Starphire or not Starfire on a Large Rimless???

[jmarko]

I am considering having a large rimless tank made 96 x 30 wide x 24 high (maybe 18 high).

Is starphire worth the money? the tank will be made out of 3/4 glass ??

how about care I hear starphire scratches easier then lead glass??

Those with starphire are you happy? how thick is your glass? wish you did it different?

 

[chrissreef]

Is starphire worth the money? yes
the tank will be made out of 3/4 glass ?? - then for SURE yes... but 3/4 starphire is EXpENSIVE

scratches easier then lead glass?? myth

Those with starphire are you happy? thrilled
how thick is your glass? 1/2"
wish you did it different? nope...

i will say budget wisely... don't want to spend all the $$ on your tank but if your budget is big, go for it! =)

 

[nyvp]

using starfire doesnt change anything as of thickness or durabilty. Yes any panel thats viewable I would use starfire with out a question.

 

[Jim_S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13161884#post13161884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nyvp
using starfire doesnt change anything as of thickness or durabilty. Yes any panel thats viewable I would use starfire with out a question.

I've read differently

When you remove the iron from glass it gets weaker. Thats just how it works...... If you were to add iron it would get stronger right?

Oh yeah, to answer the question, low iron or standard glass?

Low iron/starfire all day baby

 

[ReefingBuddha]

starfire, definitely.

 

[Jflip2002]

Starfire.... But it does infact scratch easier than normal glass. Like said earlier, I wouldnt break the bank on the glass, but if you can afford it, I would. Do it right the first time...

 

[chrissreef]

in my opinion if budget is an issue...

get eurobrace 1/2" starphire instead of 3/4" regular glass rimless

 

[Nanook]

Once you have water in the tank the clearness of starphire to regular float glass is negligible. I would not waste my money on it.

 

[jmarko]

Hi Guys and thanks for the input.

The starfire upgrade is about $700 (front, back and one side) Its not so much budget is the issue, I dont want to waste money like anyone but what I really dont want is to scratch the tank to easily or i would buy acrylic.

do you feel starfire is closer to acrylic or to lead glass in ease of scratching it?


Thanks for your help locally I have not seen a tank with both types of glass setup where i can compare them. i have seen both empty but that is not a huge help.




chrisreef - Thanks for the opinion I am also considering euro brace with two crosses it would also be about $1000 less then the rimless and I feel would be much better for jumping fish but I love the rimless look and and have a whole open top plan with solar tubes / dimable T5 and LED's in a floating light bridge

JimS I agree that is also what I have read and concerns me. do you have a starfire tank and have you had any scratch issues at all

Thirschann you seem very sure could you elaborate on your reasons please

JFlip2002 how much easyier flip do you have a starfire tank?



So anyone with starfire wish they had skipped it and saved the cash/


or


anyone with new custom tank made with lead glass and kicking yourself over it?


Thanks again everyone

 

[Nanook]

I have 96x30x30 and 60x60x30 tanks with 3/4 glass and they look clear and I have 20/20 vision

 

[Kent E]

I've had low iron and now "green glass". I'll never go low iron again. It scratches easier (but I wouldn't say it scratches easy). It's just overall not worth it in my opinion.

How much do we spend to get a blue color? how much do we spend to not get a slight green hue? I figured why not meet somewhere in the middle. I'm happy.

 

[reef / aholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13164534#post13164534 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmarko
The starfire upgrade is about $700 (front, back and one side) Its not so much budget is the issue

Who is building your tank 96" x 30" x 24" that starfire glass for the front, back and one side is only $700.00 (CG). By the way starfire is a ppg trade name and if your builder was using real ppg starfire glass in 3/4", you would be looking at $55.00 sq'. You might be able to use opticlear glass which is basically transition glass for the $700.00 upgade.

 

[chrissreef]

1/2" glass the difference is minimal once filled with water. 3/4" the difference is "clear" =)

 

[GUILLO1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13164426#post13164426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook
Once you have water in the tank the clearness of starphire to regular float glass is negligible. I would not waste my money on it.

so your saying there is not much difference when its filled with water. I've seen the side by side glass comparisons but never with water. Any one have pictures of tanks side by side, one with starphire and the other with out?

 

[reef / aholic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13194091#post13194091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GUILLO1
Any one have pictures of tanks side by side, one with starphire and the other with out?

 

[jmarko]

Thanks a lot for every ones input. I am having a really hard time deciding this one.

seems most people (Reef, chris Jflip, thurs and Jim)say go with starfire but i don't see allot of really solid reasons backing it up. it does look great in photos. I wish i could see a 3/4 regular glass and starfire tank in person with water in it. anyone in tampa general area have one happen to read this and has time for a vistor please speak up. Reef you photo is good but whats the difference like when there water in it can you show a photo through each pane with the water possibly?

Nanook and Kent both seem to be saying stick with regular glass and they both seem to have had both and have gone back to the Regular Glass. that says allot and its not like they have cheap little tanks and they easily could have gone with starfire if they wanted on there new builds.


See what I mean I just cant decide usually I know just what I want.
At this point it has nothing to do with money. my main concern is if I get the regular leaded glass and always wonder how much clearer it could have looked with starfire or I will get the starfire and scratch it a few times and in in two years I will be like I should have gone with the leaded glass so it wasn't so dam easy to scratch.

Thanks again and please keep posting those comments photos ideas ect...

 

[eisaiasjr]

In the process of going large and rimless

In the process of going large and rimless

Hello:

I am also in the process of going really large (~1000) and rimless, my tank will also require 3/4 inch glass... after looking at the samples between the 2 different types of glasses I can tell you that the biggest difference for me what the tint that each glass gives out in comparison to the other.

Generally standard glass will give out a greenish tint while low iron glass will give out a blue tint, if you had a thin layer of glass it would be less noticeble however when you are talking about 3/4 inch it becomes more apparent.

The thing that made me decide with low iron was exactly that, I didnt want to look at the top of the tank and see a green tint on my glass, I think that if it was not a rimless tank it would be alot less obvious (even though you can definetly tell the difference) and I may have had a harder time choosing which glass to go with, but for me: rimless... low iron was a no brainer.

$700 might sound like alot of money, however if you think about how much the tank is going to cost you after everything is said and done, $700 is going to look like peanuts.

Regards,

Estefano