Starphire Glass... Is it worth it?

MightyNano · 12/01/2008, 08:29 PM

Can you really tell a differance? does anyone have any pic's of their tanks with and wo starphire?

TheMcs · 12/01/2008, 08:47 PM

The only difference I've seen is when viewing close up at an angle. Float glass is distorted, starphire is still fairly clear. Head on there's not much difference to see. I've never owned starphire, only looked through a few dozen. Maybe some owners of both types of glass will pitch in.

blakeorme · 12/01/2008, 09:01 PM

The biggest difference I noticed was when looked length way through the glass. On regular glass its almost too dark to see through a 4ft. tank, with starphire you can see all the ay through very easily. Obviously, this is an exaggerated test, but it does show you how clear the glass is.

TheH · 12/01/2008, 09:42 PM

It depends on how thick the glass is. I've heard that the difference becomes very clear around the 0.5" mark.

whosjohnny · 12/01/2008, 09:55 PM

Starphire prices has just skyrocketed recently due to demand. However, I not going to jump on to the bandwagon until a couple of years down the road. I personally think, the bigger deal is going to be how well you clean your glass on a regular basis and your maintenance and patience in good husbandry.

Starphire is just another technology that just makes you want to spend more -- yes, it's more clear and I would only order it with rimless top. =P Again, I didn't buy into it and order my 120" tank with regular glass. All the money I saved is going toward getting frags and more coral colonization. Maybe when I build my 600G or 1000G in the big mansion, I'll consider Starphire. =)

Mark426 · 12/01/2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheH
It depends on how thick the glass is. I've heard that the difference becomes very clear around the 0.5" mark.

Thats right...until you get near .5 inches...its a waste of cash.

rdelong · 12/01/2008, 10:32 PM

I believe the biggest difference is the color rendering of particularly clams is different. Look at different things through the glass and then down through the water and you'll get a feel for the difference between the two glass types. Obviously looking down through the water simulates the look of Starphire glass. I considered it for my NEO 185 (3/4" Glass) and quickly got over it when I heard the price difference.

Red Firefish · 12/02/2008, 01:41 AM

As I understand it, starfire glass scratches a lot more easily too. I initially chose a glass tank because I didn't want to scratch an acrylic one! And unless they're side by side, I've never been able to notice a difference in clarity between a standard glass tank and an acrylic or starfire one- with all the light we blast into our reefs, the last thing I'm thinking about is the color of the aquarium panel.

mdt178 · 12/02/2008, 10:03 AM

Here's a picture from AGE website. Regular on the left, Starphire on the right.

WhatIgot · 12/02/2008, 02:40 PM

pics are pretty dependent on a lot of things to show a true difference.
If there were two pics taken under the exact same lighting at the exact same angle and distance, it might be a good basis for comparison.

Never had starphire, the only reason i would would be so that I could tell my non reefing friends because it just sounds so cool.

Starphire..

DT's_Reef · 12/02/2008, 02:58 PM

I've owned both and prefer starphire, especially for a rimless tank. Is there a *big* difference? Not really.

Probably the easiest way for me to describe the difference is that everything just looks more "crisp".

If the cost won't kill ya then I'd go for it. You don't have to have all sides starphire, just the viewable ones.

xtopher_vw · 12/02/2008, 03:25 PM

I just got a tank built with starphire on the front and the difference is HUGE. I dunno if it's just me but I have viewed the same stack of rocks that is the same distance from the front and side glass and I can sure tell the difference. The rock on the starphire side has a very vibrant colour and the float side is quite drab in comparison. well worth the extra $70 IMO

whosjohnny · 12/02/2008, 10:02 PM

Mine will cost more than $70 because it's a 10 foot long glass.

Slakker · 12/02/2008, 10:11 PM

I don't know if starphire is safe over spans that long...might wanna check that out.

whosjohnny · 12/05/2008, 10:07 AM

mdt178, that picture looks totally like "marketing" to me =P

DT's_Reef · 12/05/2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by whosjohnny
mdt178, that picture looks totally like "marketing" to me =P

Agree, but the truth's the truth.

I did a similar comparison when I got my first starphire tank....and it looked the same as that picture. Should be expected considering glass is normally "green".

Just buy the dang tank!

12/01/2008, 08:29 PM	#1
MightyNano Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pelham AL Posts: 7	Starphire Glass... Is it worth it? Can you really tell a differance? does anyone have any pic's of their tanks with and wo starphire?

