Glass or acrylic aquarium?

[Rocco04]

Meant to say I'm like 99% sure it’s aqueon

Meant to say I'm like 99% sure it’s aqueon

I guess aqueon is a banned word ? It doesn’t show on my screen when I post it

 

[Wraithen]

Can you post a better photo of the corner of the clear part? From the side?

Going from the looks of the rim, I'm pretty confident its glass. We don't need a picture of the rI'm though. We need a picture of the joint. If it looks like it's two pieces joined by an almost opaque line, its glass. If it looks like the two pieces were made as one, its acrylic.

 

[Rocco04]

It’s totally glass then. You can see it was put together for sure. I also read online that the green tint to it when you look at it in the light means glass as opposed to clear acrylic

 

[kallililly1973]

It’s totally glass then. You can see it was put together for sure. I also read online that the green tint to it when you look at it in the light means glass as opposed to clear acrylic

Yes I agree that was my original though from the way your light was shining on the rimless top. Very nice tank. Good luck with it!!

 

[Rocco04]

Yes I agree that was my original though from the way your light was shining on the rimless top. Very nice tank. Good luck with it!!

Thanks !

 

[H2Opets]

What is most favorable ?
I want to build a custom aquarium, looking to see what people like the best and why.

 

[Morpheus1967]

What size?

 

[TWiG87]

Acrylic tends to be more expensive. I have also heard you can get better clarity with acrylic, but my glass tank looks just fine to me. I do like the clean look of acrylic edges though

 

[FinalFins]

The favorableness of different materials used for tanks depends on tank size.

But first the basics-
Acrylic is stronger, clearer and lighter, but easy to scratch. Scratches are fixed by an acrylic kit. Also more expensive

Glass is cheaper, harder to scratch, and more available but its heavy and gets more expensive than acrylic at a certain point-

With larger tanks acrylic is preffered because its stronger and harder to blow up, and put all the water on the floor, acrylic can be cheaper at a certain point than glass at the same point.

smaller tanks glass is preferred because it's more readily available, no need to custom size, and its cheaper, with no need to blow 300 bucks on a 30 gallon acrylic tank.

 

[H2Opets]

I want to create roughly a 75-100 gallon tank. But I do not like having a super tall aquarium. 18” or so tall. I like a larger foot print. Not just having a wide tank, but deep.

 

[Sanderguy777]

I want to create roughly a 75-100 gallon tank. But I do not like having a super tall aquarium. 18” or so tall. I like a larger foot print. Not just having a wide tank, but deep.

I can agree with you about height! I have a 24" high 60 gallonthat I hated cleaning till I made a shorter stand. It's better now, but still no fun to plant anything in LOL

 

[tuffcookie]

I have both. My biggest, 40, is acrylic and I love it. I wish I would’ve just shelled out the money for acrylic for all my tanks. The viewing clarity is really nice on an acrylic.

For me the biggest factor was peace of mind. I just had my first and hopefully only glass leakage, but it’s a small tank. I have 2 dogs at home who have my heart, so peace of mind is of utmost importance to me. Plus it’s really humid down south so a leak would be really bad

I’ve read that people have issues with scratching but I don’t have that issue. Plus it’s super light. The 40 gallon feels like a bag of potato chips, not quite but super light!!

 

[86 ssinit]

Both of my large tanks are acrylic. So much lighter than glass. But no idea how to build them and still think it’s going to cost a lot to build. No problems with either. Yes they scratch but so does glass. Just be careful.

 

[H Farnsworth]

Do acrylic tanks not leak?

 

[86 ssinit]

Not known for leaking. The glue used pretty much welds the acrylic together. I’ve never heard of a clear for life leaking.

 

[H2Opets]

sounds like I need to locally source acrylic sheets to me.
anyone know locally in NH or a list of places I can contact for pricing?

 

[Sanderguy777]

Do acrylic tanks not leak?

From what I've heard (I only have glass), it is less likely for acrylic to leak, and when it does, it's not a immediate flood of water. So maybe the seems are glued of fused better?
Glass tanks can have entire pieces fall off, but apparently the acrylic doesn't do that as often

 

[Sanderguy777]

sounds like I need to locally source acrylic sheets to me.
anyone know locally in NH or a list of places I can contact for pricing?

No idea if they're close to you, but in my area of California, TAP Plastics is the place to go.

A google search will show tons of places though probably.

 

[AvalancheDave]

Acrylic is solvent welded so it's technically one piece. There's a variation of this method used to join big pieces for public aquariums without a visible seam.

Glass-to-glass and glass-to-metal welding:

https://newatlas.com/welding-glass-metal-lasers/58726/

 

[steAMYz]

Looking to go up from a 29g aqueon glass aquarium to a 40-55g tank. Considering acrylic for clarity/appearance and weight (tank will be upstairs). They just seem really nice. And I’m not excited about carrying a large glass aquarium up our staircase.

Concerns with acrylic: scratches (I’ve got kids) and the size of the holes on top for cleaning, aquascaping, etc. I’m worried about being able to do what I need to or set the filter and stuff up where I want

Any other things I should be aware of? Is acrylic worth the price? Anyone regret getting one?

Any brands for either one that you recommend? Or don’t recommend?

 

[AquEric]

I've had both my preference is glass as you said acrilic scratches way to easy glass is easier to clean also

 

[Anixandria]

I don’t like acrylic. I had one (now my quarantine tank) set up with fish for about 2 months. It scratched easily and I feel like I get a much clearer view of my fish through the glass.

 

[86 ssinit]

Well I have acrylic. 3 now. I like them and have had no problems. Yes they scratch. I’m going to add some pics. Just bought one off letgo with stand for $150. It had some bad scratches but for the price it’s great 75g. There is a scratch removal kit that I bought and the tank now looks new.thing is even with scratches you don’t see them when full. Next is my 3 yr old clear for life 90. Notice the scratches when doing water change. But you see nothing with water in.they are stronger and much lighter. By my self I can carry either the 75 or 90. 125 is just to awkward but it’s still very light. Holes on top are easy to work with. Only thing is some driftwood won’t fit in. You must measure before you buy.

 

[86 ssinit]

One more pic. This is the new tank while I was using the scratch removal kit.

 

[Anixandria]

What kind of scratch removal kit do you use? I’d be excited to find one that works well

 

[86 ssinit]

The scratch kit is made by novus. I bought the 8oz kit for a 75 and used about 1/4 of the bottles. The kit does work. Did the first 2 bottles by hand and the last bottle the finish bottle I used a drill with a polishing pad to get a better finish.

 

[Redshark1]

So if you love scratches/polishing get an acrylic.

For me its clear. Its glass.

 

[86 ssinit]

Well my main reason for acrylic is my 200g cracked and drop 200g in my basement which made the basement about 4-6” deep in water and needed to be redone. Oh and the scratches in a glass tank are permanent.

 

[Islandvic]

I hate 86 ssinit and his acrylic tanks ! LOL

His fish always look like they are floating in air.
But really, that is a fantastic score you found on that 75g w/ stand!

 

[tuggerlake26]

Even though I've now encountered bowing on both of my acrylic tanks, I prefer them over glass. I'm just super careful cleaning and haven't had any scratches yet (knock on wood).