Hello fishy folks.

I have noticed a change in the acrylic and hoods of the Eclipse system
tanks (not the hoods that fit onto a glass tank, but the entire
system).

According to Marineland, they haven't changed a thing. I have 3 older
version, all made 2004 or before.
The newer, cheaper version of acrylic I have seen were made in 2008.
The tanks appear to now be a harder, more easily scratched type of
acrylic, able to be scratched up with a soft terry towel, which the
same towel does not scratch up the older models.
The top now does not have a clip to hold the light fixture's cord up,
as to keep it out of the water.
The newer ones also have a new box design.
I'm wondering of others who have older Eclipse have seen the same as I
have.
If you know the difference between a good acrylic and a poor one, I
urge you to go check this out at a pet shop.
The better acrylic feels softer, and when you tap lightly with the
backside of a finger nail will make a "heavier" thud, where as the
harder type will not have that "soft" feeling and will make a higher
pitched "tang" noise - instead of a thud. I hope that makes sense.
I had an older and a new one on my kitchen table. Quite obvious that
there was a difference in the type of acrylic used.
The customer service guy for Marineland said there were no changes. I
told him I have 2 in front of me and they are as different as night
and day.
He still said there are no differences.
I don't know of that means the company who they are having make the
tanks is using substandard plastic and not telling Marineland. If that
was the case, the more folks who see this difference and call them
them saying so, the better.
I was able to find an older Eclipse 6 gallon (made in 04) at a Petco.
It's the better acrylic.
I returned the newer version back to Petsmart.
I've had cheaper plastic 1 gallon tanks for growing out male betta
fry. You can't even use an acrylic algae pad on these, as it put fine
scratches in it - giving a haze to it so badly that it needs
replacing.
You can't use soft cloth-like paper towels for algae either, as it
does the same thing.
There's nothing you can use that won't scratch these newer models.
These tanks cost too darned much for them to be using a lessor quality
acrylic.