Is starfire glass worth it?

[weaver5]

I bought a tank with starfire glass a cpl weeks ago but have not set it up yet.I guess now I am wondering should I use the mag float for glass or acrylic....scott

 

[wildjoe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11634596#post11634596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenAmy&Maddy
Just be sure you know that starphire glass can scratch
MUCH EASIER then regular glass... perhaps like acrylic in this regard...

so iow
unless you are super careful or have your glass cleaning skills down pat - then prepare to see a lot of scratches.

if you or anyone out there is a beginner
then i wouldnt suggest it unless one is super careful cleaning the glass...

i still get occasional scratches on my glass
and i am super careful - sometimes might sweep past a piece of live rock w/ some sand on it and it gets caught up in your cleaning device then you continue scrubbing away at the algae not being even aware that the sand is there and just cointinuing to scratch the glass...

would never think its possible but it just happens even if one is careful, experienced and knows what they are doing.


personally i dont need anything any greater then what i already have and what is commonly available - i am SURE the starphire is pretty and makes the coral look great but from a practical standpoint - how much better could they look - and is it worth it to eventually at some point end up w/ more scratches then perhaps would have had had they used regular glass.

i know a lot of people who have acrylic tanks
and will never buy them again for this same reason - scratches.

so encourage anyone interested in this to research it further - there are alot of people using starphire and who swear by them... just be sure to know what you are getting into all the way around before jumping in!
regards

I'm not doubting what you are saying but is your experience based on a comparison between low iron and non low iron or just what you have experienced with the tank you have. I used to work in the glass and storefront business cuttting and installing different kinds of glass and never experienced or was told of any hardeness difference between those types of glass. Comparing any kind of glass to acrylic is really not a realistic comaparison at all-two completely different types of material and characteristics. I'm currently setting up a 58g RR and the price difference between my tank and a non starfire is minimal.

 

[el Deutche]

albertan22

check out this link. this guy has a starphire and alot of the posters in there have them or are getting them. It is a thread started about 2 yrs ago. Read thru and maybe ask some of those guys that actually have starphire.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=839423&highlight=naka

Hope it helps.

 

[dave2184]

Id definatly agree with this my old standard 90 looked just like my buddys starfire 210. His tanks glass was 3 times as thick as mine the back and bottom of his was standard glass and those panels were so green but the top, front and sides were so clear it looked like there was no glass there.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11634657#post11634657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke
That is kinda of the borderline of size/glass thickness for starphire glass having a big impact.

Anything below 1/2 inch thickness there isn't much difference, IMO.

Anything above 1/2 inch I would go with starphire.

A tank right at 1/2 inch... I guess it would depend on the price differential.

 

[el Deutche]

Dave2184

How much did that 1919 set you back? Almost bought one a couple yrs ago. Everytime I see one, I wish I did.

 

[dave2184]

sent pm so not to hijack thread.

 

[leoslizards]

So starphire glass is basically low iron glass and it's clearer then regular glass, correct?

 

[harryk]

I do have an oceanic with a Starfire front pane. Starfire glass is a little softer than regular glass (not much softer) because of the lower iron content. But to say it scratches easy like acrylic is absolutely false. Many people have starfire glass and not once have i read scratching easy as an issue. You can scratch anything if you scrape hard enough. you can scratch regular glass so obviously starfire glass can be scratched. Regardless of the type of glass you should always take care when scraping your tank. And as a reference to the people looking into the starfire. My Oceanic 215 ultimate RR series tank with a starfire front pane cost less than an AGA RR 180. And there is a difference in quality and clarity. I have an AGA 75 next to my 215 and there definitely a clarity difference

Thanks
Harry

 

[otrlynn]

I have the 58 gallon Oceanic with the Starfire glass front. The glass is less than 1/2" thick. There is a very, very small difference in the front panel, which is Starfire, and the side panels which are not. I do, however, use a Mag-float to clean the glass, or occasionally the "scrubby" side of a dedicated "kitchen" sponge. I have never scratched the glass. It came with no special cautions to treat the Starfire side any differently...

 

[leoslizards]

What does RR mean?

 

[dave2184]

RR=Reef Ready ie. built in overflows.

 

[leoslizards]

I see. Thanks.