20g of solid starfire - My tank build and DIY

[acer]

Kim you box is full

 

[cloakerpoked]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15112590#post15112590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kimberly63
No Lowes does not carry starfire and won't order it. I've asked. You'd have to probably go to a specialty shop.

I think that price would be for 3/8" - 1/4" and that's just a guess. It really depends on their markup system. That would also be for just raw glass, no tempering, no polishing, nothing.

If you wanted to do a front pane only for a tank, 1/4" you'd probably pay around $50 or so? I'm not really sure. If you go thicker, it's so much more expensive. You might pay $15-$20 per hole if you have them drill it. I'm not sure of the cost of tempering. Polishing would probably be $1 per inch.

Get an estimate from glasscages.com. They would have a close estimate on how much it would cost. I think they have a breakdown of prices on there.

Their prices on starfire glass are reasonable, but I've read from quite a few people that the workmanship is not...makes me leery

 

[mr.reef24]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15104577#post15104577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kimberly63
Well, I have tons of livestock in my 10g and there is just no more room! I can't wait to transfer it all over

I guess I could be tank of the month since I decide who gets it

I love it ^ . I buy my piece's of glass through Glasscages.com they cut to size drill hole's and are resonable for people on this page i saw asking about glass. Kim tank look's great with the sand and the whole 1.5 pounds LR. You have any future plan's on building a bigger sized tank?

mr.reef24

 

[Kimberly63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15114193#post15114193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acer
Kim you box is full

Ha sorry. I thought if you made folders, it would clear your inbox space.

 

[Kimberly63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15117581#post15117581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cloakerpoked
Their prices on starfire glass are reasonable, but I've read from quite a few people that the workmanship is not...makes me leery

I would see if they'll sell you the glass in pieces. They probably would and just build it yourself.

 

[Kimberly63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15117841#post15117841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr.reef24
I love it ^ . I buy my piece's of glass through Glasscages.com they cut to size drill hole's and are resonable for people on this page i saw asking about glass. Kim tank look's great with the sand and the whole 1.5 pounds LR. You have any future plan's on building a bigger sized tank?

mr.reef24

lol well I have another 12lbs or so of rock in my 10g that I'll be transferring over. It does look kinda bare in there.

I never had any plans on building a larger tank since I live in an apartment. I honestly couldn't afford to buy more starfire glass from a vendor if I wanted to go bigger and if I would, I couldn't use 1/4" glass. I would have to go to 5/8" and my price would probably double. I never liked large reef tanks actually. I had a 50g and a 30g and got rid of them both and started out with an 8g reef tank and then upgraded to 10g. This is actually a big upgrade for me. I think that if I did upgrade, I'd try acrylic since it's not as heavy. It's not easy building stuff and messing with heavy panes of glass by yourself.

The only thing about starfire glass is that it's very soft from being low-iron and it scratches easily. I did not realize this until my cat liked getting inside and laying in there while I was at work before i filled it with water. So cleaning will definitely be a pain.

Honestly when the light is over the tank, you can't really tell the difference between the starfire and regular glass because the glass is thin. When you get into thicker glass like 1/2", that's when you really notice the green tint.

 

[Kimberly63]

Well, I guess I'm cycling.

I said to myself "well, today is the day!" I was gonna move everything over. Well I tested and I'm definitely going through a cycle:

pH around 8.1
Nitrate 0ppm
Ammonia around .50 (I can't really tell the shade of toxic green)
Nitrite .25

I have a rock of zoanthids in there and they still look good so I'll just leave them in there for the time being and keep an eye on them.

I feel so antsy

Good thing I tested! I had rubber gloves on ready to go!

 

[cloakerpoked]

I'm surprised you have so much ammonia in a tank with so little...strange.

 

[Kimberly63]

I think it's the rock from Elmer's. Not sure though. I really wasn't expecting much of a cycle either since I washed the sand in DI water before I put it in the tank.

 

[cloakerpoked]

I thought the rock was out of your old tank, so I guess that's a little different than I thought it was, but still...

 

[Kimberly63]

Yeah I bought 1.5lbs from Elmer's on friday because I needed a flat rock to glue zoanthids to. I only have about 11lbs or so in my 10 and I didn't really think that'd be enough rock for the 20.

I just hope it's a fast cycle.

 

[mr.reef24]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15118179#post15118179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kimberly63
lol well I have another 12lbs or so of rock in my 10g that I'll be transferring over. It does look kinda bare in there.

I never had any plans on building a larger tank since I live in an apartment. I honestly couldn't afford to buy more starfire glass from a vendor if I wanted to go bigger and if I would, I couldn't use 1/4" glass. I would have to go to 5/8" and my price would probably double. I never liked large reef tanks actually. I had a 50g and a 30g and got rid of them both and started out with an 8g reef tank and then upgraded to 10g. This is actually a big upgrade for me. I think that if I did upgrade, I'd try acrylic since it's not as heavy. It's not easy building stuff and messing with heavy panes of glass by yourself.

The only thing about starfire glass is that it's very soft from being low-iron and it scratches easily. I did not realize this until my cat liked getting inside and laying in there while I was at work before i filled it with water. So cleaning will definitely be a pain.

Honestly when the light is over the tank, you can't really tell the difference between the starfire and regular glass because the glass is thin. When you get into thicker glass like 1/2", that's when you really notice the green tint.

I didn't expect to hear you say you wouldn't wanna go bigger but after reading your reason why I don't blame you. Starfire is a beautiful glass but expensive acrylic is so much more stronger and lighter but is a pain sometimes to work with. That's funny how your cat liked laying in the tank that could be your next gig custom starfire cat bed's lol. anyways glad to hear your tank is coming along looking forward to seeing more photo's of it.

mr.reef24