JohnA26
Community Member
I'm itching to increase from my nano 13.5 gallon. Been offered a 72 gallon bow front. Anyone have any experience with a bow front or thoughts? Is this a good size, too big, too small still? Thank you.
Bow front tank
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blaxsun
10K Club member
What does it have for filtration options? Is it an AIO (all-in-one with the overflow, pump chamber and room for filtration at the back) or just a standard tank that you have to either add an external sump or HOB (hang on back) pumps and filtration?
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JohnA26
Community Member
It has external sump
Yates273
Valuable Member
I had a 72 bowfront. They are notorious for the center brace cracking. I had to rig a secondary brace until the brace cracked again in a different place. I ended up getting rid of tank. And yes the brace is needed because when mine broke the front pane of glass moved out about 3/4”. Scary. Sorry just letting you know my experience.
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JohnA26
Community Member
yes, entire set up
blaxsun
10K Club member
I guess the questions are do you like it, what kind of condition is it in and is it a good price? (in addition to the aforementioned structural concerns to look out for above)
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JohnA26
Community Member
Thank you, I will be going to "examine" it this week. I am new to this hobby. I probably am not exactly sure what to look for, but I will certainly look. The referred brace above, I assume is on the bottom. Again, being new, is it out of the question to ask to fill it with water? (That is a lot of water)
Any tips from an experienced person in this hobby as to what to look for?
Yates273
Valuable Member
Top center brace if plastic looks old and brittle I would pass. Plenty of tanks out there and for this to be your first tank wouldn’t want you to get discouraged if it was set up and the brace cracks. This is not mine but mine cracked where the yellow highlight is.
Yates273
Valuable Member
If your buying I don’t think it’s out of line to ask to have it filled to make sure it doesn’t leak. Again just make sure you really inspect top brace for cracks or repairs. If you see that walk away unless he is giving it to you even then with those issues I would pass
moneymm22
Active Member
i have had a 50 gallon glass bow front for years, after a while I wish i had a straight glass tank for optimal viewing. so I just upgraded. also the curved glass was more difficult to clean.
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JohnA26
Community Member
Well I took the plunge. I’ve spoken to every lfs trusted person I know and overwhelming answer is they would not re-seal. 1 guy, whom I visit most often, said to re-seal. These are all without seeing the tank. So I got the tank cleaned and am noticing some gaps(?) in the silicone. I had water over that spot twice and no leak. What is your opinion? I have never re-sealed a tank or anything. I really don’t want to start tearing the silicone and cause more damage than good. Hard to see that I am seeing in pictures but here are a few. As you may see, most looks great, but there is a spot on bottom front with a gap and a couple chips on side corners. Thank you!
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Mywifeisgunnakillme
Valuable Member
I had a bow front for about 10 years. It held up great. But another may not. The major benefit was a wider/deeper tank. You can get the same benefit with just wider/deeper tank. Check out innovative marine lagoon styles, these benefit from a better, cleaner, build with thicker high clarity glass. The bow front can add lighting challenges with the center brace lack of lighting the very front-center of the tank.
Having had both--i would go innovative marine or similar now.
my 2 cents.
That said, looks like you got the bow front---it's a cool tank. Just watch the center brace and be easy on cleaner near the silicone seems.
Having had both--i would go innovative marine or similar now.
my 2 cents.
That said, looks like you got the bow front---it's a cool tank. Just watch the center brace and be easy on cleaner near the silicone seems.
Yates273
Valuable Member
The missing silicone you see is not really an issue. The structural part and the part that really matters is the seal between the pieces of glass if those are good then your fine. Look at all the Red Sea reef tanks the only silicone you see is the stuff between the glass. They don’t have those edges that are on the less expensive tanks.
