Starphire, 30" tank
 

I will be ordering a 30" tank in August, but am now faced with the fact starphire glass only comes as 1/2". The tank size is 84" X 30" X 30" and am told it has to be 5/8". The only question I would have is would full eurobracing allow the tank to be made of 1/2"

I didn't bother getting eurobracing quoted, as the glass in the miiddle isn't a huge concern. The rockwork (and eventually corals) will be on either side of the top glass.

I checked into an acrylic, Tenecor wants 4K for a tank that size, and there aren't any wholesalers around. Besides, I don't know how much open space on the top a tank like that in acrylic would have either-and scratches easy (er)

The 30" tank I already have is reg. glass and doesn't look too bad w/MH on it. Is the difference to starphire worth it anyway?

If anyone has any input, that would be great, I don't want to regret a purchase like this later, thinking "I wish..."

Thanks
Rob

no matter what kinda glass you use at 30" 5/8th is the min I would go and I would be tempted to go to 3/4 even, I see your problem as star-fire only comes up to 1/2" but I don't think the risk is worth it. maybe if you go to a laminated star-fire you can go brace-less.

there is a difference in the look of star-fire against regular glass and the thicker the glass the more the difference, but I think on a tank like we use (bluish lighting) that it is a mute point as out lighting seams to cancel out the green tint. If I was doing a fresh water that size with only day light lighting then yes I would go star-fire to remove the green tint.


Steve

On the site here, "Emp" has a 300 gal, saphire tank, and he told me all the glass is 5/8. I might have heard him wrong but I'm pretty sure. Drop him a line
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=7

Look 3/4 down the page

Thanks for the link! I guess maybe you can get 5/8" starphire glass then? :biggrin:

ya you always have been able to, as well as 3/4 and 1", for 5/8th they lamanate 3/8 and 1/4 togeather, for 3/4 they lamanate 1/2" and 1/4" togeather and for 1" they lamanate two 1/2" sheets togeather. but it is mucho expensive as you pay for two chunks of glass pluss the lamanation process. now that was as of abou 8 months ago, maybe now they can get larger than 1/2" but I wouldn't bet on it.

Steve

Hmmm. I was afraid of that $$$

I have a feeling I will be settling for reg. glass-

It would be nice to have starphire, but I can get used to the greener look too I guess.
Thanks for your help!
Rob

Again you sould ask Emp, but his 300g tank cost him around $2300, to have it built in his house, with both side starphire 8x30x30 I believe. Seems like a good price to me, and especially, having it built in your home.

You are right, $2300 is a good price for sure. Are you by chance certain on the dimensions? Not a really big deal, but that seems like a 375 to me, which would be even better! :biggrin:

I will pm. him. Just not sure if they will come out to Blackfalds for that kind of money!

Thanks
Rob

Sorry, after checking it was 96x24x30

24" high, or 24" deep? That's the prob. for me, anything over 24" high needs min. 5/8"

Anyway, I pm.ed him, hafta wait and see.

Thanks for your help, too!

Rob