Glass tank or Arylic tank??

[Numbskull]

As stated in the topic, whats the difference between the 2 materials used for making of the tank?? And which one do u guys prefer?? Why??

I having trouble deciding which one to buy since i don't know any difference. Any bros/sis here can help me out???

[Cross]

Glass has a better transparancy compared to arylic. For a planted tank glass is preferred to give as little interference with the scape. Glass tanks are also better for insulation for tanks with a chiller, the thicker the better. Cost wise a glass tank is definately more costly, depending on the type of glass used and the thickness.

[lEddyl]

some reading for you

[Shadow]

Glass has a better transparancy compared to arylic. For a planted tank glass is preferred to give as little interference with the scape. Glass tanks are also better for insulation for tanks with a chiller, the thicker the better.

Actually Acrylic is clearer than glass initially until scratches start to form . Furthermore Acrylic do not have those greenish tint which will give you better viewing pleasure what you see is real plant or fish color. Some glass tank, five plan for example, use thin glass to reduce greenish tint.

However glass is more scratch resistance, acrylic become foggy after awhile due to scratches during algae cleaning. New low iron glass remove the greenish tint make it great tank, as clear as new acrylic tank. Check out new ADA tank to believe it, pure white no tint.

Personally I still vote for glass tank mainly because of scratch resistance.

[Fingerling]

Glass definitely. The amount of scratches that could add up on an acrylic tank after a year of usage

[BFG]

Clarity in my opinion will go to acrylic. I believe a starphire glass panel might lose to acrylic by a few percentage only. Acrylic are lighter than glass too. Cost wise an acrylic custom tank MIGHT cost as much as a starphire panel glass tank but I do not really know about this as this is a personal guesstimate on my part. But the con to acrylic is that it scratches easily and even the livestock in the tank might contribute to the scratches on acrylic. Glass however need something hard to scratch it like a grain of sand between a strong algae magnet cleaner. I know this as my glass tank had a long scratch caused by a grain of sand between my very strong Hammerhead algae magnet cleaner.

But I have read in a foreign forum that someone found something that can be used to remove the scratch from acrylic by using a product called a Magic Eraser. I have not tried this before so I cannot really say that it worked. If I found that particular thread, I will link it in this forum.


Hope this helps!

[Rummy Nose]

My vote goes to glass!! Depsite being much heavier and having slight view distortion, it is scratch resistant and will remain clear after years of usage!

[reagan022]

As stated in the topic, whats the difference between the 2 materials used for making of the tank?? And which one do u guys prefer?? Why??

I having trouble deciding which one to buy since i don't know any difference. Any bros/sis here can help me out???

glass better. won't get damage (scratches) from cleaning so lesser chance for algae to grow.

arylic higher chance for algae growth. they will stick to the tank. had problem removing last time.

[mywish4fish]

glass for me too .. somehow no confidence in arylic for long term tank use. with scratches, i think acrylic will not look nice anymore.

[AquaObsession]

I have both. ACrylic 5plan, cheap. Mine is 3 feet. It's light to carry. And if you do not scratch it, it wun get scratched! Good clarify when viewing. On mine, i cannot put the common light stand, so it is sitting straight on the tank!

I have glass tank too, 4 feet. new tank. After 1 year, i am noticing some scratches, maybe I pay less care when cleaning the glass tank.

Cheers, Christophe