Is starfire worth it in 1/2"?

[lastlight]

This is slightly urgent because I'd like to pull the trigger on a tank build later tonight =)

It's a 225 gallon (72x30x24) in 1/2".

I don't think I can get a yes from the wife today if I want the front and 1 side in starfire due to costs but I have the go-ahead for the tank all in regular.

I was talked out of starfire on my first tank which was all 3/8" and things looked great to me to be honest.

What do people with experience with both think? In 1/2" is it really worth it once there is water in the tank and a whole lot of light blasting into it?

Brett

[Delphinus]

It's a judgment call but honestly I would go with it on 1/2". I'm kind of with you on thinking that 3/8" glass probably doesn't make a difference, but 1/2" is sort of on that threshold. Glass just isn't as clear as acrylic overall, so going with low-iron glass does help compensate some. I went with low-iron on the front and sides of my 280 which is using 1/2" (they tempered the front glass because they didn't want to use 1/2" on a 280g - they would have preferred using a thicker glass if I had not agreed to tempered glass).

Where I really notice the difference is on the sides of the glass. Regular "clear float" is quite green and opaque, low-iron is more grey and although of course still opaque when looking down through it, it is noticeably less opaque.

Whether one notices a difference looking through it normally though, I guess I can't really say. You might have to be pretty observant to really notice a difference but I figure what the heck, a reef tank has our noses pressed up to the glass more so than a FOWLR or FW so you might as well do it if it doesn't become prohibitive on the cost.

Just out of curiousity how much is the upgrade? When I had my tank built it wasn't really THAT much of an increase, but this is a couple years ago now, maybe it's gotten more expensive?

[lastlight]

Well I haven't heard how much extra the starfire will be just yet. I'm going to see the builder tonight and *could* get the ball rolling on the original quote. If I want more cash the wife is making me wait until August sometime.

The on-end colour is def noticeable I agree. It's just really tempting to get the build started tho!

[Delphinus]

August is a very long time to wait.

I dunno, I guess there are plenty of reef tank out there that don't have low-iron glass and you don't really hear all that often "Man! This tank sucks because it has regular glass instead of Starphire!!" .. so it's probably OK.

Having said that I'd still check into the cost. If it was say a difference of $100 for example, and if you had some means to make up for that (I dunno, ride your bike to work for a month instead of drive? Don't go out for dinner or lunches for a couple weeks if you do that sort of thing? Etc.? Etc.?)... but otherwise, I don't generally condone going against the wishes of SheWhoMustBeObeyed.. (Having said that, I find it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. It's always a fine line!!)

[lastlight]

That's exactly my thinking man.

If it's like $100 or even $200 I am prepared to beg. If not then I'm going ahead. Even tho I can't get anything else till after August at least I can stare at the tank!

[lastlight]

Well that wasn't the world's largest window for feedback. I'm leaving work...

My finger is ITCHY. Either way the ball rolls tonight!

Impulsively,

Me

[Brent F]

What about starfire for the front pannel only?

[untamed]

I suspect that the reason no one ever notices is that you only realize the visual difference when you are given a comparison. When I had the chance to examine a tank that was 1/2 starfire and 1/2 normal I thought the difference was substantial. (The glass on that tank was thicker than 1/2")

Another way to put it..... would be to say that it is like looking at the world through green sunglasses. When you first put them on, everything looks green....after a while, you don't notice anymore but the glasses are still filtering out non-green light. Your brain just tries to compensate.

[mark]

Picked Starfire for my 145g (front panels 3/8") mainly because is an room divider so didn't want to be seeing green if looking through both panes.

Where it was most noticeable was after waiting months and months for BVA to complete my tank was when I showed up to find they made the tank from regular glass. Just looking through the green monolith, it was enough to make me comfortable for the extra cost for Starfire (just had to wait a few more months for the tank I originally ordered to be completed).

[wickedfrags]

Starphire Glass from PPG is worth every penny. Plan on approximately 30% more costs +/-.

Considering that the tank is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things (live rock, lights, skimmer, reactors), I would highly recommend it. I have owned both and would never go back to regular glass.