Pics requested: Bowfront and Corner tanks

SMS76 · 06/26/2006, 07:27 PM

Considering 46G Bowfront and getting some negative feedback with distortion and magnification.

If you own bowfront or corner tank:
-> How do you like/dislike them?
-> Can you please post any pics of your tank?

wetWolger · 06/26/2006, 07:37 PM

I used to have a 46gal bowfront....although no photos online of it atm (i may upload a few tonight). Here is my 54gal corner bow fresh/planted:

Keep in mind that the camera distorts the view a lot more than in real life. It is almost impossible to get a good photo of a bow tank (been photographing bows for many years though).

I like the way they look, very classy and diffrent. Not just another cube. The 46gal tank has by far the most distortion of any bow front tank I have seen. It is also very hard to build/get a decent hood for the tank. The corner bows are almost impossible to light. They have there problems for sure. But done right can be very cool.

In retro spec I will never own another bow tank (other than a corner, and I wont keep a corner reef). For the same price you can get a bigger/better thank, and I would rather have more width in the tank for aquascaping than the bow. In my opinion the aquascaping is a LOT more important than the shape of the tank. Also I LOVE to take photos, and this includes my tank. Since bows are so hard to photograph (particularly macros) that does not fit into my life.

Hope that gives you some good info, I will try to post my 46 later tonight.

whalloper · 06/26/2006, 07:40 PM

I have Oceanic's 72 bow stainless series and its a magnificient looking tank. To be 100% honest, I would prefer the exact same style in a flat front just because of the slight distortion at certain angles.

wetWolger · 06/26/2006, 07:59 PM

lol.....I was looking for a quick photo I have of my old 46gal. So far I have not found any. But here is one I have of my 46gal when I had my calurpa go INSANE:

chip721 · 06/26/2006, 09:27 PM

I think Jent summed it up pretty well. I have a 54g corner (my first and last). Not that there's anything really wrong with them, but being a newbie supreme, I did something really stupid with a sumpless setup. See the first pic. I'm not a photo buff (obviously) so that wasn't too much of a concern for me.

My 2 biggest challenges with the corner were lighting and aquacaping. I chose an Aqua Medic 250w pendant. But the wife wasn't agreeable to me suspending it from the ceiling. As for aquascaping, the triangle shape of the tank almost dictates the layout of your rock work.

I've got another tank underway in my basement right now. This time it's a standard AGA RR 90g.

Kaiser Tang · 06/26/2006, 09:51 PM

I have a 92 gal. corner. I love it! I like the not so average shape tanks. The corners do not distort at all. You have to solve a few problems due to the shape, but it's well worth it. I had to make a custom stand and canopy. You can get stands and canopies, but they don't leave much space for a sump and lighting. I actually use the smaller 54 gal. corner for my sump. It was the best way to get the most space out of the shape.

I'll post better tank pics and pics of my sump tomorrow!

Kaiser Tang · 06/26/2006, 09:53 PM

BTW, the top pic makes it look distorted, but it's really not. Also, the 92 is reef ready and has an overflow in the back corner. One more thing I love is the depth. This is a deep (front to back) tank. Gives you lots of cool aquascaping options.

TellyFish · 06/26/2006, 10:33 PM

I have an 90g bow and I love it. If you walk by the tank quickly you'll notice the distortion, but if you're sitting in front of it (like I am 90% of the time), you don't notice it.

Then again, I like to stare at black light posters and fractals too... so...

Avast Marine · 06/26/2006, 11:26 PM

54 corner + 28 fuge = me happy.

My thread here.

willymec · 06/27/2006, 12:13 AM

My 160 gallon bowfront evolving.

SMS76 · 06/27/2006, 06:06 AM

Thanks guys for pics and info. I think i will go with bowfront, i have had 75G and 115G in the past and this will be different.

SMS76 · 07/05/2006, 06:46 AM

Tank pics looks great...keep them coming...

Pico Keeper · 07/05/2006, 10:25 AM

I have a 47 Bowfront I'm in the process of setting up.

Luckily I got the stand and hood with the tank, and they are just plain old aga peices. The hood is almost useless for adding a retrofit kit, plus you have to deal with the middle brace which will block lighting.

Options for me where two MH HQI's (150 or 175w) or to go with a 6 Bulb T5 Fixture. I will probably use the T5's, since I can just buy the fixture, and the hood that came with my AGA will actually fit over it and hide it from view.

I'm going to plumb it with an Internal overflow going to a 30 gallon long tank. I'm making the 30L into a display refugium, and will keep the entire front length of the tank only refugium, so I can make it look like a display tank. The return and skimmer sections will be behind the refugium section.

I also had a 26 Bow. There is distortion, but it doesn't bother me or stop me from taking pictures. And I actually like the shape of the tank. I also like low wide tanks with lots of depth though too.

MAthU · 07/05/2006, 11:19 AM

not the best pics, but i really liked my bow fronts.. theres not much of a distorition.if any at all.

rstark33 · 07/05/2006, 11:27 AM

Does anyone make or any of you have a triangle tank? Basically a bow front with the front panel being flat? I think I would prefer that to a bow front, but I have never seen one.

Neowind · 07/05/2006, 11:31 AM

Here are a couple pictures from my 54g Bowfront I had.

Neowind · 07/06/2006, 06:22 AM

Here is the other one not sure why it didn't turn out first try.

SMS76 · 07/06/2006, 05:31 PM

Thanks for pics...Your tank looks awesome. Good Job

06/26/2006, 07:27 PM	#1
SMS76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 1,814	Pics requested: Bowfront and Corner tanks Considering 46G Bowfront and getting some negative feedback with distortion and magnification. If you own bowfront or corner tank: -> How do you like/dislike them? -> Can you please post any pics of your tank?