12/01/2008, 08:47 PM	#2
TheMcs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,272	The only difference I've seen is when viewing close up at an angle. Float glass is distorted, starphire is still fairly clear. Head on there's not much difference to see. I've never owned starphire, only looked through a few dozen. Maybe some owners of both types of glass will pitch in. __________________ Evaporation and top off don't count as water changes... Current Tank Info: 185g Deep Sea display, 2x 40g frag tanks, 90g fuge, 60g sump (400+ gal system)

12/01/2008, 09:55 PM	#5
whosjohnny Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 599	Starphire prices has just skyrocketed recently due to demand. However, I not going to jump on to the bandwagon until a couple of years down the road. I personally think, the bigger deal is going to be how well you clean your glass on a regular basis and your maintenance and patience in good husbandry. Starphire is just another technology that just makes you want to spend more -- yes, it's more clear and I would only order it with rimless top. =P Again, I didn't buy into it and order my 120" tank with regular glass. All the money I saved is going toward getting frags and more coral colonization. Maybe when I build my 600G or 1000G in the big mansion, I'll consider Starphire. =) __________________ I wish I could live 1,000 years and get 1,000 PhDs. I have an infinite appetite to understand life. Current Tank Info: 300G glass 10 foot x 2' x2', 9 foot sump w/ 3' fug 4' frag, EuroReef CS12-2, Geo Reactor 624 30", 2x 250W DE MH, 3x 150W DE MH, RKE, 135G FOWLR w/ 50G sump ASM-G3, 50G QT w/15G sump, 12G Nano, 60G turtles.

12/02/2008, 02:40 PM	#10
WhatIgot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Coquitlam (Vancouver) Posts: 61	pics are pretty dependent on a lot of things to show a true difference. If there were two pics taken under the exact same lighting at the exact same angle and distance, it might be a good basis for comparison. Never had starphire, the only reason i would would be so that I could tell my non reefing friends because it just sounds so cool. Starphire.. __________________ Happily Ever NOW! Current Tank Info: 95 display mixed reef w. 60 sump, 2 gal 'fuge. AP12 70w HQI mixed reef, 100 2X400w Frag Tank

12/02/2008, 02:58 PM	#11
DT's_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 3,083	I've owned both and prefer starphire, especially for a rimless tank. Is there a big difference? Not really. Probably the easiest way for me to describe the difference is that everything just looks more "crisp". If the cost won't kill ya then I'd go for it. You don't have to have all sides starphire, just the viewable ones. __________________ 85g starphire system, 38"x26"x20", 250w Radium SE + Galaxy Ballast + Lumenmax Elite reflector, Tunze Nano Wave Box, 2 Tunze Nano Streams, Profilux dosing system (2-part + vodka), ATB 840 Skimmer, Eheim 1262 return pump.

12/01/2008, 09:01 PM	#3
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	The biggest difference I noticed was when looked length way through the glass. On regular glass its almost too dark to see through a 4ft. tank, with starphire you can see all the ay through very easily. Obviously, this is an exaggerated test, but it does show you how clear the glass is.

12/01/2008, 09:42 PM	#4
TheH Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,278	It depends on how thick the glass is. I've heard that the difference becomes very clear around the 0.5" mark.

12/01/2008, 10:32 PM	#7
rdelong Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cranberry Township, PA Posts: 263	I believe the biggest difference is the color rendering of particularly clams is different. Look at different things through the glass and then down through the water and you'll get a feel for the difference between the two glass types. Obviously looking down through the water simulates the look of Starphire glass. I considered it for my NEO 185 (3/4" Glass) and quickly got over it when I heard the price difference.

12/02/2008, 01:41 AM	#8
Red Firefish Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 64	As I understand it, starfire glass scratches a lot more easily too. I initially chose a glass tank because I didn't want to scratch an acrylic one! And unless they're side by side, I've never been able to notice a difference in clarity between a standard glass tank and an acrylic or starfire one- with all the light we blast into our reefs, the last thing I'm thinking about is the color of the aquarium panel.

12/02/2008, 10:03 AM	#9
mdt178 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 655	Here's a picture from AGE website. Regular on the left, Starphire on the right.

12/02/2008, 03:25 PM	#12
xtopher_vw Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 195	I just got a tank built with starphire on the front and the difference is HUGE. I dunno if it's just me but I have viewed the same stack of rocks that is the same distance from the front and side glass and I can sure tell the difference. The rock on the starphire side has a very vibrant colour and the float side is quite drab in comparison. well worth the extra $70 IMO

12/02/2008, 10:02 PM	#13
whosjohnny Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 599	Mine will cost more than $70 because it's a 10 foot long glass. __________________ I wish I could live 1,000 years and get 1,000 PhDs. I have an infinite appetite to understand life. Current Tank Info: 300G glass 10 foot x 2' x2', 9 foot sump w/ 3' fug 4' frag, EuroReef CS12-2, Geo Reactor 624 30", 2x 250W DE MH, 3x 150W DE MH, RKE, 135G FOWLR w/ 50G sump ASM-G3, 50G QT w/15G sump, 12G Nano, 60G turtles.

12/02/2008, 10:11 PM	#14
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I don't know if starphire is safe over spans that long...might wanna check that out. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

12/05/2008, 10:07 AM	#15
whosjohnny Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 599	mdt178, that picture looks totally like "marketing" to me =P __________________ I wish I could live 1,000 years and get 1,000 PhDs. I have an infinite appetite to understand life. Current Tank Info: 300G glass 10 foot x 2' x2', 9 foot sump w/ 3' fug 4' frag, EuroReef CS12-2, Geo Reactor 624 30", 2x 250W DE MH, 3x 150W DE MH, RKE, 135G FOWLR w/ 50G sump ASM-G3, 50G QT w/15G sump, 12G Nano, 60G turtles.