Low Iron glass is it worth the extra $$

reeftank250 · 02/18/2009, 08:24 PM

I'm going to be having a tank made and was considering using low iron glass on the viewable sides. If anyone has any experience with it is it worth the extra $$?

geno7 · 02/18/2009, 08:31 PM

I don't have the low iron glass, but I have seen a comparison. Someone posted a photo of standard glass and the starfire on top of a newspaper. The low iron was a remarkable difference. If I ever get a custom tank it will have the low iron.....

Maybe someone can chime in and point you to that photo.

Hop · 02/18/2009, 08:32 PM

Depends on how thick the glass is... Anything thicker than 1/2" the difference is quite noticeable. Anything less and IME it's not worth the extra $$

mflamb · 02/18/2009, 08:36 PM

I didn't have it on the 390, but I do on the 300. The difference is amazing.

xJake · 02/18/2009, 08:46 PM

I agree with Hop, but I still prefer acrylic, over using glass, for large tanks.

Plato · 02/18/2009, 10:45 PM

Yes definatly wort the cost. This is my newly set up 335, 72x30x36. It has starphire front and sides. I don't have a close up of the side of the glass. It is ice blue on the front and the back is dark gree, major difference. This tank is PPG starphire 19mm on all sides by Concept Aquariums.

reeftank250 · 02/18/2009, 11:25 PM

I have seen some pics of the two different glasses next to each other and the starphire does look so much more clear.

BTW Plato I love the tank!!

I'm going with a tanks that is either 36" or 48" square and will only need the low iron glass on 2 sides as the tank is going in the corner of the room. It will also be rimless what depth should I go with 16" or 24"?

Discustopia · 02/18/2009, 11:45 PM

No less than 24" on the height unless the surface can be kept perfectly smooth and uncovered to look down into. Especially if you have any sand at all. For a lookdown tank 16" is fine.
I too have Starphire and can't imagine going back to a green glass tank if it's 1/2" or thicker

james3370 · 02/19/2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by geno7
I don't have the low iron glass, but I have seen a comparison. Someone posted a photo of standard glass and the starfire on top of a newspaper. The low iron was a remarkable difference. If I ever get a custom tank it will have the low iron.....

Maybe someone can chime in and point you to that photo.

here's a ccomparison photo from glasscages.com

just dave · 02/19/2009, 01:20 AM

If you want it it's worth it. I've seen them both ways but I've never looked into one without it and thought that the tank looked bad because it didn't have it. So for me the answer would be "No, it's not worth it."

68sting · 02/19/2009, 02:18 AM

I looked at it this way. I'm buying a 10000 dollar peice of art . If the guy at the gallery said for another $500 you could see the picture better it would be a no brainer.

Plato · 02/19/2009, 06:39 AM

68sting, well done.

mordibv · 02/19/2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Plato
Yes definatly wort the cost. This is my newly set up 335, 72x30x36. It has starphire front and sides. I don't have a close up of the side of the glass. It is ice blue on the front and the back is dark gree, major difference. This tank is PPG starphire 19mm on all sides by Concept Aquariums.

Nice tank . Get ur new skimmer yet ?

Plato · 02/19/2009, 08:52 AM

I have an Orca 250, but I am going to use it on another tank, I think I will use on of the I-Tech cone skimmers on this one, 400

reeftank250 · 02/19/2009, 10:49 AM

O.K. I'm going with the starphire glass. The tank will be used as a look down as well as a front and side view.

Discustopia said a 16" tall does anyone else have a 16" tall or should I just go with a 24" tall?

02/18/2009, 08:24 PM	#1
reeftank250 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 88	Low Iron glass is it worth the extra $$ I'm going to be having a tank made and was considering using low iron glass on the viewable sides. If anyone has any experience with it is it worth the extra $$?

02/18/2009, 08:31 PM	#2
geno7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Heart of Dixie Posts: 243	I don't have the low iron glass, but I have seen a comparison. Someone posted a photo of standard glass and the starfire on top of a newspaper. The low iron was a remarkable difference. If I ever get a custom tank it will have the low iron..... Maybe someone can chime in and point you to that photo. __________________ Geno

02/18/2009, 08:32 PM	#3
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Depends on how thick the glass is... Anything thicker than 1/2" the difference is quite noticeable. Anything less and IME it's not worth the extra $$ __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

02/18/2009, 08:36 PM	#4
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	I didn't have it on the 390, but I do on the 300. The difference is amazing. __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

02/18/2009, 10:45 PM	#6
Plato Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 638	Yes definatly wort the cost. This is my newly set up 335, 72x30x36. It has starphire front and sides. I don't have a close up of the side of the glass. It is ice blue on the front and the back is dark gree, major difference. This tank is PPG starphire 19mm on all sides by Concept Aquariums. __________________ Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them,"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Current Tank Info: 275 starphire, 3 x 400 watt MH + 4 x 80 watt T5's, 2 x MP 60 + 2 x MP 40, Orca 250 skimmer, CADS filter head (SeaVisions), ProCal Ca reactor, GHL controlled.

02/18/2009, 08:46 PM	#5
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	I agree with Hop, but I still prefer acrylic, over using glass, for large tanks.

02/18/2009, 11:25 PM	#7
reeftank250 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 88	I have seen some pics of the two different glasses next to each other and the starphire does look so much more clear. BTW Plato I love the tank!! I'm going with a tanks that is either 36" or 48" square and will only need the low iron glass on 2 sides as the tank is going in the corner of the room. It will also be rimless what depth should I go with 16" or 24"?

02/18/2009, 11:45 PM	#8
Discustopia Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, ON Canada Posts: 186	No less than 24" on the height unless the surface can be kept perfectly smooth and uncovered to look down into. Especially if you have any sand at all. For a lookdown tank 16" is fine. I too have Starphire and can't imagine going back to a green glass tank if it's 1/2" or thicker

02/19/2009, 01:20 AM	#10
just dave 11th in '11 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 4,394	If you want it it's worth it. I've seen them both ways but I've never looked into one without it and thought that the tank looked bad because it didn't have it. So for me the answer would be "No, it's not worth it."

02/19/2009, 02:18 AM	#11
68sting Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 386	I looked at it this way. I'm buying a 10000 dollar peice of art . If the guy at the gallery said for another $500 you could see the picture better it would be a no brainer.

02/19/2009, 06:39 AM	#12
Plato Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 638	68sting, well done. __________________ Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them,"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Current Tank Info: 275 starphire, 3 x 400 watt MH + 4 x 80 watt T5's, 2 x MP 60 + 2 x MP 40, Orca 250 skimmer, CADS filter head (SeaVisions), ProCal Ca reactor, GHL controlled.

02/19/2009, 08:52 AM	#14
Plato Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NC Posts: 638	I have an Orca 250, but I am going to use it on another tank, I think I will use on of the I-Tech cone skimmers on this one, 400 __________________ Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them,"Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Current Tank Info: 275 starphire, 3 x 400 watt MH + 4 x 80 watt T5's, 2 x MP 60 + 2 x MP 40, Orca 250 skimmer, CADS filter head (SeaVisions), ProCal Ca reactor, GHL controlled.

02/19/2009, 10:49 AM	#15
reeftank250 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 88	O.K. I'm going with the starphire glass. The tank will be used as a look down as well as a front and side view. Discustopia said a 16" tall does anyone else have a 16" tall or should I just go with a 24" tall?