glass vs acrylic tank? is one better than the other? pros and cons of both?

Answer 1

One is not really "better" than the other. There are pros and cons for each.

For glass, the pros would be:
difficult to scratch
can support considerably more than its own weight over distances.
does not yellow over time like acrylic does
less expensive that acrylic

For acrlyic, the pros:
much lighter than glass
more difficult to actually crack or split it
can be "shaped" into, for example, bowfront tanks
has nearly the same index of refraction as water, so everything in the tank will look very close to what it should look like.

All in all, I prefer glass tanks because they are more difficult to scratch, don't yellow, and are less expensive. But if you want a bowfront tank, or if you don't want something as heavy as glass, then acrylic is the way to go. Just be careful not scratch it :)

Answer 2

I have to agree with ashlar here however there are a few miss conceptions here.

Scratches in glass CAN be removed polished just like acrylic. Neither glass or acrylic once deeply scratched can be repaired where you can no longer see the scratch.

Moving a glass tank doe NOT cause it to leak. Mine have been moved many times and none have ever had a leak.

Acrylic does not have any higher value when it comes to insulation. If this were the case, we would all have acrylic windows in our homes, not glass.

Is there a reason to drill holes in your acrylic tank? Now your water level can never be FULL. Glass can be cut just as easily with the right tools.

It is a matter of preference really. I have a GLASS Bow front, yes I said glass.

I also have acrylic. Honestly acrylic scratches easier than glass. For the most part I've moved them both and yes the acrylic is so much easier to move, however I prefer glass. I am always afraid acrylic will stain (and it will stain green from algae if left too long or not cleaned once drained and it is a pain in the dupa to clean)

I guess I just feel glass is more pure than acrylic.

Answer 3

The big debate goes on. Acrylic aquarium or glass, which is better for a reef tank? The easy answer is "both". They each have strengths and weaknesses. You need to decide which is better for your application.

Aquariums made of glass are easily the most popular choice. They are generally cheaper than acrylic and are available in all your LFS's (local fish store).

Glass is around 50% heavier than acrylic. If you had a standard (48”x19”x21”) 75 gallon glass tank, it would weighs approximately 98 pounds. The same sized tank made of acrylic weighs less than 50 pounds. Of course when you fill that tank with water it will weigh a little less than 800 pounds.

Glass is very hard and not easily scratched. This is good if you do a lot of cleaning.

Because glass is so hard, it is somewhat brittle and easier to break than acrylic.

On bigger aquariums with very thick glass, you may see some distortion as light passes through the glass. This is usually not a problem on most home aquariums.

Acrylic is a soft material when compared to glass. Therefore it will scratch easily if you are not careful. Care must be taken when you are cleaning the walls of your tank. Only use something made of plastic to scrape the walls.

Being a type of plastic, and lighter than glass it’s a lot easier to transport.

Acrylic is a lot harder to break. It is somewhat flexible and will absorb shock better than glass.

If properly made, the joints of an acrylic tank are actually fused together. Because of this, they are much less likely to leak.

Coralline algae grows much faster on acrylic and is harder to remove than its glass counterpart.

Finally, there will be less distortion in an acrylic aquarium.

So there you have it. Now it’s up to you to decide which is best for your application.

Answer 4

Here is an article I found on the subject
Pros and cons:

a. Acrylic scratches. True. Glass scratches. True.
b. Scratches in Acrylic can be polished out. True. Scratches in glass can be polished out. False. Scratches in glass are permanent.
c. Acrylic tank seams are stronger than glass seams. True. Two pieces of glass are bonded together by applying a dis-similar material, silicone, and pressing them together until the silicone is dry. Acrylic is bonded together by applying a solvent to the seam and melting the Acrylic together forming two pieces into one. It has been proven that the joint of an Acrylic aquarium is stronger than the adjacent material.
d. Acrylic is lighter than glass. True. This feature makes moving them much easier. Movinga large glass aquarium could stress the seams and cause a leak. This cannot happen to Acrylic aquariums because the seams are stronger than the Acrylic itself.
e. Acrylic is a better insulator than glass. True. Temperatures are more stable in Acrylic aquariums.
f. Acrylic can be drilled easily. True. Using an inexpensive hole-saw in a hand held drill, You can drill holes into an Acrylic aquarium.
g. Acrylic is clearer than glass. True. Glass is actually green in color, just look through the edges. The exception to this is Starfire glass which is as clear as Acrylic but, much more expensive and as heavy as regular glass
h. Acrylic costs more than glass. Generally true. It depends on the size and where you purchase the tank. Smaller Acrylic tanks are more expensive. The larger the tank the more cost effective Acrylic becomes and somewhere around 90 gallons, glass tanks
become more expensive than Acrylic. Of course, you have to be careful where you buy your tank. Some retailers mark their Acrylic tanks up very high. Their theory is, if the person can afford to look at Acrylic then they can afford to pay more. We don't think that way!
i. The warranty is better on Acrylic aquariums. True. Most glass aquariums are warranted for 90 days, some one year. Our brand of Acrylic aquariums is warranted for the life of the original owner against leakage due to defect

Answer 5

Glass-
is resistant to scratches, afordable, relativly strong, easy to find,
comes in regular sizes that you can find alot of accessories for and can be used with saltwater

Acrylic-
Half the weight of glass, Much stronger than glass, Can be molded into curves and is seemless. Can be custom made to fit virtually any space It is twice the price of glass, scratches very easily inside and out, cant be used for saltwater (it etches) and cant be used with traditional lights, filters, stands hoods due to its unique shapes

Answer 6

Glass

Pros--

Easier to clean
Much clearer
Heat stays in

Cons--

Much heavier
More fragile
_____________
Acrylic (plastic)

Pros--

Lightweight
Not very fragile

Cons--

Harder to clean
Not very clear
Can’t use a heater