank, 96x36x30..


For glass I’ve narrowed it down to planet aquariums or miracles.

But , I keep seeing big beautiful acrylic tanks? Who makes them? What’s a reputable brand? Are they similar cost to glass counterparts?

Also, after seeing Mr salt water tanks VIP builds with MRC Sumps, I’m interested in one as well, I looked on there site but, can’t find anything about prices on the isump

 

[TessGlo]

Sorry, I don't know an acrylic manufacturer but I saw your post and thought I would share my experience owning both glass an acrylic. I would highly suggest going with glass and get the clearest glass you can afford. I have an Elos tank and an acrylic and I just think things look better behind the glass. But more than that, the acrylic is much harder to clean because you have to be more careful to prevent scratches. I've yet to find a "acrylic safe" scraper that does not leave micro scratches and easily cause much bigger ones. My 2 cents.

If you search MRC here a bunch of posts come up, might be able to find info about prices and for sure find folks who have purchased.

 

[rkpetersen]

I've never seen an acrylic tank that looks as good as a glass tank close up.

 

[RJKain-777]

Glass it is then! Time to find a planet dealer in Canada !

 

[ca1ore]

I wrestled with this same choice a few years ago, ironically, with a tank of exactly the same dimensions. It’s pros and cons, most of which have been debated ad nauseam. I ultimately chose to go acrylic; my first acrylic tank incidentally. It’s a decision I’ve yet to regret. It’s the providence of opinion, I suppose, but I completely disagree with the view that glass tanks are somehow better looking. I personally much prefer the look of an acrylic tank (unless you’re thinking rimless). The drawbacks of acrylic hew to the physical - hazing, yellowing and ease of scratching. Quality materials and build can mitigate the first two, but nothing can help with ease of scratching. You just have to be incredibly careful. Good news is that scratches can be removed from acrylic. Scratches in glass, though harder to inflict, are permanent. I have found, by the way, that many who disparage acrylic tanks are simply parroting what they’ve heard or read. I’d always recommend getting opinions from folks who’ve actually had one.

I chose acrylic due to weight, clarity and appearance. Yours, and others mileage may vary.

 

[RJKain-777]

I wrestled with this same choice a few years ago, ironically, with a tank of exactly the same dimensions. It’s pros and cons, most of which have been debated ad nauseam. I ultimately chose to go acrylic; my first acrylic tank incidentally. It’s a decision I’ve yet to regret. It’s the providence of opinion, I suppose, but I completely disagree with the view that glass tanks are somehow better looking. I personally much prefer the look of an acrylic tank (unless you’re thinking rimless). The drawbacks of acrylic hew to the physical - hazing, yellowing and ease of scratching. Quality materials and build can mitigate the first two, but nothing can help with ease of scratching. You just have to incredibly careful. Good new is that scratches can be removed from acrylic. Scratches in glass, though harder to inflict, are permanent. I have found, by the way, that many who disparage acrylic tanks are simply parroting what they’ve heard or read. I’d always recommend getting opinions from folks who’ve actually had one.

I ultimately chose to go acrylic due to weight, clarity and appearance. Yours, and others mileage may vary.

Thanks for the very insightful response! One which I will take into consideration since you have experience.

Scratches like you say, are easy to fix, my biggest thing was down to cost, and clarity. The tank will be built as a built in with full canopy, and book shelves on each side. So the thicker bracing doesn’t really affect me.

How thick is your acrylic as well? That’s another factor I suppose, I plan on 2 mp60 and 40 mp40

 

[Dragon52]

I wrestled with this same choice a few years ago, ironically, with a tank of exactly the same dimensions. It’s pros and cons, most of which have been debated ad nauseam. I ultimately chose to go acrylic; my first acrylic tank incidentally. It’s a decision I’ve yet to regret. It’s the providence of opinion, I suppose, but I completely disagree with the view that glass tanks are somehow better looking. I personally much prefer the look of an acrylic tank (unless you’re thinking rimless). The drawbacks of acrylic hew to the physical - hazing, yellowing and ease of scratching. Quality materials and build can mitigate the first two, but nothing can help with ease of scratching. You just have to be incredibly careful. Good new is that scratches can be removed from acrylic. Scratches in glass, though harder to inflict, are permanent. I have found, by the way, that many who disparage acrylic tanks are simply parroting what they’ve heard or read. I’d always recommend getting opinions from folks who’ve actually had one.

I chose acrylic due to weight, clarity and appearance. Yours, and others mileage may vary.

+1

 

[ca1ore]

I bought my tank from fishtanksdirect. Their standard 400 model comes with 3/4” for all surfaces. I upgraded to 1” on the four sides. MP60 holds fine on 1”; MP40 not so much. I’m using a single one on the rear so I had the manufacturer ‘thin’ the acrylic in one place. Assume you did not mean you intend to have forty MP40 - that’d probably be excessive LOL.

I priced out a bunch of tanks, both glass and acrylic. For bigger tanks acrylic is no more expensive than glass ; in fact my two highest estimates were glass.

 

[KrisReef]

Talk with the tank manufactures near you, or those that will ship and tell them what you want and they will give you price + shipping. Thickness for glass or acrylic increases as the depth of water increases due to pressure and distortion, likewise the longer the tank the thicker the material.
Acrylic is significantly lighter than glass, but a tank your size will still need at least two massive human beings to lift it onto the stand if you can't get a machine to do the lifting.

If you get glass you need to purchase the higher end glass to avoid a green looking tank.
If you get acrylic, it has no seams and assuming it is properly bonded during construction it should never fail. Glass has seams that are more prone to failure, but of course nothing man-made is perfect.

Glass is less prone to scratches. If I bought my wife a tank it would be glass. I've scratched my acrylic tank being careless, but careful people keep acrylic looking brand new for years.

