My 72gal bowfront is only 62gal! where did the 10gal go??!!

S

sushiray

AC Members
Jan 14, 2009
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new windsor, ny
I think we the consumer have been short changed! This is a serious allegation of mis-representation. Last month I bought this tank (no label tho) off CL & when I set it up & bucket filled 2 at a time (using 1gal plastic milk containers) I found it only to be 60-62 gal. Now thinking I somehow mis-counted & how can this standard sizing be short by 10gal. So I blamed myself.

72 gal 48" x 18" x 22" Black

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/bow-front.htm


But now that I do water changes & still do the old fashion 2 at a time fill up (I do siphon out the debris/water with a JBJ) I take out about 12 gal. & I physically measure the water line initially, when it drops & when I refill. By refilling 12 gal jugs it hits the same lines.

Now empiracally for those mathematicians - if I measure the changes in inches vs. the total height of the tank (assuming the bow ness remains constant from top to bottom) - I can measure only 5 parts in change which x 12 gal. is 60gal.

Now I am more sure that what is advertised & what is calculated

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/info...e.htm#Aquarium Volume Calculator

is incorrect or mis-leading or mis-represented.

I used 15" width as an avg for bow front & calculates 68gal.

I don't suppose anyone else has encountered this?

But can I be that off to lose 10gal??!!

Can you a 5th grader get the same results? Yes i say!!

Now I have been told manufacturers use outside dimensions so tank volumes are overstated! & no one has complained so they have mis-led the consumer for years!

besides being disappointed & perturbed that my 72gal bowfront is only 62-62gal (& mine is bare bottom with 1 sponge filter 1 decorative ornament 1 driftwood which combined may displace only 1gal)

we should be weary when adding meds - we will be overdosing so more critical if some meds specifically say don't overdose.

could it a be a conspiracy between the med companies for us to use more product & tank mfr's so they can squeeze more $$ out of us??!!

hmmmm......
:shakehead: :mad:
 
its odd u say this because i was sure when we got our 20 gallon , i bought 25 gallons of spring water to fill it and only used 15...and recounted and recounted and recounted
 
Relax!!!

:D

I used 15" width as an avg for bow front & calculates 68gal.

This is probably a good estimate, but slightly low. If the tank is sold as a 72 gallon tank, it is most likely holding somewhere between 71.5 and 72 gallons. I don't think the manufacturer has anything to gain from defrauding consumers over a few gallons here and there.

Your gallon jugs are probably holding more than one gallon each, which is why the measurements seem a little low. Also, if there is a lot of substrate, rocks, decorations, or other things in the tank, those are taking space away from the water! That would make the estimate skewed.

To estimate the gallons yourself, multiply Length x Width x Height (in inches), then divide by 231. Like you noted, with bowfronts, you have to make a guess to compensate for the bowing. (I don't have the formula on hand for that.)
 
Last edited:
Cashlaw said:
Relax!!!

:D

I used 15" width as an avg for bow front & calculates 68gal.

This is probably a good estimate, but slightly low. If the tank is sold as a 72 gallon tank, it is most likely holding somewhere between 71.5 and 72 gallons. I don't think the manufacturer has anything to gain from defrauding consumers over a few gallons here and there.

Your gallon jugs are probably holding more than one gallon each, which is why the measurements seem a little low. Also, if there is a lot of substrate, rocks, decorations, or other things in the tank, those are taking space away from the water! That would make the estimate skewed.

To estimate the gallons yourself, multiply Length x Width x Height (in inches), then divide by 231. Like you noted, with bowfronts, you have to make a guess to compensate for the bowing. (I don't have the formula on hand for that.)
Click to expand...

hey cash, I've been told that mfr's use outside dimensions as standard practive. now how that makes a big difference vs. inside glass measurements I am not sure & would be skeptical also.

but my milk containers are true 1gal jugs - maybe I fill to the brim & get a few oz extra but I know what I measured & my estimate on W/C replacement is not a bad calculation to be way off like that.

& beabroca just proved it with their 20gal.

& I have others who concurred - on much larger tanks than mine.

so I still feel "deceived".

what tanks do you have? next time you do a W/C see if you can make an estimate of how much yours holds. or if you set up a new one. I have displaced 13 gal. in a 13gal rubbermaid garbage/laundry can & then replaced with 13 jugs - same water levels b-4 and after. I guess maybe something wrong with my hypothesis & actual "experiment".

so curious to see if you can fill your tank the old fashion way & count. await your results!

now it's not just my BF's but also regular tanks, beabroca has a reg.tank & so did the others who concurred with me.
 
When you did these measurements, was the tank completely empty, no substrate or decorations?
 
Time for a class action lawsuit? :)
 
Wow, this is happening a lot lately. A fellow member on this site, Zbbal? From South Carolina I think, was also sold a tank that was advertised 10 gallons more than what she received. She was told the tank was an 45 gallon and it ended up being only 35. What a shame.....*smh*. Sorry to hear that you were a victim of such deception, whether it was intentional or not. :(
 
Well, then I don't know what's up! My tanks are just the regular rectangle glass ones. They all measure out to their stated gallons. I got most of them used and had to measure them to just know what size they were. The outside vs. inside glass can knock off a gallon or two, it's never exactly perfect, but I've just never seen such a discrepancy.

I'd call the manufacturer and try to ask one of their technicians the same questions, and find out why it does not seem to hold as much water as it should.

Does it have an overflow box built into the corner? The overflow might not be draining during water changes, and for a 72G, I could see the overflow tower holding about 10G. If it doesn't have one, then I guess the best bet would be to contact the manufacturer.
 
Stargazer53 said:
Wow, this is happening a lot lately. A fellow member on this site, Zbbal? From South Carolina I think, was also sold a tank that was advertised 10 gallons more than what she received. She was told the tank was an 45 gallon and it ended up being only 35. What a shame.....*smh*. Sorry to hear that you were a victim of such deception, whether it was intentional or not. :(
Click to expand...

That was a used item though, the maker of the tank didn't make these claims, the seller did.
 
That's kind of frustrating
But as i know their are UK gallons and Us gallons, We hope that some day in the future Americans and British will try a new thing called A Liter which is standard all over the world and really reliable
And even more when you get their you may give a try to meters and centimeters as well

cheers :cheers:
 
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