Rimless & Starphire - Worth the cost?

[NewbeeReefer]

Hello everyone.

I am just getting back into the hobby after taking a break a few years ago (125 galllon). This time around I am going for a custom 220 gallon tank.

I am trying to figure out two things.

#1 - If I should go with rimless or euro-braced. I am torn between the two. Rimless is beautiful, but it's nearly double the price of euro-braced, and I'm worried about the longetivity of the seams.

#2 - I'm also not sure if I should go with a Starphire front and Starphire sides. It's a $250.00 upgrade for the euro-braced tank, and a $600.00 upgrade for the rimless.

Any words of advice? This will be an SPS dominated reef.

Thanks!

 

[psidriven]

Unfortunately it really depends on you, since it will be your tank and your budget. I personally would go all out with starphire and rimless with a hanging light, but that is my preference. This doesn't work for some people due to light scattering all over the room. So that is something to think about as well.

 

[iFisch]

IMO, if money is no object, go for it.

Low-iron glass is just jaw dropping in person.



Looks just like acrylic, but it doesn't scratch as easy, making it ideal for reef keeping.

 

[rbnice1]

I like a nice hood so on my new tank I just custom ordered I did euro braced because I was afraid the rimless wouldnt be strong enough.

As far as Starphire, I paid for the updagrade on the front of mine but not on the sides. If money was no object or little object I would have gotten the sides too.

 

[mnml]

agreed with everyone else. if you have the budget for it then go for it. i just picked a lee mar rimless starphire with polished edges and it looks killer. i wasn't too concerned about the euro brace since lee mar makes very solid tanks. it was a few hundred dollars more but, for me, it was totally worth it.

 

[NewbeeReefer]

How do you buy a lee mar tank? Can't buy direct?

 

[pmrossetti]

Hate to be an outsider here, but ALL my local fish stores (4) have had large glass 7X2X2' tanks crack. Awful leemar included. I'm an acrylic guy because of that. But it's only my humble input

 

[robthorn]

I got rid of rimless for good. easy to splash out when you stick your hand in and mess around. I have a marineland deep dimension with a large rim. I like it. I also have no canopy with my light hanging from the ceiling.

 

[pmrossetti]

If glass, starfire with eurobracing IMHO.

 

[MarineMarty]

Does anyone have pictures of the tanks discussed here?

 

[luther1200]

If it was me I would go with Euro bracing and Starphire.

 

[mnml]

If the tank isn't too long, is euro bracing necessary? Elos tanks are rimless and non-euro braced. One of the LFS in my area has all rimless/non-euro braced tanks at their shop and none of them have any issues with warping or leakage. Seems it would depend on the size and build quality. For 220g, euro-bracing is probably a good idea.

 

[mnml]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15586619#post15586619 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewbeeReefer
How do you buy a lee mar tank? Can't buy direct?

I ordered the tank from a LFS, I don't think they deal direct.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Get starphire w/ eurobracing and go with an external overflow.

 

[NewbeeReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15588318#post15588318 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjk_reef00
Get starphire w/ eurobracing and go with an external overflow.

Just curious, why do you say go with an external overflow? I was planning on going with corner overflows.

 

[450reef]

def go external if ya can , it cleans the tank up so much and dont waste room

 

[450reef]

euro bracing and kind of glass are mostly astetics but a external overflow is not only better looking but it dont take up precious room inside of your tank, if your like me ya always end up running out of room for stuff and that extra couple sq inches really comes in handy(plus it looks way better . to sum it up if it were me id go starfire , euro braced and external. you;d be one happy reefer with that combo!!!

 

[NewbeeReefer]

By external, do you guys mean HOB?

Sorry, been out of the loop for a few years.

Anyway, I really want to be able to keep the tank flat against the wall. I don't want any plumbing visible from behind. Will I still be able to accomplish that?

 

[kaskiles]

You'll need at least 3 inches between the glass and wall, probably more, for all your VorTech's. But seriously, even Tunze powerheads have an electrical cable you'll want to run between the tank and wall...

 

[slant77]

what are some of tank builders you guys are using.