Gibbiceps & Acrylic

[Catfish Joe]

Does anyone here have experience keeping a gibbiceps sailfin in an acrylic tank? I realize the gibbies don't have the choppers of something like a panaque, but I really don't want to risk scratching the acrylic. If anyone can offer any insight, I'd appreciate it.

[Catfish Joe]

Nobody has any experience with this? I'm finding it difficult to get information... I'd like to add a gibbiceps to my 330g acrylic tank, but am concerned about the possibility of him scratching the acrylic. I realize gibbies don't have the teeth of something like a Panaque, but I have yet to hear from anyone regarding their potential for scratching the acrylic... Anyone?

[Shane]

Pretty much any larger loricariid (and I mean larger than an Otocinclus) is going to damage an acrylic tank over time. I have been given two acrylic tanks over the years by people that had them ruined by plecos. In one case a Hypostomus and the other a

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

.
The scratches they make are very fine, but build up over the years until the tank is no longer transparent.
These scratches can be buffed out. A guy in my LFC recently got a free pleco-damaged acrylic and managed to refurbish it very nicely. But be advised that it was days of work and the restoration required several tools and chemical products (i.e. it is not cheap).
I do not think you are getting many answers as, after a brief flash of popularity in the 80s/90s, acyrlic tanks have greatly declined in number. The issues with cost, scratches, seems spliting, the acrylic turning yellowish over time, etc outweighed the advantages for many people.
-Shane

[plecomanpat]

say no more Shane...you hit the nail directly on the head....the only advantage to an acrylic is that they are lighter to carry, but what does that matter once it is in place. I have had 2 and replaced both within 2 years due to a couple of problems mentioned. Enjoy, Pat