 

[RJKain-777]

I bought my tank from fishtanksdirect. Their standard 400 model comes with 3/4” for all surfaces. I upgraded to 1” on the four sides. MP60 holds fine on 1”; MP40 not so much. I’m using a single one on the rear so I had the manufacturer ‘thin’ the acrylic in one place. Assume you did not mean you intend to have forty MP40 - that’d probably be excessive LOL.

I priced out a bunch of tanks, both glass and acrylic. For bigger tanks acrylic is no more expensive than glass ; in fact my two highest estimates were glass.

I definitely meant to put 4... haha. So much to consider!

 

[RJKain-777]

Talk with the tank manufactures near you, or those that will ship and tell them what you want and they will give you price + shipping. Thickness for glass or acrylic increases as the depth of water increases due to pressure and distortion, likewise the longer the tank the thicker the material.
Acrylic is significantly lighter than glass, but a tank your size will still need at least two massive human beings to lift it onto the stand if you can't get a machine to do the lifting.

If you get glass you need to purchase the higher end glass to avoid a green looking tank.
If you get acrylic, it has no seams and assuming it is properly bonded during construction it should never fail. Glass has seams that are more prone to failure, but of course nothing man-made is perfect.

Glass is less prone to scratches. If I bought my wife a tank it would be glass. I've scratched my acrylic tank being careless, but careful people keep acrylic looking brand new for years.

My local builder is marine land quality, with reef savvy prices.... bubbles in the seems, no polished edges.... I paid more then I want to admit for this tank!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Long acrylic scares me a bit, just with the possibility of bowing unless ureobraced. 3 sides of starife glass would be nice, probably expensive though.

tank your size will still need at least two massive human beings to lift it onto the stand if you can't get a machine to do the lifting.

Man, ya gotta think big. Call me when it’s built ;Woot

 

[Silent]

I like glass tanks better. Usually looks as good day1 and 10 years later compared to easily scratched acrylic. Some do take care of their acrylic tanks better than others though.

 

[jccaclimber]

I own a 30h x24d x 96l acrylic tank I brought back from a highly scratched state which I used for planted freshwater. I also own a scratched up 60” glass tank and not so scratched 126” glass tank.

While I would do a FOWLR in the acrylic tank (if I ever do a FOWLR) I’ll never do a mixed reef in it due to coralline. I spent 20 something odd hours removing coralline from the inside of an established reef in an acrylic tank, and never want to do that again.
The scratched up tank (which came to me that way) is an annoyance, but the bigger one with just a few scratches I tolerate. As well as magic erasers work I really prefer the ability to use a steel blade.
I will say acrylic tanks are much easier to move, repair, and drill down the road.

 

[mfinn]

I've had a few dozen glass tanks while in the hobby and only one acrylic tank.
I had that acrylic tank about 20 years ago, and I still regret it.

 

[anit77]

Looking at manufacturers for my new tank, 96x36x30..


For glass I’ve narrowed it down to planet aquariums or miracles.

But , I keep seeing big beautiful acrylic tanks? Who makes them? What’s a reputable brand? Are they similar cost to glass counterparts?

Also, after seeing Mr salt water tanks VIP builds with MRC Sumps, I’m interested in one as well, I looked on there site but, can’t find anything about prices on the isump

I bought my tank from fishtanksdirect. Their standard 400 model comes with 3/4” for all surfaces. I upgraded to 1” on the four sides. MP60 holds fine on 1”; MP40 not so much. I’m using a single one on the rear so I had the manufacturer ‘thin’ the acrylic in one place. Assume you did not mean you intend to have forty MP40 - that’d probably be excessive LOL.

I priced out a bunch of tanks, both glass and acrylic. For bigger tanks acrylic is no more expensive than glass ; in fact my two highest estimates were glass.

For the last several months I've been looking at tanks myself. Ironically I'll be working with MRC to get the one I want. It'll be 96x48x26 3/4" acrylic. I got a quote from American Aquariums last spring and it was $4600, MRC matched it and for them being local to me is a big plus. I'm setting it up as a peninsula and this same tank in low iron glass would probably be in the $8-10K range.

I'm still weary of scratches but the cost, weight and clarity go a long way. There's also the insulating factor to acrylic so heating the system won't be as costly.

I'm not 100% on how I'm going to set the sump up yet. If you'd like some info I should be able to get it for you.

 

[JoshH]

My local builder is marine land quality, with reef savvy prices.... bubbles in the seems, no polished edges.... I paid more then I want to admit for this tank!

Why not roll with Miracles? And I've gotten quotes from a few manufacturers and Concept definitely wasn't Reef Savvy prices lol They were by far the cheapest and that played a big part on why I didn't go with them.

 

[Jon Fishman]

How thick is your acrylic as well? That’s another factor I suppose, I plan on 2 mp60 and 40 mp40

40 MP40’s ? Nice!

Acrylic is nice for the lighter weight, and I guess hou can get scratches out of it..... but not without emptying it if the scratches are on the inside, and that’s ALWAYS where they are!!!

My acrylic looks as clear as the more expensive low-iron glass tanks though...

 

[cvrle1]

40 MP40’s ? Nice!

Acrylic is nice for the lighter weight, and I guess hou can get scratches out of it..... but not without emptying it if the scratches are on the inside, and that’s ALWAYS where they are!!!

My acrylic looks as clear as the more expensive low-iron glass tanks though...

Not really true. You can remove scratches from acrylic on the inside while tank is full as well

 

[lapin]

I wanted a big tank. The cost to have someone build it was out of this world. I built my own. Its 5 x 5 x 3. Since I could not handle panes of glass that heavy (1" thick) I went with acrylic. Saved a ton of money. With the proper tools and some care you can keep it clean.