Acrylic tank worth the effort?

[wobble]

A buddy gave me his acrylic tank and wet/dry sump w/overflow tonight. It's in great shape with no scratches. I think it's a 45g (36x15x20h). I've been wanting to upgrade my 29g to a 36in tank because of limited 30" lighting fixture availability, but have heard so many horror stories about acrylic. Is it really as bad as they say? Would it even be worth the cost/effort to get it going?

[andy]

Free is a very good price.

[wobble]

True, but I don't want to put any money into getting it set up if I will regret using an acrylic tank in the long run. I've used glass aquariums for the last ~20 years. I have zero experience with acrylic.

[R-3]

There is nothing really that bad about an acrylic tank. Everyone gets turned off about scratching it. Dont be careless and you wont scratch it. If you start out with a new scratch free acrylic I personally think its better than glass because of the weight, insulation and clarity difference. Its usually when someone buys a tank that is in pretty bad shape is why they dont like acrylic.

[andy]

I have an acrylic tank, and don't like how easy it is to scratch. I'm a klutz and mine is a disaster.

[wobble]

Hmmm. I guess I could just use it as a QT.

I'm kind of a klutz myself. I put a few scratches in my 75g glass tank while aquascaping and they bug the crap out of me every time I look at the tank. My eyes seem to go right to them.

[Mr. Reef]

There's nothing wrong with acrylic. All of the tanks we use in our store/propagation facility are acrylic.

The only real drawback on them is that they are tougher to clean and when you clean coraline algae off of them it puts tiny micro scratches into the surface. You can barely see them though and it takes years and years for them to accumulate, so it's really no big deal.


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[wobble]

I've seen the tanks in your store and remember how clean they always seem to be. How do you clean coraline off acrylic? I currently use a razor blade on the front/sides of my glass tank. Obviously that won't work well with acrylic.

[Mr. Reef]

I've seen the tanks in your store and remember how clean they always seem to be. How do you clean coraline off acrylic? I currently use a razor blade on the front/sides of my glass tank. Obviously that won't work well with acrylic.

We have a quite a few different options when it comes to cleaning our acrylic tanks. Some have better uses for different situations.

I use a acrylic scraper for coraline, and tough surface algaes.

But, if I'm facing things like diatoms, hair algae or a thin film of algae on the acrylic then I will use a acrylic safe scrubbing pad or acrylic safe magnet cleaner.

These 3 items can be used on acrylic or glass. We have the same exact options for glass, but they work better for glass and can't be used on acrylic tanks without scratching them.


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[wobble]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll set it up and see how it goes. If it turns out I don't end up liking the acrylic, I can always go get a 36" glass tank and swap it out. It's not like I wouldn't be able to use the lights, etc on the glass tank.

[Mr. Reef]

No problem,

I've got a feeling you'll enjoy it. :)


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[wobble]

Now to find some DIY plans for an aquarium stand...

[Mr. Reef]

This seemed helpful.

http://www.fishandtips.com/index.php


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[wobble]

Nice link! Thanks!!

[jab502]

Even if you scratch it a few times the scratches are very easy to remove. I love acrylic tanks.

[wobble]

How easy? He has a larger tank (48 inch long) that he's going to throw away. It has some scratches in the front on the outside.

[andy]

I think there must be varying definitions of "very" out there. "Easy" too.

[wobble]

I have a stupid question. I currently have an external overflow on my 75g and would really like to try an internal overflow this time. Is there any special I need to know about making internal overflows for acrylic tanks? Just drill a hole in the bottom, add a bulkhead, and attach internal overflow box?

[Mr. Reef]

That's a tricky question.

I'd ask a professional like James at Envision Acrylics about this. He does amazing work!


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[Ed Hahn]

I heard a tip of people that use the white eraser pads for cleaning acrylic. I think they are called Mister Clean eraser pads. I would experiment with it. But I have hearing a lot of positive from friends. Good luck, Ed

[Mr. Reef]

I heard a tip of people that use the white eraser pads for cleaning acrylic. I think they are called Mister Clean eraser pads. I would experiment with it. But I have hearing a lot of positive from friends. Good luck, Ed

If you do decide to try this, do not get the scented ones though.


Ricky Soutas Jr.
-Soutas Saltwater & Reef Inc.-

[andy]

Those magic erasers work (http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10736).

I built my own overflow in my acrylic tank. It's just an acrylic box which drains through a hole drilled in the back of the tank, via a durso. It works pretty well, though I now wish I had made the box larger and used two dursos instead of just one.

[wobble]

I'll give them a shot. The tank has some hard water stains inside it. I was going to use vinegar, but I'll try those pads first.

I just checked out some lighting prices for 36" tanks. Wow. I forgot how much lighting is. This project may have to wait until my wife is back to work and not on unemployment. :(

[andy]

I'd be careful about using those pads for hard water stains. I think they'd be more likely to make things worse by grinding the minerals into the acrylic and scratching the crap out of it. They're fine for daily cleaning, but not much more IME.

[wobble]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll try the usual vinegar for initial cleaning and just use the magic erasers for regular algae maintenance.

[pledosophy]

I have a 20" or so long scratch across the front of my tank from a snail who decided to get a barnacle as a friend on his snail. Not a little scratch, a deep scratch across the front of the tank.

They scratch that easy. I have two acrylic tanks, I will never pay for another one.

I am so careful, but I do miss being able to use a magfloat as I could on glass. Acrylic has a lure that you can drill holes anywhere to set it up, but in the long run, a LFS will drill a hole for pretty cheap.

I'll only buy glass from here on out. JMO

[CA2OR]

I think you will like it. Just be aware that it is scratch happy when moving your rocks.

[markdadof2]

I agree with Pledosophy. I will not PAY for another acrylic tank...scratches way too easily. I'm a glass man :)

[mrgreenthumb]

that whole clarity argument is out the window with starphire!!! And i bet if 2 tanks were side by side one glass(non starphire) and one acrylic you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in clarity! plus acrylic can and does bough/flex. There is nothing I love more than using my magnet glass cleaner to quickly and easily clean the glass of any and all algae without getting my arm soaking wet from sticking it in the tank!

[CA2OR]

There is a mag float for acrylic though. I have one. All being said, I would have to agree, I wouldn't pay for another acrylic, but that doesn't mean i wouldn't use another one. Much like the one I have now, I traded for it. If I found another good trade it wouldn't much matter to me if it was glass or acrylic. But when it comes to BUYING a tank it will be glass.

[mrgreenthumb]

to true. free is the best price

[Krux]

once you drill plastic, you never go back-stick

[markdadof2]

I'm with Matt - starphire all the way. Can't wait to get mine up and running in the next week or so.

[wobble]

Well I got it all cleaned up today and noticed a small deep scratch right in the middle of the front. I went to LFS and the scratch repair kit was $40. I don't think I'm going to bother with this tank. For $95 I can get a new 40g glass tank with almost the same dimensions.

[CA2OR]

Gotta do what makes the most sense. Sorry to hear. What are you going to do with that tank?

[wobble]

Probably give it back to my buddy. He'll probably sell it on craigslist.

[CA2OR]

fair enough. If you have a change of heart I would check it out.

[wobble]

If you're interested in it I can ask him how much he wants for it. He was going to sell it on craigslist and I asked if I could have it, otherwise I'd just give it to ya. I really don't have the $$$ to set up another tank right now anyway.

[CA2OR]

that would be cool. I have someone who is looking for a bigger tank. Anything would work.