Starfire?

clugo · 09/05/2012, 02:53 PM

Starfire; gimmick or worth the extra money?

xray · 09/05/2012, 03:34 PM

I have owned a 125 with regular and now own a 150 with starfire. There is a visable diff. I prefer the starfire especially since it has come down quite a bit in price. Remember this is just my opinion and you know what they say about that.

dwolson2 · 09/05/2012, 03:45 PM

I've never owned a starfire, but whenever i see them, they always look really nice!

ipunchgoats · 09/05/2012, 04:38 PM

Starfire, or any low iron glass is certainly worth it IMO. The visual depth is so much clearer and accurate...if that makes sense.

goreef170 · 09/05/2012, 05:03 PM

I have starfire glass and I am happy with it. Find a place that sells aquariums, and they usually will have samples of reg. glass and star fire glass. Best way to see the difference. A lot less green tint in star fire. But have to be careful with it when cleaning, scratches easier.

bb · 09/05/2012, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goreef170

I have starfire glass and I am happy with it. Find a place that sells aquariums, and they usually will have samples of reg. glass and star fire glass. Best way to see the difference. A lot less green tint in star fire. But have to be careful with it when cleaning, scratches easier.

I'm all about Starfire, I asked two manufacturers when I was shopping for a custom tank and they both said the idea that it scratches easier is a mith.

Lead Is very soft, I find it odd that having less of it in your glass would make it easier to scratch? So I believe them.

rideelement247 · 09/05/2012, 08:42 PM

It is expensive, from what I hear. My pockets are too shallow, but if you have the $ go for it!

alton · 09/06/2012, 06:15 AM

I have a small tank here my office that is 10+ years old with starfire glass from Oceanic. I believe starfire is a trade name? I know that there are manufactures out there that make a softer glass that scratches easier because I have heard of people complaining. Mine has no scratches and I use a Kent Stainless steel scaper. The difference is when you take pictures!

goreef170 · 09/06/2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bb

I'm all about Starfire, I asked two manufacturers when I was shopping for a custom tank and they both said the idea that it scratches easier is a mith.

Lead Is very soft, I find it odd that having less of it in your glass would make it easier to scratch? So I believe them.

I have always heard that starfire glass scratches easier. I'm always very careful when I clean the glass. I Hope you are right !

kc350twin · 09/06/2012, 10:46 AM

I don't have it this go around. 1/2" glass and I don't miss it. Once it's lit it is tough to tell. I had a friend with 3/4" cube and it was hard to tell with it lit.
If I were building a tank I would consider it for sure.

Kc3

Tmoriarty · 09/06/2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bb

I'm all about Starfire, I asked two manufacturers when I was shopping for a custom tank and they both said the idea that it scratches easier is a mith.

Lead Is very soft, I find it odd that having less of it in your glass would make it easier to scratch? So I believe them.

Starphire glass is a brand, the glass it self is not low lead it is low iron glass. Iron is not soft it is quite hard, starphire glass or any other low iron glass does indeed scratch easier.

Allmost · 09/06/2012, 10:49 AM

worth every single penny.

Tmoriarty · 09/06/2012, 10:52 AM

And for what its worth, it makes enough of a difference that they use LIG in solar panels, and we are talking 1/8-1/4 inch glass. The LIG has a much greater light transmission ability, so using it on braces/etc helps put more light in the tank. Light also reflects twice off any side of your glass. So lighting from your above tank light will reflect off the inside surface of the glass and the outside surface. What this means is even at 1/2 you will get better light transmission from reflection using LIG then you will using standard glass.

rovster · 09/06/2012, 10:56 AM

I just picked up my tank and it was made with high clarity (Diamant) glass. I asked the builder about the whle scratches easier thing, and he said it was a myth. He did say that possibly because its so much clearer, that the scratches were more noticable? Sounds like an interesting take on it. I have not set it up yet, but for me based on the reviews it was worth it. Also keep in mind it makes a bigger difference the thicker the glass gets. With 3/4" glass, its very noticable. With 1/2" (my case), its noticable, but not as much. Considering how much I was spending on equipment, a few hundred bucks extra for clearer glass was a no brainer for me.

Tmoriarty · 09/06/2012, 11:14 AM

LIG is in genral more susceptiple to scratches, although the realistic difference is not enough to matter. They are both susceptiple to scratchs and the optical clarity of LIG makes scratchs more obvious. In general the Hardness of LIG is around 480, the hardness of standard sodalime glass is closer to 585+-20.

