Starphire Glass vs. Traditional Glass

House_64 · 03/15/2010, 10:47 PM

I'm doing some searching for my new reef tank and have stumbled cross some tanks. I'd like to make sure it is what they advertise it as. How can you tell the difference between Starphire Glass and your traditional Glass aquariums? Other than the honesty of the seller, with the lights off (or tank not established) how can you tell the difference? Thanks.

Eric the half-bee · 03/15/2010, 10:57 PM

The iron content is much lower. I have "starphire" front pane on my in wall 400 gal and there is absolutely no blue/green tint hue that I can see. It is pricey but worth the $ IMO.

House_64 · 03/15/2010, 11:10 PM

Thanks Eric.... however can you tell with the naked eye that the blue/green hue isn't there or is it minor?

Reason is I call a guy and asked if his "LeeMar" tank is Starphire... he originally said he wasn't sure then switched his mind to "Yea, I think it is...". So now I don't know what to believe. Does LeeMar make tanks that are not Starphire?

looney662 · 03/15/2010, 11:14 PM

Starphire glass is a low iron glass that provides a clearer view of colors than regular aquariums.

Regular Glass (Left) vs Starphire (Right)

http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=58

Reefbox · 03/15/2010, 11:25 PM

Look through the pane edges of starphire. Its clear.

Regular is not.

Real ez to tell.

Homeytwist · 03/15/2010, 11:56 PM

Yup, what Reefbox said. Check from the edges, it will look clear instead of green to black. Also, most tanks usually only use starphire on the front panel, or maybe the front three. Those panels will be thicker than the back panel; starphire glass is not as strong as regular glass (lower iron content, also easier to scratch) and requires a thicker pane of glass for equal strength.

Mounda · 03/16/2010, 02:21 AM

You need to put 2 pieces of glass together to tell the difference, obviously the thicker the glass the more visible the green tint of the glass. I just ordered the glass for my tank and I'm going with a starphire front panel just to see what it's like, the tank is visible from the sides too but I thought I'd experiement. The front display sheet cost more than all of the other sheets combined, it was 3.5x the price of normal float glass.

danielsbees · 03/16/2010, 04:53 AM

I f you look down the side of the and isn't foggy and its not got a green tint to it its starfire but if its kind of foggy and has a green tint to it its not starfire.

House_64 · 03/16/2010, 11:47 AM

Very valuable info. guys...... thank you! I've gotten quotes for a new tank and for a 36"x20" front panel upgrade to Starphire it's running $79-$120 more for the front panel upgrade!

SuperNemo · 03/16/2010, 02:02 PM

you should do it, the upgrade to starphire is amazing. i can notice the greenish tint on 1/2 glass, although not really noticable, but once you learn about the difference it just bugs you not to have upgraded when you get a chance.

brycerb · 03/16/2010, 04:08 PM

In a smaller tank the greenish tint is less noticable due to the glass being thinner. In my 225g, you can really see the green tint. Of coarse even if I was to do it over again I wouldn't have gotten starfire as my tank was a craigslist steal.

to each their own.

03/15/2010, 10:47 PM	#1
House_64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 155	Starphire Glass vs. Traditional Glass I'm doing some searching for my new reef tank and have stumbled cross some tanks. I'd like to make sure it is what they advertise it as. How can you tell the difference between Starphire Glass and your traditional Glass aquariums? Other than the honesty of the seller, with the lights off (or tank not established) how can you tell the difference? Thanks.

03/15/2010, 10:57 PM	#2
Eric the half-bee Passer of gasses Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Space Coast, FL Posts: 837	The iron content is much lower. I have "starphire" front pane on my in wall 400 gal and there is absolutely no blue/green tint hue that I can see. It is pricey but worth the $ IMO. __________________ MOLON LABE - King Leonidas I A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. – Barry Goldwater Current Tank Info: Semi agressive reef-400 gal.-8 tangs,2 rabbit fish,zebra moray,blue ribbon eel,Janss' pipe,pair bangaiis,wrasse,tomato clown,maroon clown

03/15/2010, 11:25 PM	#5
Reefbox Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,045	Look through the pane edges of starphire. Its clear. Regular is not. Real ez to tell. __________________ Jason

03/16/2010, 04:08 PM	#11
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	In a smaller tank the greenish tint is less noticable due to the glass being thinner. In my 225g, you can really see the green tint. Of coarse even if I was to do it over again I wouldn't have gotten starfire as my tank was a craigslist steal. to each their own. __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

03/15/2010, 11:10 PM	#3
House_64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 155	Thanks Eric.... however can you tell with the naked eye that the blue/green hue isn't there or is it minor? Reason is I call a guy and asked if his "LeeMar" tank is Starphire... he originally said he wasn't sure then switched his mind to "Yea, I think it is...". So now I don't know what to believe. Does LeeMar make tanks that are not Starphire?

03/15/2010, 11:14 PM	#4
looney662 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Westminster, CA Posts: 76	Starphire glass is a low iron glass that provides a clearer view of colors than regular aquariums. Regular Glass (Left) vs Starphire (Right) http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=58

03/15/2010, 11:56 PM	#6
Homeytwist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 232	Yup, what Reefbox said. Check from the edges, it will look clear instead of green to black. Also, most tanks usually only use starphire on the front panel, or maybe the front three. Those panels will be thicker than the back panel; starphire glass is not as strong as regular glass (lower iron content, also easier to scratch) and requires a thicker pane of glass for equal strength.

03/16/2010, 02:21 AM	#7
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	You need to put 2 pieces of glass together to tell the difference, obviously the thicker the glass the more visible the green tint of the glass. I just ordered the glass for my tank and I'm going with a starphire front panel just to see what it's like, the tank is visible from the sides too but I thought I'd experiement. The front display sheet cost more than all of the other sheets combined, it was 3.5x the price of normal float glass.

03/16/2010, 04:53 AM	#8
danielsbees Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 49	I f you look down the side of the and isn't foggy and its not got a green tint to it its starfire but if its kind of foggy and has a green tint to it its not starfire.

03/16/2010, 11:47 AM	#9
House_64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 155	Very valuable info. guys...... thank you! I've gotten quotes for a new tank and for a 36"x20" front panel upgrade to Starphire it's running $79-$120 more for the front panel upgrade!

03/16/2010, 02:02 PM	#10
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	you should do it, the upgrade to starphire is amazing. i can notice the greenish tint on 1/2 glass, although not really noticable, but once you learn about the difference it just bugs you not to have upgraded when you get a chance.