Calling all acrylic tank owners

[thanhreef]

My current tank (Oceanic) is 36"x18"x25

This is a two years old picture:

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I am making a plan to build a bigger custom acrylic tank to cover the space of the corner above within the next couple of months.

100 gallon custom acrylic euro-brace tank:

-size: 40"x25"x25"
-1/2" cell cast acrylic and the same thickness throughout
-one left corner overflow
-one 3/4" return in the overflow
-one 1" drain in the overflow
-black background

I really love the look of acrylic tank. Acrylic can be easily scratched. Of course, the scratches can be buffed and polished out. Does it require the tank to be emptied? Will acrylic be yellow over time?

which materials or tools do you use regular to clean the tank?

What are the other drawbacks of an acrylic tank?

Thank you,

 

[dawgface]

Gorgeous tank man!!!!

 

[skriz]

1. You do not have to drain the tank to buff; you do it underwater.
2. Cheap acrylic will yellow. The good stuff will not.

 

[wmboots]

better looking than most reefs I dive on, beautiful job on your tank

 

[snowmansnow]

Ive had my 120 acrylic tank up for more than 5 years and I REALLY like it.

Would I get another acrylic tank? ONLY if it were a large tank... The only reason for this is that larger acrylic tanks tend to be a good bit cheaper than the glass counterparts.

Scratching: YOU WILL get scratches in / on your tank. THEY CAN BE BUFFED OUT with water in the tank, BUT it DOES take a LOT of elbow grease and time. The last time I redid a pane of my tank I did 1 grit / day.. it was just too much work to do all at once.

As far as yellowing goes.. .I don't think that should be an issue. A quality acrylic won't yellow.

B

 

[falos]

Won't a magic eraser buff out light scratches ?

 

[enderg60]

As a person that has owned and built many acrylic tanks my best advice is...

Get glass.

 

[thanhreef]

Does acrylic scratch as easily as starphire glass?

My current starphire glass scratches easily here and there and can't be buffed out. I will go with acrylic and I just have to be a little more careful.