Low Iron glass or Regular? Worth it?

[Vette67]

I built a 390 44 years ago when I was a teen. Went in my 1966 F-100, when I hopped on the pedal it sounded like a jet engine. What fun, 3 speed on the floor, the shifter was about 3 feet long.

I'm a Chevy guy. A big block for me would be a 427....

 

[piranhaman00]

I run my tank with whiter lighting so it sounds like I would want the low iron.

 

[anthonygf]

I'm a Chevy guy. A big block for me would be a 427....

Nothing wrong with Chevrolet, I worked at a Ford and Pontiac dealerships for several years. Just retired from 20 years as bus mechanic.

 

[salty joe]

I used 3/4" low iron glass. Glad I did.
As far as hardness, years ago an engineer at PPG told me the knoop hardness is the same between low iron and regular glass.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

I went with regular on my 310 peninsula. My prior 75g tank was low iron. I don’t even notice a difference. The coral and fish are just as pretty. I run my lights pretty white for what it’s worth.

 

[SaltISlife]

Low iron is more noticable with a fresh wster setup using 6500k lightining. With our blue/pinkish type of lights i dont see much difference at all between my built in 1982 1.2 thick greenish glass 135 gallon display reef and the acrylic tank with a reef right next to it. And acrylic is as clear as it gets.

The blue color really negates the higher iron glass. But again in fresh water light spectrums its noticable.


Low iron glass trabsmits up to 91% of light. While high iron glass is sbout 83%.

Also whoever said low iron glass is as strong as high iron. Is wrong. High iron glass is stronger. Its also more scratch resistant

 

[Andy305mia]

I have 2 tanks in a room one low iron and one regular, they have the same light fixtures on them and the low iron is clearer. Once you see the difference you can't unsee it. It's enough I'd say to pay extra, not just for the clarity, but also because low iron tanks are rimless which makes them ALOT better looking than having the black plastic borders. So it's not just the glass you're paying for it's the build itself. As far scratches go, I've had my 16 gallon setup for over a year and not a single scratch. I've scratched my 40 breeder on the other hand. Depends on substrate, decorations, the individual. I'll tell you this much, you'll take better care of the low iron glass just because you paid more lol. Worth the extra money imo, will never go back. Sweet spot between regular glass and acrylic

 

[PhreeByrd]

...also because low iron tanks are rimless which makes them ALOT better looking than having the black plastic borders. So it's not just the glass you're paying for it's the build itself.

Low-iron glass is and can be used in any style of tank, rimmed or rimless.

I also find the visual difference between low-iron and standard glass to be very readily apparent regardless of lighting. And my glass manufacturer sources tell me there is absolutely no measurable, inherent difference in strength or hardness between the two.

 

[salty joe]

Years ago, an engineer at PPG told me the knoop hardness for their low iron was the same as 'regular' glass.
Way back when, I had a 125 gallon, long before low iron was popular and I scratched the daylights out of it-I had no idea how soft glass is. No matter what your tank is made from, you need to be careful.
No regrets with my low iron tank.