Advice on glass type and distortion

[akazzz]

Hi RC,
I'm lost in terms of the type of glass to use for my 187g (5x2.5x2) aquarium. The reason is because I think a normal glass will have viewing distortions based on the aquariums I've seen.

So I'm thinking of getting a starphire glass aquarium but the price is 3x compared to a normal glass aquarium here in Australia.

My question is:
1. Is there a non-starphire glass that have minimal distortion like a starphire?
2. Does the width of the glass affect the viewing distortion?

P.s: Acrylic is out for me

 

[vhuang168]

Starphire doesn't give you less distortion. It has less to no color in the glass.

If you are talking about distortions when you look at things at an angle through the glass, every choice has it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[akazzz]

Really?! I thought starphire would have less distortion. How about acrylics?

 

[salty joe]

Google refractive index and you'll find the refraction of acrylic is closer to the refraction of water than the refraction of glass is. IDK how much difference that makes in the real world. Since air and water refract differently, you'll have distortion no matter what.

I chose low iron glass because I hate to imagine how badly I'd scratch a plastic viewing panel.

Refraction turned out to a best friend for me...It hid a couple pumps completely and partially hid a couple more. It also hid a 3" PVC bolt hole in my rock.

I tried to apply Snell's law to predict the refraction but the math was over my head. I decided it'd be quicker and easier to fill the tank and have a look.

Get Starfire and be happy! (;

 

[akazzz]

I've read some other forums and they said they had less distortion when viewing from the starphire panels of their tank.

Which information is right here? Starphire = less distortion or same distortion as a normal float glass?

Hmmm...

According to PPG (the company who created Starphire), they said the refractive index of the glass is 1.5183 (Source: http://www.pgo.com/pdf/ppg_starphire.pdf)

Acrylic has 1.490–1.492

The refractive index for a float glass is 1.515 (Source: Filmetrics)

Summary:
Acrylic 1.490-1.492
Starphire 1.5183
Normal glass ??

 

[Grayhead]

Starfire distorts as well. I am sure some high end manufacters has products with reduced distortion. But you will have some no matter what

 

[akazzz]

Does it distort less when compared to a normal glass?
Or is the clarity the only major difference when going for a starphire?

 

[earwicker7]

Regarding expenses... are you purchasing off the shelf or doing custom? I had mine custom built, and only put starfire on the front... it's in-wall, so I didn't see any point in making the entire tank starfire.

 

[Grayhead]

I only did 2 sides. No problem doing the whole tank, just not needed

 

[akazzz]

@Grayhead This will be setup as a peninsula tank.
@earwicker7 custom built because of dimensions 5x2.5x2

Back to the main discussion

We know starphire has much better clarity than a normal glass tank. But does it distorts less than a normal glass aquarium?

Or should I even pay attention to the distortion because it won't make much difference?

 

[salty joe]

I've read some other forums and they said they had less distortion when viewing from the starphire panels of their tank.

Which information is right here? Starphire = less distortion or same distortion as a normal float glass?

Hmmm...

According to PPG (the company who created Starphire), they said the refractive index of the glass is 1.5183 (Source: http://www.pgo.com/pdf/ppg_starphire.pdf)

Acrylic has 1.490"“1.492

The refractive index for a float glass is 1.515 (Source: Filmetrics)

Summary:
Acrylic 1.490-1.492
Starphire 1.5183
Normal glass ??

IMO, what really matters here is the difference between the RI of air, which is 1.000239, and everything else. Seawater is around 1.34.

You are going to have distortion no matter what. This seems like hair splitting to me. I still say get the Starfire and be extra happy.

 

[MarkW64]

I've read some other forums and they said they had less distortion when viewing from the starphire panels of their tank.

Which information is right here? Starphire = less distortion or same distortion as a normal float glass?

Hmmm...

According to PPG (the company who created Starphire), they said the refractive index of the glass is 1.5183 (Source: http://www.pgo.com/pdf/ppg_starphire.pdf)

Acrylic has 1.490"“1.492

The refractive index for a float glass is 1.515 (Source: Filmetrics)

Summary:
Acrylic 1.490-1.492
Starphire 1.5183
Normal glass ??

"normal glass" is float glass. So according to your numbers it appears Starphire has virtually the same refraction as nonStarphire.

 

[akazzz]

Conclusion: Starphire and float glass aka normal glass have the same distortion aka refractive index.

 

[salty joe]

Same hardness too.