Bow Front vs. Flat Front??

[katana1200]

This is a question I didnt think I would ever ask myself. I've always thought the bowfront tanks were beautiful. But a responce in my last thread leads me to the question at hand. Kashta has metioned that the distortion caused by the bowfront can be a real pain when trying to photograph the fish, see from different angles, and see what you're doing while cleaning. Does anyone else have feedback from owning a bowfront that could add to this? Pro's and Con's?

[ChrisK]

Never had a bowfront but love my flat fronts

[jm1212]

with extreme bowfronts this can be a problem, but with most it isnt a problem.

the most notable problem comes with stocking, because bowfronts often go for height over width.

[Weezer]

I don't see any distortion in our BF......:)

[StarStruck8]

I find that my camera has a more difficult time focusing on my bowfront. I've also had a family member say they get dizzy if they try to look in the tank from too close.

[cam191919]

its only distorted on mine if you look in at a big angle. but if you plan on taking tons of pics just get a flat one

[Sploke]

Regular bowfronts aren't too bad, the 90 degree corner ones kill me though. I've never owned one, just can't justify the extra expense of one over a similar sized flat front tank.

[kreesdqban]

I have a pentagon with the 3 flat fronts and wish I actually had the bowfront. They seem nicer without the breaks in glass like the flat fronts.

[katana1200]

It isnt "impossible" to take pictures of fish in a bow front i assume. Just a bit more difficult? I'm not really going to be taking a ton of pictures i think, only to post them here if I do. Any others fanatical owners of either wanna chime in?

[StarStruck8]

It isnt "impossible" to take pictures of fish in a bow front i assume. Just a bit more difficult? I'm not really going to be taking a ton of pictures i think, only to post them here if I do. Any others fanatical owners of either wanna chime in?

I have a 28 gallon bowfront. You can definitely still take pictures! I have found that I can only take clear pictures when focusing on something close to the front glass. I haven't been able to get my camera to focus on something towards the back. I should probably see if I can manual focus it, but pictures aren't out of the question. :)

[rich311k]

I like my bow front, I have not had any troubles taking pictures in the tank. You get more tank for the money with a standard tank however.

[sleepyskater]

I have a bowfront, but I like Flatfront's better.
They both have their Ups and downs but It comes down to what YOU want :)

[june2000]

I don't have much problems viewing and taking pictures in my 36G Bow front.

One of my friend has 26G bow in the hallway of the 2nd floor. His bow front is located about 60 degree from the stair. It looks a little distorted from the stair. It is kinds of extreme case but still not horrible though.

[katana1200]

Well, I found a nice 72gal Bowfront on Craigslist for $250, comes with a nice pine stand, cover and lights. Also a standard 75, with a penguin 350, heater, cover, lights etc but it seems to be on an entertainment center kind of stand. You know something like a Souder you would buy and put together at home. 75 is a bit cheaper and a bit closer but I'm a bit aprehensive about the stand. Both seem like a pretty good deal for the condition they appear to be in. Gut instinct is leading me to the Bow. Thanks for all the input.

[sleepyskater]

Cant wait for some pics of that beauty!

[vanillarum]

I asked the same question last January, and I decided on a 46 BF, and I love it. Check the photo sections on any number of forums, and you will see many great pictures taken of bow front tanks. I take tons of pictures, most of them relatively close up, and never have I had an issue with the bow front affecting the pictures. Go for it. Good luck.

[tjroihenu]

I have 2 Bow fronts.

They are more esthetic looking compared to the conventional aquariums.

But more expensive (3X as much where I'm from) and eye straining to look at fish at certain angles.

[zippodcr]

It is up to your taste; maybe you can find one at LFS and try photographing some fake decoration inside it, see what you think. I think BF just look neat, in addition to the livestock inside. It's been my experience the larger bow fronts 90, 155) don't distort as much as the smaller ones. I have a 90 (and a buddy has the 155) and the "distortion" is little more than you would have in a flat-front looking slightly off-center. We sprung for the BF because the shape was nicer for it's location - asthetics. it's by a doorway, so having the corner "sloped back" a bit makes it more appealing to us. Just my 2-cents.

