Where to buy rimless starfire aquariums in New England?

[STiTCH87]

PicoAquariums.com

These guys make custom aquariums (contact for a quote) and they also make AIO units, rimless, starfire, you name it. As well as sell lighting, pumps, anything and everything you can think of. And if you want it and they don't have it, ask them, and odds are, they'll custom machine it for you! All for a great price, and Made In The USA.

I'm hoping to be doing business with them in the near future.

Visit the site (better yet, their facebook has more info) and check them out!
PicoAquariums.com facebook.com/picoaquariums

 

[KSC]

If you're getting a tank that is built out of 1/2" or less glass, Starfire is probably a waste of money. It would be very hard to tell any difference in clarity between that and reguklar glass. Save your money for a high end MH setup...

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

If you're getting a tank that is built out of 1/2" or less glass, Starfire is probably a waste of money. It would be very hard to tell any difference in clarity between that and reguklar glass. Save your money for a high end LED setup...

Fixed it for ya

 

[STiTCH87]

Lol. Yeah LEDs buddy =] MHs are old school to me. =]

 

[PSU4ME]

My tank is the standard 120 footprint (4'x2'x2'). It is 3 sides starphire and they used 1/2" glass with the euro bracing on top. Internal overflow (centered) with 3 holes drilled in it. Delivered to the west bridgewater ABF shipping depot for $1,200. They recommed picking it up there as they don't have great luck with local carriers delivering it right to someones house.

Sharp looking tank......clean lines, black silicone.....i couldn't be happier.

 

[STiTCH87]

I like the dimension of 120s, but that's a bit above what i'm aiming for.

I'm aiming for somewhere between 60g and 90g hopefully.

Or at the very least, nothing below 30g worst case scenario.

 

[Andy V]

If you're getting a tank that is built out of 1/2" or less glass, Starfire is probably a waste of money. It would be very hard to tell any difference in clarity between that and reguklar glass. Save your money for a high end MH setup...

I cannot totally agree with this statement, although there is some truth to it. I have seen many tanks with 1/2" so-called low-iron or Starphire glass where you couldn't tell the difference.

It's important to remember that Starphire is a brand name. It's also important to remember there is a wide range of quality of "low-iron" glass. I would have totally agreed with you until I got my Coast to Coast custom 60 cube. It has 1/2" low-iron and the difference is amazing. Anyone can call Chris and ask what glass he uses if they want...whatever he uses is very, very clear and you will notice a HUGE difference even on 1/2".

I do agree on one thing...Metal Halides all the way!

 

[Andy V]

My tank is the standard 120 footprint (4'x2'x2'). It is 3 sides starphire and they used 1/2" glass with the euro bracing on top. Internal overflow (centered) with 3 holes drilled in it. Delivered to the west bridgewater ABF shipping depot for $1,200. They recommed picking it up there as they don't have great luck with local carriers delivering it right to someones house.

Sharp looking tank......clean lines, black silicone.....i couldn't be happier.

Unreal. They quoted me more than that for the 60. They must have been desperate when they did yours, or not wanted to do mine. Hahaha.

 

[MisFit]

You should try Deep Sea Aquatics (not deep blue). I got some great pricing from them on a couple of custom tanks. They are former Oceanic employees. Im waiting on my tanks but JayM has a tank from them and says its great. You might need a store to order for you though.

 

[Ruge13]

Unreal. They quoted me more than that for the 60. They must have been desperate when they did yours, or not wanted to do mine. Hahaha.

There are a few variables that make up the cost. Shipping options, type of glass, bracing, overflows, holes drilled etc. Rimless are typically built from thicker glass so its more expensive to begin with without bracing. Add Low Iron glass to the mix at higher thickness and the price goes up. Also, if they can use panes of glass cut for other standard sized tanks this may save a bit of money. Custom cuts will drive the price up. I am regurgitating a mix of things I was told in other threads and from other builders when I shopped mine around before building. To give you a comparison on shapes/sizes, mine was $1800 shipped if I remember correctly. Miracles was not the cheapest but then again not the most expensive either. From the threads I read on here and other sites going back a few years even before Rimless tanks became trendy the feedback seemed consistent on Miracles which is one reason why I went with them and I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Like others have said now I that I have it I am very happy with the tank.

