[CuriousAmerican]

I am thinking of buying a 20 L Seaclear Acrylic

1) Do they degrade under sunlight, or T5HO lamps?

2) Do they melt under T5HO? I am thinking of ZooMed?

I would not use their ridiculously small hood lamp, unless someone can recommend a good bulb for it.

3) Do Small Oto cats, and cherry shrimp scratch the acrylic?

4) How good are Sea Clear Aquariums?

5) Is it safe to polish tanks when full? with Acrylic polishing kit?
For ex: http://www.marinedepot.com/Lifegard...riums-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB1551-FIMTCK-vi.html

6) Will Aquaclear pumps work on them?

7) Would a 20 gallon bow much?

8) Do you have to put styrofoam underneath an acrylic tank?

The reason I want acrylic

A) Less chance of leaking. Got nice very wood floors.

B) If someone falls - I have trick knees - an acrylic would probably not break if I accidently hit it. I know it would be mess. But shattered glass could kill.

BTW: Is it necessary to leak test an acrylic tank?

To me, glass looks nicer, but glass can be a disaster.

 

[jester56]

I can offer my info. I have a 50 Gal SeaClear acrylic and I can answer a couple of your questions. I have no complaints on the tank. The acrylic is much clearer and undistorted than the glass tanks I've had. It seems super strong and I can't see it breaking if someone fell against it. Mine is on a wooden stand with nothing underneath it. The only thing I need to take care of as far as scratches are where I picked up a tiny piece of gravel in the mag cleaner and it pulled it across the acrylic and scratched it. But that was my goof up. I also pulled the hood. Good luck!

 

[MSG]

I've had 2 of these SC tanks, prefer glass.

Another thing that you'll have to do differently is the ENTIRE bottom of the tank NEEDS to be completely supported.

After using acrylic tanks for a few years, I'm pretty fed up with them. I don't like the factory cutouts either. Limits your options for extra filtration, adding/removing decorations, catching fish, etc....

Once you scratch the tank, you have to break the tank down and polish it EMPTY. It's only a matter of time until the acrylic gets scratched.

Also the top of the acrylic can warp if the light fixture is mounted too close.

 

[DogFish]

I use both Acrylic & Glass, I like them both equally. Both have good & bad points. NO tank is perfect.

The thing that comes up most often on these threads is scratches. That has nothing to do with the tank and EVERYTHING to do with the owner. If you know you can't be careful not to scratch the acrylic ..... get glass.

Millions of us own firearms, drive cars, cook with fire, go Swimming, and walk and talk at the same time, WITHOUT shooting ourselves, running anyone over, burning down our homes, drowning or fall on our faces.

Buy the tank that fits you life the best.