New starphire pre-planning

SKRIZ · 02-05-2003, 07:03 PM

I would like to put a tank to seperate two rooms in my house. I was thinking about a huge starphire tank from that Canadian company. But, I need some help. I know the sheets come in 130 x 108. Would it be possible to go with a 130" long tank? How thick is the glass? What would be a good height and depth for this size tank? I could also do a 180" tank instead. I just wanted some of your expertise/opinions/suggestions before I actually talk to Mitch. Thanks for everything.

**Ninong** · 02-05-2003, 07:51 PM

The Starphire glass that Mitch uses is 108"x130"x12mm thick (approx. 1/2"). For tanks longer than 72" two 12mm panes are laminated together to make 24mm. He has to send the panes out to have them laminated. I don't know for certain how long he can make a tank with Starphire glass but one of the members of this board did get a Starphire tank from Mitch that was 108" long and another member of the board got a regular glass tank from Mitch that was more than 10' long.

Just remember that the price skyrockets once you go longer than 72" with Starphire. Since you obviously want something that will require 24mm laminated Starphire you can go taller than the usual 12mm limit of 27" to 30". Just keep in mind that the taller the tank, the more difficult to maintain.

If price is no object, I think a nice size would be 130" x 39" x 39" -- if he can make one that large with 24mm Starphire. Since you intend to use it to separate two rooms, I assume you will want Starphire on both of the long sides plus one end. If that is not feasible, how about 108" x 39" x 39"? The 39" height would give you plenty of space to include a 6"-7" deep sandbed, which you could partially conceal with the stand.

Just remember that Starphire tanks of that size will almost certainly be more expensive than an acrylic tank of the same dimensions and they will weigh a ton. Literally! You will want to ask Mitch about a custom made steel stand.

You can check out Nathan's 10'+ long (3/4" thick regular glass) Inter-American tank and steel stand here: http://www.padens.homestead.com/ReefTank.html

You can view pics of Chicago's 108" long Starphire tank from Inter-American in this Reef Central thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...threadid=92709

02-05-2003, 07:03 PM	#1
SKRIZ Council Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SUWANEE, GA, USA Posts: 442	New starphire pre-planning I would like to put a tank to seperate two rooms in my house. I was thinking about a huge starphire tank from that Canadian company. But, I need some help. I know the sheets come in 130 x 108. Would it be possible to go with a 130" long tank? How thick is the glass? What would be a good height and depth for this size tank? I could also do a 180" tank instead. I just wanted some of your expertise/opinions/suggestions before I actually talk to Mitch. Thanks for everything. __________________ "Without struggle, we can have no progress" Frederick Douglass

02-05-2003, 07:51 PM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19,412	The Starphire glass that Mitch uses is 108"x130"x12mm thick (approx. 1/2"). For tanks longer than 72" two 12mm panes are laminated together to make 24mm. He has to send the panes out to have them laminated. I don't know for certain how long he can make a tank with Starphire glass but one of the members of this board did get a Starphire tank from Mitch that was 108" long and another member of the board got a regular glass tank from Mitch that was more than 10' long. Just remember that the price skyrockets once you go longer than 72" with Starphire. Since you obviously want something that will require 24mm laminated Starphire you can go taller than the usual 12mm limit of 27" to 30". Just keep in mind that the taller the tank, the more difficult to maintain. If price is no object, I think a nice size would be 130" x 39" x 39" -- if he can make one that large with 24mm Starphire. Since you intend to use it to separate two rooms, I assume you will want Starphire on both of the long sides plus one end. If that is not feasible, how about 108" x 39" x 39"? The 39" height would give you plenty of space to include a 6"-7" deep sandbed, which you could partially conceal with the stand. Just remember that Starphire tanks of that size will almost certainly be more expensive than an acrylic tank of the same dimensions and they will weigh a ton. Literally! You will want to ask Mitch about a custom made steel stand. You can check out Nathan's 10'+ long (3/4" thick regular glass) Inter-American tank and steel stand here: http://www.padens.homestead.com/ReefTank.html You can view pics of Chicago's 108" long Starphire tank from Inter-American in this Reef Central thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...threadid=92709 __________________ Ninong

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