In the interest of full disclosure if I had to find one thing I did not like about my experience with Miracles it was that during the build I received little to no communication even though I emailed and called several times. I was concerned about the way the overflow was built because all I had given was a written description over email and if I remember correct a photo of another tank that was similar that I liked. I guess I thought I might receive a Cad drawing before the start or at least a photo during the build (because I asked for one several times and was assured I'd get one over the phone) but never did. That left me a little uncomfortable given the price tag but in the end all was perfect. Exactly what I wanted and exactly what I had described and envisioned. I should also say my experience was not consistent with anything else I had read online, 99% of which were excellent reviews.

Having seen a few low iron tanks vs regular glass I have to agree with the above statement, you can see the difference.

You MH people are... I don't know.... cute I guess.

 

[STiTCH87]

I'm currently leaning toward having a custom 24x24x12 nano cube built with starfire glass, rimless, black silicone, AIO set up on a custom stand. I wanted to go bigger, but a fellow member pointed out to me, that while a 75g+ would be great, since I am moving to my new place for only 2-3 years, that it would suck to finally have it all set up and aged, and then have to break it all down when I move again. Big tanks being broken down to move is, well, highly stressful from what I hear.

Long as I can have my SPS, LPS, a few softies, and my picasso clowns, i'll be happy. And my tailspot blenny from my 5g ofcourse.

 

[JayM]

You should try Deep Sea Aquatics (not deep blue). I got some great pricing from them on a couple of custom tanks. They are former Oceanic employees. Im waiting on my tanks but JayM has a tank from them and says its great. You might need a store to order for you though.

1) I would call Deep Sea and ask what they could do for you http://www.deepseaaquatics.net
2) I'd use them again
3) You don't need to go through a store for a custom, but if you do one of their stock sizes, they re-sell through Hagen, and I can pass info for a good Hagen customer/ dealer, but you WILL wait a while for it to come up
4) Once you have starfire glass, you will NOT want to go back (My 2c)
5) MH, MH, MH.
6) If you want to see their work in person, PM me and you can arrange a visit (once I scrape my glass)

 

[Andy V]

1) I would call Deep Sea and ask what they could do for you http://www.deepseaaquatics.net
2) I'd use them again
3) You don't need to go through a store for a custom, but if you do one of their stock sizes, they re-sell through Hagen, and I can pass info for a good Hagen customer/ dealer, but you WILL wait a while for it to come up
4) Once you have starfire glass, you will NOT want to go back (My 2c)
5) MH, MH, MH.
6) If you want to see their work in person, PM me and you can arrange a visit (once I scrape my glass)

I called them about two months ago and they said they only go through dealers for custom work now. Unique Aquaria is a dealer.

 

[PSU4ME]

In the interest of full disclosure if I had to find one thing I did not like about my experience with Miracles it was that during the build I received little to no communication even though I emailed and called several times. I was concerned about the way the overflow was built because all I had given was a written description over email and if I remember correct a photo of another tank that was similar that I liked. I guess I thought I might receive a Cad drawing before the start or at least a photo during the build (because I asked for one several times and was assured I'd get one over the phone) but never did. That left me a little uncomfortable given the price tag but in the end all was perfect. Exactly what I wanted and exactly what I had described and envisioned. I should also say my experience was not consistent with anything else I had read online, 99% of which were excellent reviews.

Having seen a few low iron tanks vs regular glass I have to agree with the above statement, you can see the difference.

You MH people are... I don't know.... cute I guess.

I couldn't agree more with the no communication statement.......I was damn near ready to cancel my order because I would email and nothing. I was just nervous about stuff and all I wanted was a little "we are still on track" but nothing. In the end it came out perfect.....48" long was 48" long and the overflow and holes were perfect. They know what they are doing but man, a few emails would go a long way.

I think the 90g standard size tank in starphire is a staple they offer.....think it is on their price sheet. Not sure what an overflow is but if you're thinking of a coast to coast and are willing to drill your own holes you might like out. They charged me $20 a hole.....you might be able to have them drill the holes in the back glass then all you need to do is an overflow. Just a thought

 

[Andy V]

I love these places that charge $20/hole for drilling. I drilled my own tank in like three minutes. Low-iron drills like a hot knife through butter. I guess the $20 is worth it if for the insurance maybe...

 

[STiTCH87]

I'm not going MH Jay!!! Lol! Never gonna happen. =] Kinda like when you say Once Starfire, always Starfire, welp, once LED, always LED. I'm too much of a techie nerd to not use LEDs. And if they fail, well, i'll try different LEDs til they don't, lol.