What glass?

[TideNumOne]

I am looking to setup a new 90 gallon cube, one basic option is $500 or second option with Starfire glass is $800. Is it worth it? What is your favorite brand of tanks?

 

[lapin]

Its very hard to judge worth. What is it you are looking for in a tank? Will you clean the glass every day ? Once a week? Who will be viewing the tank. Are you old like me and cant see s....t? Or do you have 20/16 vision?

 

[TideNumOne]

Its very hard to judge worth. What is it you are looking for in a tank? Will you clean the glass every day ? Once a week? Who will be viewing the tank. Are you old like me and cant see s....t? Or do you have 20/16 vision?

Good question...I am closer to retirement than I am graduating from college. The tank is going to sit next to me in our living room. Not sure I will clean every day, but often.

 

[joec]

I had read a while ago that the difference is only discernible for an aquarium when you reach a certain thickness. I don't recall the exact thickness referenced, but I think it was like 1/2", maybe 5/8"

Its going to be one of those things that whomever paid for it and has it, thinks the difference is dramatic and worth it and whomever "cheaped" out will think it's a waste of money. LOL. I don't have Starfire, I can see in there perfectly.

 

[DaneGer21]

I’ve had both. I can definitely see a difference in glass “color”.

Is it worth it? Depends who you ask.

If you have the funds and want to invest in a tank that probably won’t ever be upgraded, then my opinion is to invest in what you really want...that’s what I did.

 

[lapin]

Here's the data, regular float glass has 89% light transmittance, starphire 91% and Cell cast acrylic 92%, so as you can see acrylic is clearer (info gained from PPG glass maker of STARPHIRE®) and Spartech(acrylic) websites). Now is this really noticable? Well is definately noticable between regular and "starphire" (2% difference)?

 

[DaneGer21]

Here's the data, regular float glass has 89% light transmittance, starphire 91% and Cell cast acrylic 92%, so as you can see acrylic is clearer (info gained from PPG glass maker of STARPHIRE®) and Spartech(acrylic) websites). Now is this really noticable? Well is definately noticable between regular and "starphire" (2% difference)?

Definitely is, light transmittance, isn’t the same as glass color.

Regular glass has a more blue/green hue

 

[T-5unsystem]

I had read a while ago that the difference is only discernible for an aquarium when you reach a certain thickness. I don't recall the exact thickness referenced, but I think it was like 1/2", maybe 5/8"

Its going to be one of those things that whomever paid for it and has it, thinks the difference is dramatic and worth it and whomever "cheaped" out will think it's a waste of money. LOL. I don't have Starfire, I can see in there perfectly.

I agree with this, I wouldn't spend the money on a 90gal for it because the glass is thin enough the color of the glass will be very tiny. Thick glass makes a much bigger difference.

 

[TideNumOne]

More details - when I look at the two tanks, the cheaper one is 3/8 and the other 1/2 glass.

What brand of tanks do people like?

 

[ca1ore]

I don’t think it’s worth the premium. All the sellers show you glass comparisons on edge, so you’re seeing light transmitted through multiple inches of thickness - of course there is going to be a difference. Through 1/2” or even 3/4”? Answer seems self evident LOL. Also, keep in mind that we’re lighting reef tanks with lights that skew heavily blue - is an extra 2% of greenish tint actually going to matter. I don’t think so.