Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / July 2005

Acrylic scratches more easily. Glass weighs a bit more, but it's not as heavy as
it was 20 years ago. I go with glass.

George Patterson
     Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
     and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
     Because she smells like a new truck.

I'm not that experienced, but do have a few of both. The scratching problem is
really the biggest risk with acrylic but otherwise I prefer their advantages.
Since you have both already, is it manageable for you ? Here are some things in
favor of acrylic:

Algaes don't seem to stick to acrylic as well as they do to glass, so are easier
to clean off.

The clarity of an acrylic tank would be better than a glass tanks, especially
considering the thickness that would be required for glass in that size. Oceanic
offers Starfire glass as an option but the cost would be out of range for most.

The glass one would weigh hundreds of pounds, maybe near 400 lbs for a 240 gallon
tank. Acrylic would be less than half of that, and is not as demanding in terms of  
having a perfectly flat mounting surface.

It is less likely that an acrylic tank will develop a leak than a glass tank.

Acrylic is a better insulator for heat. It might be worthwhile in terms of heating
if the tank water is kept much warmer than the room. For example, a garage in
winter.