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In the next few months I think I'm going to be able to start a new 20-30 gallon tank, and I'm wondering if it will be worth it to splurge on an acrylic tank, or if I should stick with glass. I love the clarity and the smooth lines of acrylic, but I don't know if an HOB filter like an aquaclear will fit on the rim of it, even with the cut-outs in the top. Also, is cleaning acrylic harder?

Are there people out there who really have a preference? Any acrylic tank lovers?

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

Acrylic is slightly harder to clean simply because it is easier to scratch. You have to be much more careful with it.

I will only buy acrylic tanks...I dont mind being more careful when you are cleaning, and you dont really have to be more careful if you clean on a regular basis.

Yes, acrylic does scratch easier, but atleast if you scratch it you can polish it out...with glass you cant. You also dont have to worry about silicon deteriorating.

Acrylic is also more optically clear than glass, and a better insulator..

I say go acrylic

Gee,

I hate to disagree with the Overlord (don’t ban me for it ), but I would go Glass on that size of a tank.

1) You can clear a scratch of a glass tank and it will happen much less often that you have a scratch in the first place.

2) How much does a 20 – 30 gallon tank cost? If it is really messed up, just replace it.

I cannot beat the insulator point, this is just a fact. If you have rather cool temperatures outside of your tank, insulation is becoming an issue. Or if you have a power outage in the winter time and your house doesn’t have any heat.

Well, anyway, that is my opinion,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

illustrae

I would never by Acrylic. Now in Aust you can even buy shaped fronted glass tanks. As far a scratching it is a matter of what you do and a tank should never be scratched. I personally like the appearance of glass as an acrylic tank seems to loose its clarity after a few years. This depends on the tank and natural lighting.

Keith

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I as well say glass, like was said after years it fades and looks yucky.


For that size tank it would be better.

IMO

P.S but I do love the crystal clearness of the acrylic, so I have a couple of each =p


Angel Eel

Hi,
I enjoy the appearance of Acrylic tanks with the moulded
edges and such. But, I'm more of a "bull in the china shop"
when it comes to cleaning and my main tool is a razor blade
for scraping the glass. An acrylic tank simply would not
last. Add to that I'm energetic when using my python and
the gravel grinding up against the plastic would scratch it.

While they have numerious advantages, they scratch so easily
that I would soon have to be figuring out how to rub them
out without draining the tank to do it.

Gimme glass!

Frank


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