[saram521]

I have a 46 bowfront and do not find any trouble photographing my fish or doing maintenance in the tank. My tank is 18 in. high and about 3 ft. long (not sure on depth), so I don't consider the dimensions to be undesirable. I had been told by others that the distortion caused by a bowfront would be awful, but I have yet to agree with them. Maybe smaller bowfront tanks provide more hassle than bigger ones, I'm not sure. I really like my bowfront, though!

[beeZer350]

I have a 36g bowfront corner, and it can distort things when viewing at certain angles. My problems lie with my poor photo taking ability than the distortion when it comes to taking pics though.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=673&pictureid=6456

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=673&pictureid=6455

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=673&pictureid=6452

[SuBXeRo]

the bow front is fine dead on looking at it. HOWEVER, if you look at it from the sides its distorted makes me a lil sick lol. i love bow fronts, i just think they carry elegance that flat fronts just dont have.

[Mgamer20o0]

bow fronts drive me nuts. they are hard to light too for plants. i rather have a reg tank any day.

[Star_Rider]

:iagree: I am not fond of the bow fronts when looking from the sides. and they are more difficult to light.

I have a 75 G acrylic.. not technically a bow front but believe me.. acrylics bow...as a result I have noticed distortions from the side.

but each person has their own likes and dislikes.

[PDX-PLT]

bow fronts drive me nuts. they are hard to light too for plants. i rather have a reg tank any day.

'got that right. I never "got" the appeal of BF's. To me, they seem like somebody's example of an idea that they thought was cool, but didn't work out at all. More expensive than a standard tank, more difficult to find stands/hoods/top covers for them, and unless you're looking at something inside them fro dead-on, they distort what you're looking at. I have an aquarium with transparent walls so I can look at what's in it; I don't want some headache-inducing, distorted-view tank that prevents me from seeing its contents without distorting them.

P.S. Are you the really the Stig, or his fat American cousin? ;)

[dsaavedra]

we have a nano cube set up as a reef tank in at school, its probably around 20 gallons, and nano cubes are bow fronts.

i hate this tank. when viewing from the front, unless i'm several feet away, everything is distorted and makes me really sick, the only time anything is ever perfectly clear is when looking at it from either of the sides (where its flat).

personally i would go for the flat tank because they're just plain easier to look at.

[katana1200]

Ok, after much consideration and picture looking and meetings with the family......drumroll please.......we've decided on the 72g bowfront from craigslist for $225 with matching stand and hood. Will get a picture up this afternoon with the empty setup. Then, I will have to start a 72g bowfront build log. Thank you all for your pictures, comments, and suggestions.

[icemanx23]

Bowfront makes me dizzy.

[bushwhacker]

when i moved here a year ago and bought my 75, i sold my 46BF to a freind.. shoulda never sold it.... i never had a problem with distortion unless i was way off to the side

[pinkertd]

I have a 72G bowfront low tech show tank for my discus and love it! It's a beautiful piece of furniture with the custom oak stand and matching hood. I also love the added front to back depth for the discus. I also have a 75G and would take the 72BF anyday over the 75G. I have a 55G that I really dislike because it is so narrow front to back. Can't wait to see your pictures!

[katana1200]

Ok, so here it is. Just the start but not bad for $225. I am starting a build log in the freshwater planted tank section where you can all watch me stumble all over myself trying to make a styrofoam/concrete background. Should be fun to watch anyway. There's bound to be blood somewhere, most likely mine. (gonna have to play with sharp things and FIRE). Thanks again for your help and advice.

82182

[ToeJam]

Thats exactly the tank I have a reef in... Lighitng with a fixture is a pain im sure.
Build a canopy and all is solved if you go planted. Thats the hard part... I tell you this..
I do not every want to build a bow front canopy again unless I have to...no help for friends..they can do it themselves =).

[pinkertd]

Great tank and great deal. I would never reveal how much I paid for mine new! Be following your progress! Fill er up!

[Coler]

That's a beaut - keep us posted with updates.

I have a bow front - it just fit perfectly into the alcove I wanted to put the tank in. Probably would go for a flat front all things being absolutely equal but I tend to think the bigger the actual tank the better a bow front looks. I don't really like the small bowfronts.

[shawnhu]

Awesome looking tank.