06/26/2006, 07:37 PM	#2
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	I used to have a 46gal bowfront....although no photos online of it atm (i may upload a few tonight). Here is my 54gal corner bow fresh/planted: Keep in mind that the camera distorts the view a lot more than in real life. It is almost impossible to get a good photo of a bow tank (been photographing bows for many years though). I like the way they look, very classy and diffrent. Not just another cube. The 46gal tank has by far the most distortion of any bow front tank I have seen. It is also very hard to build/get a decent hood for the tank. The corner bows are almost impossible to light. They have there problems for sure. But done right can be very cool. In retro spec I will never own another bow tank (other than a corner, and I wont keep a corner reef). For the same price you can get a bigger/better thank, and I would rather have more width in the tank for aquascaping than the bow. In my opinion the aquascaping is a LOT more important than the shape of the tank. Also I LOVE to take photos, and this includes my tank. Since bows are so hard to photograph (particularly macros) that does not fit into my life. Hope that gives you some good info, I will try to post my 46 later tonight. __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

06/26/2006, 07:40 PM	#3
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	I have Oceanic's 72 bow stainless series and its a magnificient looking tank. To be 100% honest, I would prefer the exact same style in a flat front just because of the slight distortion at certain angles. __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

06/26/2006, 07:59 PM	#4
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	lol.....I was looking for a quick photo I have of my old 46gal. So far I have not found any. But here is one I have of my 46gal when I had my calurpa go INSANE: __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

06/26/2006, 09:51 PM	#6
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	I have a 92 gal. corner. I love it! I like the not so average shape tanks. The corners do not distort at all. You have to solve a few problems due to the shape, but it's well worth it. I had to make a custom stand and canopy. You can get stands and canopies, but they don't leave much space for a sump and lighting. I actually use the smaller 54 gal. corner for my sump. It was the best way to get the most space out of the shape. I'll post better tank pics and pics of my sump tomorrow! __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

06/26/2006, 09:27 PM	#5
chip721 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,260	I think Jent summed it up pretty well. I have a 54g corner (my first and last). Not that there's anything really wrong with them, but being a newbie supreme, I did something really stupid with a sumpless setup. See the first pic. I'm not a photo buff (obviously) so that wasn't too much of a concern for me. My 2 biggest challenges with the corner were lighting and aquacaping. I chose an Aqua Medic 250w pendant. But the wife wasn't agreeable to me suspending it from the ceiling. As for aquascaping, the triangle shape of the tank almost dictates the layout of your rock work. I've got another tank underway in my basement right now. This time it's a standard AGA RR 90g.

06/26/2006, 09:53 PM	#7
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	BTW, the top pic makes it look distorted, but it's really not. Also, the 92 is reef ready and has an overflow in the back corner. One more thing I love is the depth. This is a deep (front to back) tank. Gives you lots of cool aquascaping options. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

06/26/2006, 10:33 PM	#8
TellyFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago 60607 Posts: 1,130	I have an 90g bow and I love it. If you walk by the tank quickly you'll notice the distortion, but if you're sitting in front of it (like I am 90% of the time), you don't notice it. Then again, I like to stare at black light posters and fractals too... so...

06/26/2006, 11:26 PM	#9
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	54 corner + 28 fuge = me happy. My thread here. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

06/27/2006, 12:13 AM	#10
willymec Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 41	My 160 gallon bowfront evolving. __________________ Bill Hope someday my tank is so big the fish are watching me instead :) Current Tank Info: 160 gal reef acrylic corner bow front, 45 silver dollar tank, 50 gallon trigger tank

06/27/2006, 06:06 AM	#11
SMS76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 1,814	Thanks guys for pics and info. I think i will go with bowfront, i have had 75G and 115G in the past and this will be different.

07/05/2006, 06:46 AM	#12
SMS76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 1,814	Tank pics looks great...keep them coming...

07/05/2006, 10:25 AM	#13
Pico Keeper Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 437	I have a 47 Bowfront I'm in the process of setting up. Luckily I got the stand and hood with the tank, and they are just plain old aga peices. The hood is almost useless for adding a retrofit kit, plus you have to deal with the middle brace which will block lighting. Options for me where two MH HQI's (150 or 175w) or to go with a 6 Bulb T5 Fixture. I will probably use the T5's, since I can just buy the fixture, and the hood that came with my AGA will actually fit over it and hide it from view. I'm going to plumb it with an Internal overflow going to a 30 gallon long tank. I'm making the 30L into a display refugium, and will keep the entire front length of the tank only refugium, so I can make it look like a display tank. The return and skimmer sections will be behind the refugium section. I also had a 26 Bow. There is distortion, but it doesn't bother me or stop me from taking pictures. And I actually like the shape of the tank. I also like low wide tanks with lots of depth though too.

07/05/2006, 11:19 AM	#14
MAthU me Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: brantford ontario Posts: 469	not the best pics, but i really liked my bow fronts.. theres not much of a distorition.if any at all. __________________ tankless atm Current Tank Info: 27g custom~! sps

07/05/2006, 11:27 AM	#15
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	Does anyone make or any of you have a triangle tank? Basically a bow front with the front panel being flat? I think I would prefer that to a bow front, but I have never seen one. __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

07/05/2006, 11:31 AM	#16
Neowind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 702	Here are a couple pictures from my 54g Bowfront I had.

07/06/2006, 06:22 AM	#17
Neowind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 702	Here is the other one not sure why it didn't turn out first try.

07/06/2006, 05:31 PM	#18
SMS76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 1,814	Thanks for pics...Your tank looks awesome. Good Job