Low Iron (starphire) glass - is it worth it?

[Bladezz]

I'm in the process of having a custom aquarium design approved. I have the design quoted with standard glass but I'm thinking that I might want low iron glass.

I've never seen a tank with low iron glass and outside of internet research I don't have access to view such a thing.

Any advice? Pictures?

 

[HuduVudu]

I'm in the process of having a custom aquarium design approved. I have the design quoted with standard glass but I'm thinking that I might want low iron glass.

I've never seen a tank with low iron glass and outside of internet research I don't have access to view such a thing.

Any advice? Pictures?

If you have the money, IMO it is well worth it.

 

[rtparty]

Regular glass on bottom and low iron on the side. Quite the difference

 

[Bladezz]

Will low iron glass scratch easier or will scratches be more noticeable? We all know that keeping a reef tank means constant glass cleaning and I want to be ultra careful cleaning this investment (low iron or normal glass).

 

[SunnyX]

Hello,

Yes, it is worth it, especially if you are going with glass 1/2' or thicker. In my experience, I have not noticed an appreciable difference in the scratch resistance between regular and starphire glass. In person, my fish look like they're suspended midair as the glass is not notifiable.

I highly recommend the Tunze Magnet clean. Its dang near impossible to scratch your glass using one.

-Sonny

 

[Bladezz]

Hello,

Yes, it is worth it, especially if you are going with glass 1/2' or thicker. In my experience, I have not noticed an appreciable difference in the scratch resistance between regular and starphire glass. In person, my fish look like they're suspended midair as the glass is not notifiable.

I highly recommend the Tunze Magnet clean. Its dang near impossible to scratch your glass using one.

-Sonny

Good point. I need to find out how thick my glass thickness will be.

 

[Makers Marc]

Regular glass on bottom and low iron on the side. Quite the difference

I see one glass only. To the side, you mean the sliver to the left?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Definitely get it. No point in going custom and cutting corners. I use the flipper with the blade all the time on both of my low iron tanks and I’ve had no issue with scratches.

 

[Bladezz]

I see one glass only. To the side, you mean the sliver to the left?

On the left you are seeing the side of the tank with no green tint, on the bottom you can see that the carpet is darker due to the green hue of the glass.

 

[Bladezz]

Definitely get it. No point in going custom and cutting corners. I use the flipper with the blade all the time on both of my low iron tanks and I’ve had no issue with scratches.

Reviews online say that low iron glass is normally only a few % higher in cost than regular cost. But, in the custom aquarium industry it nearly doubles the build cost.

 

[SunnyX]

Reviews online say that low iron glass is normally only a few % higher in cost than regular cost. But, in the custom aquarium stuff it nearly doubles the build cost.

Keep in mind that you do not need the entire aquarium to be Starphire, only the viewable angles.

 

[Bladezz]

Keep in mind that you do not need the entire aquarium to be Starphire, only the viewable angles.

I'm building this to be an island tank at some point. I want to be able to walk around all 4 sides.

 

[SunnyX]

I'm building this to be an island tank at some point. I want to be able to walk around all 4 sides.

Hmmm, OK. Are you planning on an overflow, dead center of the aquarium? Thats the only way I can think of doing it other than some hidden pipes in the reef to overflow into the sump.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

If you have the money, IMO it is well worth it.

This.

 

[Bladezz]

Hmmm, OK. Are you planning on an overflow, dead center of the aquarium? Thats the only way I can think of doing it other than some hidden pipes in the reef to overflow into the sump.

Its complicated. lol

Overflows are located outside of the tank and it is hard to explain without seeing it in person. Seriously, people's eyes gloss over when I try to explain it.

 

[Bladezz]

Hmmm, OK. Are you planning on an overflow, dead center of the aquarium? Thats the only way I can think of doing it other than some hidden pipes in the reef to overflow into the sump.

Here is a pic of my previous system. Overflows are not visible in the display.

Overflows are the blue pipes on the right side of this picture.

PS this design is completely silent (no slurping, no waterfall, nothing). Plus I used the overflows to store my probes and my water heater.

 

[SunnyX]

I don't know if I can share pictures like this.... Here is a pic of my previous system. Overflows are not visible in the display.
No display overflows

Overflows are the blue pipes on the right side of this picture.
Outside overflows

Cool! I assume that there are stand pipes surrounded by rocks for the overflows?

 

[Bladezz]

Cool! I assume that there are stand pipes surrounded by rocks for the overflows?

Nope - no stand pipes. Only bulkheads at the bottom of the tank. The bulk heads are screened off with acrylic boxes I made (you can see one in the bottom right hand of the first picture).

 

[rtparty]

I see one glass only. To the side, you mean the sliver to the left?

As pointed out, the bottom is dark and green. The side panel is like nothing is there it's so clear

 

[PatW]

Is it “worth it”? Worth like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am a photographer and to my eyes normal glass is ridiculously blue. I really like the look of low iron glass. Acrylic is even more clear but acrylic seems to scratch if you look at it too hard.

There are times you might not want to bother with low iron. If you go with a really intense blue tint to your lighting, you are already blue a little from the glass might not be a big deal.