Low iron vs standard

[drtrash]

not sure what the difference is and is it worth it? Sure it’s better but after a week would you be able too tell

 

[Crabs McJones]

not sure what the difference is and is it worth it? Sure it’s better but after a week would you be able too tell

Low iron is suppose to be crystal clear and not have the slightly green tint to it that standard glass has. But for me standard glass works just fine

 

[solitude127]

You probably won't be able to tell visually after a week but in your mind (if you went with regular glass), you'll have that "what if" feeling. Like what if I went with Low Iron Glass, would the corals look better?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Low iron is suppose to be crystal clear and not have the slightly green tint to it that standard glass has. But for me standard glass works just fine

Gosh......I don't want to hear that!!! I just paid an extra $92 for the front panel only to be low iron. Looking at the tank dry, I can't tell the difference. I guess I'll have to wait until it gets wet.

My guess is that if you have beautiful corals and fish in your tank, nobody will notice the glass....and the potential difference....they'll be looking past the glass at the beauty within the tank.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Gosh......I don't want to hear that!!! I just paid an extra $92 for the front panel only to be low iron. Looking at the tank dry, I can't tell the difference. I guess I'll have to wait until it gets wet

My guess is that if you have beautiful corals and fish in your tank, nobody will notice the glass....and the potential difference....they'll be looking past the glass at the beauty within the tank.

Don't get me wrong, i'm sure that the low iron is worth it once you get it wet and see the crystal clear view. I'd actually be interested in seeing in person a side to side comparison. I'm sure it looks like there isn't even a piece of glass in between you and the water

 

[Swoody]

For $92 I think you did ok....My 255g which is nearing completion has Starfire front panel and got it during a special so there was no added cost....

 

[Water Dog]

Call me crazy or blind, but the only way I can see the green tint is by looking at the cross section of the glass. When I admire a reef tank I’m looking through the front pane, not the cross section.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I'm sure that low-iron glass looks better side to side. But unless you have your tank full of corals in a regular tank, then transfer everything to a new low-iron tank and observe the difference, are you ever going to be able to tell that the low-iron tank looks a little bit different? Literally the only time you're going to make the standard vs low-iron comparison is in the store. Once you get animals in the tank, you'll never make that comparison again. Given that the hobby has been using standard glass for the last 30 years, I don't think low-iron is strictly speaking necessary. Is it better? I dunno, maybe. But unless you're comparing side to side, you'll never be able to tell, and the only time you'll do that is in the store. So by that logic, my choice is just standard glass to save costs.

Plus... I've never heard a reefer say "that tank was stunning.. healthy acro colonies, great colors, amazing fish... but the glass wasn't low-iron, so it ruined everything..."

 

[Airwarf]

Call me crazy or blind, but the only way I can see the green tint is by looking at the cross section of the glass. When I admire a reeftank I’m looking through the front pane, not the cross section.

You're totally right imo, the difference really comes into play with thicker panes though. Here is a good comparison of the difference as the glass gets thicker.

 

[ca1ore]

You're totally right imo, the difference really comes into play with thicker panes though. Here is a good comparison of the difference as the glass gets thicker.

Largely moot though, as even the largest tanks don't go beyond 3/4" (three 'slices' not five). Other thing to consider is that starfire glass is slightly softer than regular glass and can etch/scratch more easily. I never bothered.