Rimless and Starfire

[jamest0o0]

They both seem to make a tank look better in pictures, but in person are they worth the extra money?

 

[poolkeeper1]

Worth $$$

Worth $$$

They both seem to make a tank look better in pictures, but in person are they worth the extra money?

Starfire can scratch very easy so if your prone to accidents inside your tank, I would think twice JMO
Bill:hammer:

 

[Dustin1300]

Starfire can scratch very easy so if your prone to accidents inside your tank, I would think twice JMO
Bill:hammer:

Never knew that. I'm planning on doing a bare bottom next time and was thinking starfire...

 

[reefermad619]

Glass is glass. A rep from leemar told me once that the starfire glass is more scratch prone only because it shows the scratches more than regular glass. He said they both scratch the same. One is not more scratch prone than the other. I ran into this guy at my LFS and happened at the time to be discussing the price difference between starfire and regular glass tanks with the LFS owner.

 

[Dustin1300]

That makes more sense to me because the glass is so clear that when the glass does scratch it is more apparent.

 

[reefermad619]

Yep. Like dents on a black car. Those pop out like crazy. Dents on white car, not so much.

 

[jamest0o0]

Thanks for the input everyone, so what do you guys think if I'm getting a 100ish gallon tank should I spend the extra $? I mean I've already spent so much on this I don't see a problem spending a little extra if it makes a difference?

 

[reefermad619]

If the price is right, go for it. When I was tank shopping, the tank I wanted was another 200 for starfire on 3 sides. It was an 80gal tank, so regular glass was about $125. Then it was $325 for starfire. Not worth it for me. I would have rather got a bigger regular tank, or found a used one. I've seen some killer deals on starfire tanks in my local forums. One that I remeber was a 150gal, 3 sided starfire, drilled, with the plumbing for $300. That's like a $1000 tank new.

 

[jamest0o0]

When you say local forums do you just mean the buyer/seller forums? Thanks

 

[Matt Dean]

Well, I paid $1500 for a custom 5 X 2 X 20 starphyre 125 gallon with coast to coast overflow and 7 holes drilled. Worth every penny to me. tank looks amazing and I think the difference is noticeable. Just depends on priorities.

 

[snowball2020]

did you get starfire all the way around or just the front?

 

[skanderson]

having had both regular and starfire glass tanks for the last 30 years my opinion is that starfire scratches alot easier than regular glass and that its not just the same scratches showing that wouldnt show in a regular tank. i think that starfire is almost necessary in any tank with 3/4 inch glass otherwise everything looks a bit off color. i have never liked rimless tanks but that is just a personal preferrence.

 

[reefermad619]

When you say local forums do you just mean the buyer/seller forums? Thanks

I meant local reef sites not inside of reefcentral. San Diego has one called sdreefs.

 

[Matt Dean]

It's a peninsula tank. So that's starphyre on 2 five foot sides and one 2 foot end.

Regarding scratching. I have hit my glass with rocks many times and not one scratch.

 

[Giz007]

If you can get starfire you can tell the difference i have two 1/2 glass tanks 1 in normal glass and one in stafire love the starfire

 

[jamest0o0]

Alright thanks everyone, I think I'm going to try out the starfire then

 

[poolkeeper1]

Starfire is Low Iron Glass, As the Composition of the Glass is Different so would the hardness of the glass be different. I would like someone with glass experience to verify that all glass is the same statement!
I have heard this from many different sources and seen it from personal experience. It just makes sense that they are different compositions of materials.
Bill