Acrylic tanks??? Looking for opinons

[untamed]

Yes....you get this big and you often have to build a glass tank on site. Not always...but that is something to be considered.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by untamed

Yes....you get this big and you often have to build a glass tank on site. Not always...but that is something to be considered.

Have you had any problems with abrasive scratches from Tangs other than the one you mentioned in your build thread?

[sphelps]

I'm confused, I've always found acrylic tanks to cost more than glass. Mostly due to the fact you usually have to use thicker acrylic. For that size tank you could use 3/4" glass but will need 1" or thicker acrylic unless you want a bulge. Plus tank builders usually charge more for acrylic work as it's more time consuming.

Even with the same thickness I get glass cheaper than acrylic. Less scrap with glass as it comes in larger sheets while acrylic is usually 8x4 meaning you'll need 5 sheets for that tank. The glass for that tank should be around $2000 not $5000, and that's here in Saskatchewan where glass tends to cost more.

One more note, if you're building a 600 gallon tank and already worried about expenses before you have the tank, go smaller! Bigger isn't always better, quality is better than quantity.

[sphelps]

On a topic note if you use cell cast acrylic it is not that easy to scratch, you'll get micro scratches from cleaning but you can't notice those 2 feet back from the tank. I keep urchins in an acrylic tank and dispite rumers they do not strach the acrylic so I can't see a fish doing it, although possible, unlikely. Starphire glass has less iron and is quite a bit softer than standard glass and it won't take much more to scratch it compared to acrylic.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I'm confused, I've always found acrylic tanks to cost more than glass.

If you are buying a new acrylic tank then yes it's usually more then glass. However if you are buying a used acrylic tank it's usually a lot cheaper, because it's usually harder to sell a used acrylic tank then a used glass tank.

[howdy20012002]

I was actually going to get a acrylic shop here in town to build it.
I buy the acrylic and get them to build it at 75.00 per hour..works out to be pretty reasonable that way. Alot cheaper that way than getting someone to build the tank out of glass on site.
sphelps thanks for the advice about downsizing because about worrying about the money...lol.. I think I have it under control...Just because I am trying to do things economically does not mean I can't afford it.
thanks for all the advice from everyone.
I am actually going to take mark's advice I think and build one from plywood and fibreglass with 3 glass fronts.
it is actually a good idea and will allow me to put a glass tank in that I won't need 10 people to move, just 6. LOL (which btw, I will be asking local reefers for when the time comes.)
I have built my whole addition on my house with this tank in mind and can't wait to start this long process...OI will definitely keep a journal on this one.
thanks again
Neal

[JDigital]

Looking at your sig, I'd say you can afford it too...

[steve fedyk]

I'm planing to biuld a larger tank myself. I built a steel frame out of 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 1/4 angle, and plan to drop in plywood in place. Starphire glass for the front, then fiberglass the rest.

[howdy20012002]

I was actually going to get a acrylic shop here in town to build it.
I buy the acrylic and get them to build it at 75.00 per hour..works out to be pretty reasonable that way. Alot cheaper that way than getting someone to build the tank out of glass on site.
sphelps thanks for the advice about downsizing because I was worrying about the money...lol.. I think I have it under control...Just because I am trying to do things economically does not mean I can't afford it.
thanks for all the advice from everyone.
I am actually going to take mark's advice I think and build one from plywood and fibreglass with 3 glass fronts.
it is actually a good idea and will allow me to build a tank on site.
I have built my whole addition on my house with this tank in mind and can't wait to start this long process...I will definitely keep a journal on this one.
thanks again
Neal

[untamed]

Originally Posted by JDigital

Have you had any problems with abrasive scratches from Tangs other than the one you mentioned in your build thread?

The tangs do scratch the tank with their spines...and one (or both) of the urchins leaves quite nasty scratches when they scrape the coraline off. Those scratches don't bother me much because they are in spots where I don't attempt to clean (hence the coraline grows there)....but..yes, the urchins can scratch the acrylic. It could very well be that they can't do it until they get to a certain size. My Hatpin urchin is probably 12" across now and I suspect that is the one that is making the marks.

The fish scratches are pretty light and relatively easy to polish out. They don't bother me much. The only problem is that the scratch provides a spot for algae to anchor such that the mag cleaner doesn't clean it off as easily.