Acrylic tanks??? Looking for opinons
 

Just looking for people's opinion on Acrylic tanks
I am putting in a 600 gallon - 4' x 8' by 30 inches deep tank once I am done rebuilding my house
I don't really want to spend 5000 on a glass tank so I am looking at a acrylic one.
any opinions?
thanks
Neal

I have heard and seen too many horror stories of acrylic tanks of that size. If you only plan on having the tank running for 5 years, then go nuts. If not, drop the money and get a glass tank installed. Glass has proven to be much more reliable in tanks of this size and much longer lasting. Plus you dont have to worry about scratches as much. Shoot me a pm and I can give you a name and number to call for someone who can do the job for you. They have done tens of thousands of dollars of work for me and I have been very satisfied.

acrylic for a reef tank is a big negative, in my opinion. If you're interested in acrylic because of it's index of refraction and clear-ness, then just get a starfire front on your tank.

The reason is that it scratches way too easily when filled with liverock and especially if you have sand. Yes, you can buff it out, but who wants to drain their tank to remove all the scuffs on the bottom 6" of the tank?

no, the reason I would go with acrylic is it is much more cost effective

Would glass/plywood be cost effective?

I want to have visibility on both sides, so I don't know if that is possible with that in mind for the plywood

Not in the long run. If it's a reef tank they don't hold up well long term without getting all scratched to hell from regular cleaning of algae especially any coralline or hard greens that need to be scraped off . If it's a fowlr things like puffers and triggers can scrap it all up and even heard some sharks can as well.

I was just in the new Big Als in Calgary. Massive new shark tank in what appears to be 1.5 or 2" acrylic.

Scratched already and easy to notice.

check pictures post 106 of SuperFudge's, and others views also buried in thread (has a couple of viewing panels).

that would be great.
unfortuanately, I don't have Marc's DIY skills..lol
if anyone does..LMK...