09/05/2012, 02:53 PM	#1
clugo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 537	Starfire? Starfire; gimmick or worth the extra money?

09/05/2012, 03:45 PM	#3
dwolson2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rockledge Fl Posts: 1,348	I've never owned a starfire, but whenever i see them, they always look really nice! __________________ 220 w/75 sump. 2 Kessil AP700s, 2- MP60, 2- MP40, 1-MP10(in sump/frag tank), Waveline DC 10000, Reef Octopus elite INT220, Radion G1(over sump/frag tank), Apex Wifi with a few extras Current Tank Info: 220 in progress

09/05/2012, 05:03 PM	#5
goreef170 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Rancho Belago, Calif. Posts: 735	I have starfire glass and I am happy with it. Find a place that sells aquariums, and they usually will have samples of reg. glass and star fire glass. Best way to see the difference. A lot less green tint in star fire. But have to be careful with it when cleaning, scratches easier. __________________ 250 gallon Advanced Acrylic, 103 gal sump, MTC - MVX 34" Skimmer, with Jebao DCT 12,000, 4-Kessil 360 we, 2-MP40 QD. 57W. Aqua UV, 1/4 Arctica chiller, 3 dosing pumps,phos, charcoal reactors

09/06/2012, 10:46 AM	#10
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	I don't have it this go around. 1/2" glass and I don't miss it. Once it's lit it is tough to tell. I had a friend with 3/4" cube and it was hard to tell with it lit. If I were building a tank I would consider it for sure. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

09/06/2012, 10:52 AM	#13
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	And for what its worth, it makes enough of a difference that they use LIG in solar panels, and we are talking 1/8-1/4 inch glass. The LIG has a much greater light transmission ability, so using it on braces/etc helps put more light in the tank. Light also reflects twice off any side of your glass. So lighting from your above tank light will reflect off the inside surface of the glass and the outside surface. What this means is even at 1/2 you will get better light transmission from reflection using LIG then you will using standard glass. __________________ Tyler Current Tank Info: Tanks: 203g custom, Mixed Reef, SRO-3000, Vortech-Powered (x2 MP40) 75g sump with 15g Fuge section

09/05/2012, 03:34 PM	#2
xray Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Titusville, Fl Posts: 66	I have owned a 125 with regular and now own a 150 with starfire. There is a visable diff. I prefer the starfire especially since it has come down quite a bit in price. Remember this is just my opinion and you know what they say about that.

09/05/2012, 04:38 PM	#4
ipunchgoats Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: stuck in ohio Posts: 16	Starfire, or any low iron glass is certainly worth it IMO. The visual depth is so much clearer and accurate...if that makes sense.

09/05/2012, 08:42 PM	#7
rideelement247 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 117	It is expensive, from what I hear. My pockets are too shallow, but if you have the $ go for it!

09/06/2012, 06:15 AM	#8
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I have a small tank here my office that is 10+ years old with starfire glass from Oceanic. I believe starfire is a trade name? I know that there are manufactures out there that make a softer glass that scratches easier because I have heard of people complaining. Mine has no scratches and I use a Kent Stainless steel scaper. The difference is when you take pictures!

09/06/2012, 10:49 AM	#12
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	worth every single penny.

09/06/2012, 10:56 AM	#14
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	I just picked up my tank and it was made with high clarity (Diamant) glass. I asked the builder about the whle scratches easier thing, and he said it was a myth. He did say that possibly because its so much clearer, that the scratches were more noticable? Sounds like an interesting take on it. I have not set it up yet, but for me based on the reviews it was worth it. Also keep in mind it makes a bigger difference the thicker the glass gets. With 3/4" glass, its very noticable. With 1/2" (my case), its noticable, but not as much. Considering how much I was spending on equipment, a few hundred bucks extra for clearer glass was a no brainer for me.

09/06/2012, 11:14 AM	#15
Tmoriarty Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 1,040	LIG is in genral more susceptiple to scratches, although the realistic difference is not enough to matter. They are both susceptiple to scratchs and the optical clarity of LIG makes scratchs more obvious. In general the Hardness of LIG is around 480, the hardness of standard sodalime glass is closer to 585+-20. __________________ Tyler Current Tank Info: Tanks: 203g custom, Mixed Reef, SRO-3000, Vortech-Powered (x2 MP40) 75g sump with 15g Fuge section