getting a 215 starfire

I'm getting a 215 starfire tank,stand & canopy in april( waiting for the sail at the store in Lancaster). I'm going to put everything from my 90 in it. would making my own rock be ok i have about half of my 90 filled with live rock. and transfering everything over how should i do it? I recently lost a powder brown tang and sailfin to ick so I want to make sure I don't transfer that to the new tank. I read somewhere that they did water changes on old tank to fill up new tank so there wasn't a cycle is that true? and when I get it filled should I move rock first and leave fish corals and inverts in 90 till ick should be gone. I was thinking about making rock for bottom so it would be a little cheaper and i was going to start now so it would be cured by april when i get my new tank then put the live rock i have on top. what do you think. lots of opinions would be great
 

azfishgal

Active Member
I'm hearing a lot about those Starfire tanks. Can't wait to see yours up and running. Making your own lr for the bottom is smart. I bought some base rock for the bottom of my tank. Most of it is undersand anway, so it's a good way to save money. To make sure your big tank is ich free leave the fish out for 6 weeks once you have added your lr, this will ensure that you have no more ich. During that time you can also Hypo your fish just to make sure they don't have ich. You can see the Disease Forum to learn more.
 

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
What exactly is a starfire tank? Is it the type of glass?
Starphire glass is much clearer. It is a low iron glass that mainly makes colors much more clearer than other types of glass.
 

stumpyfish

Member
Originally Posted by T316
Starphire glass is much clearer. It is a low iron glass that mainly makes colors much more clearer than other types of glass.

Is it comparable to regular glass in strength?
 

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by stumpyfish
Is it comparable to regular glass in strength?
At least equal, if not stonger. Most people ordering starphire are building larger tanks anyway, thus the glass is at least 3/4" thick. There are still the same concerns as with any glass, such as worrying about the silicone seams over time, but I have had no problems with mine.
 

azfishgal

Active Member
I also believe those tanks don't have braces like the typical glass tank. I think they have an acrylic rim on the top, so no brace is needed. I think that would be my favorite part.
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Stangbabe1993....what brand is Lancaster carrying in Starphire now? I go there every week haven't seen it yet.....
As far as the trim up top and no bracing that depends on the manufacturer and has nothing to do with the Starphire glass....Depends on the thickness of glass used will dictate how much if any bracing is needed......For a 215 yeah would need bracing regardles of 3/4" material.....Most tanks regardless of Starphire or not are usually 1/2" material unless specs of tank require 3/4" material.....The bracing you do see on the top is glass as well, and is usually regular glass, because of the cost of Starphire or Low Iron glass....Acrylic doesn't bond well with glass, so there wouldn't be any structural support using acrylic......
 

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Stangbabe1993....what brand is Lancaster carrying in Starphire now? I go there every week haven't seen it yet.....
As far as the trim up top and no bracing that depends on the manufacturer and has nothing to do with the Starphire glass....Depends on the thickness of glass used will dictate how much if any bracing is needed......For a 215 yeah would need bracing regardles of 3/4" material.....Most tanks regardless of Starphire or not are usually 1/2" material unless specs of tank require 3/4" material.....The bracing you do see on the top is glass as well, and is usually regular glass, because of the cost of Starphire or Low Iron glass....Acrylic doesn't bond well with glass, so there wouldn't be any structural support using acrylic......
Correct...glass type has no influence on bracing. IMO, the bigger the tank, I would be looking for as much bracing as possible
 

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Wanna talk about bad $ss tanks.....ZeroEdge tanks are sweet.
That is pretty wild. I didn't see it at first, but the overflowing water concept is neat.
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Wanna talk about bad $ss tanks.....ZeroEdge tanks are sweet.
Those rock, I'd just be worried about the smell. Appearently not everyone likes the smell of the fish store.
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Nothing better IMO than the smell, but my wife on the other hand doesn't agree.....She just found out about the new setup going in the family room from my 15yr old.........
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
Nothing better IMO than the smell, but my wife on the other hand doesn't agree.....She just found out about the new setup going in the family room from my 15yr old.........

oops! No car when he turns 16 now.
I never understood it, I LOVE the way the sea smells it is one of the true joys in my life. and she says it stinks. Smells like the ocean. Which I reply perfect. And round and round it goes.
 

t316

Active Member
Well, there's the nice aroma of salt air which can bring visuals of being at the ocean, and then there's the poop stinch coming from the skimmer sludge (which is what I think our wive's are referring to)
 

maxalmon

Active Member
My sense of smell is kinda whacked and I can't smell the skimmer stuff,...Other half can walk thru the door, take one whiff, starts gagging, foaming at the mouth, head spins around a few times and then acts like "just bury me now or the stench will kill me" and I smell nothing....
 

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by maxalmon
My sense of smell is kinda whacked and I can't smell the skimmer stuff,...Other half can walk thru the door, take one whiff, starts gagging, foaming at the mouth, head spins around a few times and then acts like "just bury me now or the stench will kill me" and I smell nothing....

Same here....She's probably half telling the truth, but I don't smell a thing.
 
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