Gas hot water tank vs. Electric hot water tank

[Section 31]

I posted earlier regarding smell in the water. Is it true that you can take the rod out of the gas hot water tank and the tank will not break down, but that you can't take the rod out of an electric hot water tank, because it will break the lining down ?

[hallerb]

no in either case removing the anode will cause failure in a metal tank

some electric tanks are plastic thse probably dont need a anode rod at all