Acrylic for stream tank?

I've never owned or used an acrylic tank before, but I found a good deal on a used 95 gallon acrylic tank that I'll most likely be getting next week. It measures 60"Long, 18"Wide, and 20"Tall. I'd like to use it as a stream tank to house primarily SRBD. I'm wanting, to a large extent, to attempt to replicate a small headwater pool similar to the habitat that they are found in, beginning with a shallow riffle(I haven't worked out the details for this yet). For me, this means that a substrate with layers of topsoil, sand, and gravel will likely be at varying heights/depths throughout the tank.

My questions are:

• How likely is this kind of use to scratch acrylic?
• Should I put a put a protective layer of something between the substrate and the sides to prevent scratching?
• Can the sand particles that move about in the current scratch acrylic?

I hope these questions don't sound too dumb, but I have no experience with acrylic tanks and I can't seem to find much info. on this type of use for them and I really don't want to take a chance on messing up a tank this size.

Any other relevant information that I might be overlooking would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,

Steve

Once everything is put in, I wouldn't worry about scratching. I would only worry about scratches when you are adding substrate, rocks, etc. Once you get everything settled, the substrate isn't going to be moving around and scratching your tank. The sand will find the slow portions of the tank and settle out. I've got one small acrylic tank with some very coarse substrate from the creek. As long as you are gentle when putting it in the tank and aren't rubbing it against the sides when gravel vacuuming, you'll be just fine. It's always exciting setting up a new tank - good luck!

Thanks Willie, It helps hearing from someone who has used one. I googled for a long time and all I could find was that everyone said they scratched easily. I was actually having second thoughts about getting it, but it is encouraging hearing that you've got course gravel in yours. Sounds like it should work alright. I'll definitely be careful around the edges. I am excited about this set up. I hope to post some pictures of it when I'm done. Thanks again.

Steve

I'm going to say that you've got nothing to worry about and you'll never get scratches, you just need to be cautious. They can indeed scratch easily, but you just have to be smart about it. Meaning, don't use those coarse algae scrubbers and whatnot to clean the tank. I use an expired gift card to try and scrap established algae off the tank sides. A coarse, old washcloth might wor too. Just know that those algae scrubbers can scratch up the tank (even softer scrubbers can make those micro scratches that may make your tank look foggy over time). Another suggestion is to put softer substrates (sand) around the edges of the tank. This way when you are first arranging your tank and creating the slopes you want in the aquarium, you don't have that coarse creek gravel scraping against the sides of the tank. Good luck - I hope it a works out. I look forward to a pic of your setup when you get it settled.

I can't wait to see this tank done. Once you start working on it you should make a seperate build thread. I love the idea of a shallow riffle area! How shallow are you thinking?

I use an expired gift card to try and scrape established algae off the tank sides. A coarse, old washcloth might work too. Just know that those algae scrubbers can scratch up the tank (even softer scrubbers can make those micro scratches that may make your tank look foggy over time).

The gift card idea for algae removal is something I actually read someplace else also but I was a little skeptical because it seems like the hard plastic could scratch the acrylic if it is as easily scratched as I was gathering. I'm glad to hear a second on that one. Sounds like that's what I'll be using.

Another suggestion is to put softer substrates (sand) around the edges of the tank. This way when you are first arranging your tank and creating the slopes you want in the aquarium, you don't have that coarse creek gravel scraping against the sides of the tank.

That could definitely lend itself well to my plans and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you again. This certainly helps a bunch.

I can't wait to see this tank done. Once you start working on it you should make a seperate build thread. I love the idea of a shallow riffle area! How shallow are you thinking?

I'll try to take some pictures along the way and post them in some kind of order when I'm done. I'm hopefully going to be trying several things I've never done before with this set up so it's taking a lot of planning and thinking through things before I even start. I'm not exactly sure how shallow I'm going to end up making the riffle area, but my thoughts right now are leaning toward around an inch or less.


Thanks for the replies;

Steve

I'm not exactly sure how shallow I'm going to end up making the riffle area, but my thoughts right now are leaning toward around an inch or less.

Other people may have different experiences, but I've not caught many (adult) fish in 1" deep riffles. 4", 6", 12", yes. I have always assumed they were generally more comfortable with a little bit more water overhead. Of course if the fish you plan on keeping are known to inhabit 1" deep riffles .... IGNORE THIS

Yeah, I personally think 4" deep , maybe with a few flat rocks in some places that will lower the depth there if the fish would like that.

Other people may have different experiences, but I've not caught many (adult) fish in 1" deep riffles. 4", 6", 12", yes. I have always assumed they were generally more comfortable with a little bit more water overhead. Of course if the fish you plan on keeping are known to inhabit 1" deep riffles .... IGNORE THIS

Yeah, you're right, this is certainly my experience too. I smile as I sit here and type while thinking of how to not yet divulge the entirety of my foolishness. All I can say right now is that it is to possibly be part of a larger plan. It'll take some more research and planning to pin down what I need for what I want to do, but if it works, I'll let y'all know. If it doesn't work, well, I dunno. I hope to post more on this in a number of months.

Thanks again for the replies;

Steve

I think I may know what you're up to, Steve I can't wait to see it! I think you would end up with the most complete setups of all of us if you're doing what I think you're doing!