Bowfront / Curved Tanks, worth it?

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While I do like the visual effect of a bowfront or a cylinder tank, I find their function to be somewhat lacking. Cleaning the glass can be a pain if you don't have the right tools, and having a curved effect in the glass sometimes distorts the look of the fish and corals. For larger versions of these tanks you also have to stick with acrylic as glass is not as flexible and can be more prone to leaking on the edges. But cleaning acrylic can be dicey especially if you have a sand bottom. Are they worth the extra trouble in your opinion?

 

[Channas]

In my opinion no, because for me i get a severe headache when looking inside any type of cylinder/curved or even hexagon shaped tank. My eyes can’t take it if i stare too long and this is a common thing for people so make sure first that you are not one of us and try an hour and stare at a curved tank and see how your body takes it, im sure you can find one at a zoo to try it out

 

[UncommonSense]

I’ve come across a few “larger” glass bowfronts, recently, a 75G oceanic rimmed tank… the bowfront glass was heat bent and tempered 8mm!

worth noting, particularly with acrylic bowfronts, is the propensity to getting scratched… because the viewing pane isn’t flat, a scraper run in a vertical line will only contact on the outside edges, with substantial point pressure, making the viewing pane scratch much easier if any grit gets trapped by the cleaning motions…

(“The grandkids” got to this 5’ 95g acrylic bowfront with that mag float cleaner, according to the guy I broke it down for!)

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I have a 36 bow front. I would not do it again. You nailed the downside: distortion and cleaning. For me it made sense initially because it was going on a small wall section that is 45° to the two adjoining hallways. A cube would protrude into high a traffic area too much. Bow front gave me more room inside without obstructing walkways too much.
Cleaning glass requires horizontal scraping; the bow will only allow scraper corners to make contact when scraping vertically.
The distortion is far worse than I had imagined, but it does give an illusion of greater space.

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

I’ve come across a few “larger” glass bowfronts, recently, a 75G oceanic rimmed tank… the bowfront glass was heat bent and tempered 8mm!

worth noting, particularly with acrylic bowfronts, is the propensity to getting scratched… because the viewing pane isn’t flat, a scraper run in a vertical line will only contact on the outside edges, with substantial point pressure, making the viewing pane scratch much easier if any grit gets trapped by the cleaning motions…

(“The grandkids” got to this 5’ 95g acrylic bowfront with that mag float cleaner, according to the guy I broke it down for!)

Yikes that's a lot of scratches. I would not want to be the person to have to buff those out.

 

[UncommonSense]

Yikes that's a lot of scratches. I would not want to be the person to have to buff those out.

Oh, I was that person! — it took around 3hrs…

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

Oh, I was that person! — it took around 3hrs…

I applaud you, that takes a lot of patience.

 

[petcellar]

I really liked the old oceanic bow tanks. The tanks were glass, so no problems with scratches. The curve was slight, so there may have been a little distortion, but wasn't bad.

I still have a 46 bow oceanic that's almost 20 years old.

I could see where there would be structural worries on a really large aquarium though.

I don't think I would like a cylinder tank at all.... I think the curvature and distortion would be much more pronounced.

 

[UncommonSense]

I don't think I would like a cylinder tank at all.... I think the curvature and distortion would be much more pronounced.

I’ve discovered from my acrylic hexagon that flat panes are the way… there’s distortion at each radiused corner, but the flat panel sections each provide a new and unique view of the tank! (A octagon or corner pentagon has similar effect)

(It seems like a great alternative to a cylinder, particularly if made from glass, with mitered vertical seams [thus no visual distortion!])

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I won a wave front 90 gallon tank at a macna years ago. I used it as a second reef tank for a number of years. I’m not convinced the curve was any benefit, and personally would stick with straight sides.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I recently set up a 54g glass corner tank. I like it. It’s hard to photo though, it does distorts

Cleaning the glass isn’t a problem really I use a regular scraper. My first tank was a 155 bow front and enjoyed that also