Best type of tank, sapphire/acrylic/glass??

AForys

AForys

Member
Ok, im looking to buy a new 50ish gal cube for a new reef tank. Im a fan of the cube look, so a cube I'll get. My question is what is the better material tank should I get? What would look better overall? Not the biggest fan of sps, so it'll be LPS and zoa tank. Does a certain material give coral a better pop in color? I understand acrylic is easily scratched but at the same time easily buffed, is that the only benefit of acrylic? The tanks with the bluish tint, does this give a better view? I've only used regular glass aquariums so any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
I've only had glass, but i scratch glass pretty often. I can't even imagine how bad I'd be with acrylic. Low iron glass (Starfire) is clearer, but softer too.

I'd choose regular glass because I'm a little careless. Starfire is super clear, but nothing looks good with a bunch of scratches.
 
Sawdonkey said:
I've only had glass, but i scratch glass pretty often. I can't even imagine how bad I'd be with acrylic. Low iron glass (Starfire) is clearer, but softer too.

I'd choose regular glass because I'm a little careless. Starfire is super clear, but nothing looks good with a bunch of scratches.
Click to expand...

Ha r we related i thought im only one that scratched glass
 
Acrylic is easy to buff but unless something i dont know u have to break tank down to buff so thats not that easy
 
AForys said:
Ok, im looking to buy a new 50ish gal cube for a new reef tank. Im a fan of the cube look, so a cube I'll get. My question is what is the better material tank should I get? What would look better overall? Not the biggest fan of sps, so it'll be LPS and zoa tank. Does a certain material give coral a better pop in color? I understand acrylic is easily scratched but at the same time easily buffed, is that the only benefit of acrylic? The tanks with the bluish tint, does this give a better view? I've only used regular glass aquariums so any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

The other benefit of acrylic I've read is, it is generally about half the weight of a similar sized glass tank. Nevertheless, I'm all glass with sawdonkey and madjoe, I'm not interested in anything that scratches easier than regular glass.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the input! I may just stick with glass, probably go with low iron the sapphire is tempting though!
 
Acrylic - more expensive, lighter, clarity is better than glass but super easy to scratch (very easy..I got first scratches just from not seeing sand stuck on the magfloat) and depending on the size of the tank its stronger even bullet proof depending on thickness.

Glass - not as light, not as likely to scratch and for most tanks suitable if you are going to do a big tank I'd look at acrylic. If you don't care about the weight and have the guys to help you move it then maybe glass is best. I have never had sapphire but I hear its very expensive not sure how that compares to acrylic though. I know clarity wise its just as good.

For a 50 gal cube I'd say just get a glass tank :) and put your extra leftover $ into equipment or corals :)
 
Last edited:
AForys said:
Thanks for all the input! I may just stick with glass, probably go with low iron the sapphire is tempting though!
Click to expand...

For that size tank no reason to go acrylic any way usually just to save weight for bigger tanks. Ive never owned a saphire tank but i always thought my tanks were clear enough with regular glass. Afain this is coming from a guy who can care less for hd tv also lol
 
Lol! I love my HD tv! I'll be getting the 4k soon! But yeah im thinking I will go with glass being it will be my first "bigish" saltwater set up. Anyone have the deep blue tanks? Are these sapphire or glass?
 
Acrylic can buffed with fish and coral it. Since I learned to properly clean it I haven't scratched it.

To clean it I use a Magic eraser on the inside with a Hammerhead cleaner. For coraline i use a Kent plastic scraper.
 
Kendrid said:
Acrylic can buffed with fish and coral it. Since I learned to properly clean it I haven't scratched it.

To clean it I use a Magic eraser on the inside with a Hammerhead cleaner. For coraline i use a Kent plastic scraper.
Click to expand...

Really, I did not know you can buff out a scratch on the inside of acrylic tank while the tank remains full. I can't even imagine scraping off coraline without scratching acrylic, and I also use one of the Kent plastic scrapers.
 
Kendrid said:
Acrylic can buffed with fish and coral it. Since I learned to properly clean it I haven't scratched it.

To clean it I use a Magic eraser on the inside with a Hammerhead cleaner. For coraline i use a Kent plastic scraper.
Click to expand...

So if this is true which i maybe can u share on how im sure lots of peeps will benifit from this info
 
Kendrid said:
Acrylic can buffed with fish and coral it. Since I learned to properly clean it I haven't scratched it.

To clean it I use a Magic eraser on the inside with a Hammerhead cleaner. For coraline i use a Kent plastic scraper.
Click to expand...

How do u remove scratches while the tank is filled?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mjl714 said:
Really, I did not know you can buff out a scratch on the inside of acrylic tank while the tank remains full. I can't even imagine scraping off coraline without scratching acrylic, and I also use one of the Kent plastic scrapers.
Click to expand...

If a tank is scratched to hell then I don't think you could really fix it to look like new. If you have some light scratches using 3M Trizact sand paper (3000 and 5000 grit) with a magnet cleaner works. Just act like you are cleaning the acrylic and pass after pass you will see a white cloud which is acrylic dust. Eventually the scratches will go away. The dust does not affect fish or coral. Back before I first did this I searched and on Reef Central there are plenty of people that have done this with no issues.

Do NOT use your fingers to scrub the inside of the tank with any sandpaper. It will end up leaving indentations and when you look into the tank in the areas you sanded it will look like a funhouse mirror. I read about this on RC, didn't follow it and end up with some ripples. I was able to smooth them out by going over the area with a magnet cleaner and 3000 grit.
 
Last edited:
madjoe said:
So if this is true which i maybe can u share on how im sure lots of peeps will benifit from this info
Click to expand...

You must use The 'Original' Magic Eraser. It contains no chemicals. A normal Eraser is very thick and you can turn one into three with a sharp knife.

To use them you put a slice on wet side of your magnet cleaner. On the dry side I put a microfiber cloth between the acrylic and magnet. If you have a powerful enough magnet the Eraser will wipe away diatoms and slight coraline. If you let the coraline get too thick an Eraser is useless.

I clean my tank twice a week and I only have to scrape coraline with the Kent cleaner once every two weeks or so and I don't have to clean much.
 
Kendrid said:
You must use The 'Original' Magic Eraser. It contains no chemicals. A normal Eraser is very thick and you can turn one into three with a sharp knife.

To use them you put a slice on wet side of your magnet cleaner. On the dry side I put a microfiber cloth between the acrylic and magnet. If you have a powerful enough magnet the Eraser will wipe away diatoms and slight coraline. If you let the coraline get too thick an Eraser is useless.

I clean my tank twice a week and I only have to scrape coraline with the Kent cleaner once every two weeks or so and I don't have to clean much.
Click to expand...

I know about magic eraser was asking more about scratch removal but u answer that in post before so thanks
 
Kendrid said:
If a tank is scratched to hell then I don't think you could really fix it to look like new. If you have some light scratches using 3M Trizact sand paper (3000 and 5000 grit) with a magnet cleaner works. Just act like you are cleaning the acrylic and pass after pass you will see a white cloud which is acrylic dust. Eventually the scratches will go away. The dust does not affect fish or coral. Back before I first did this I searched and on Reef Central there are plenty of people that have done this with no issues.

Do NOT use your fingers to scrub the inside of the tank with any sandpaper. It will end up leaving indentations and when you look into the tank in the areas you sanded it will look like a funhouse mirror. I read about this on RC, didn't follow it and end up with some ripples. I was able to smooth them out by going over the area with a magnet cleaner and 3000 grit.
Click to expand...

I will be trying this on my biocube
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top