water displacement vs decor ie; backgrounds substrate etc

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Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2011
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rural Calif.
A 180G tank for dining room: contemplating backgrounds, substrate or other bottom material etc:
I figured that just 1.5 inch of both background & bottom will 'cost' me 22 gallons of water. Not counting driftwood.
Doesn't take much before 25 gallons of water is subtracted :WHOA:

I want a nice looking textured background and bottom, with SOME sand. but how do you guys weigh the balance between aesthetics and what it costs your fish in WATER volume?

Any ideas for texturing back & bottom with a natural look & minimal loss?

Thanks.
I'm being extremely indecisive, want the best of all worlds, Lol.
 
I figure the tank has to look good, number one. Then I stock with fish accordingly. Between my gravel (2.5"), driftwood and some stacked stone, heaters and plants, I'm down to 67-70g from 75g bare, approximately. I use either black background or the pictures of dense plants on the back of the tank. Then I make sure I have enough filter for twice the amount of water.
 
I build my tanks so that the size of the tank I have post installing a BG is what the stock needed if it were without one. Need 24" width, buy 30" tank, install 4" BG and be done with a little extra.
 
Well, most people have some substrate and decor, and a lot have air space at the top, so I figure it's like buying a 2"x4". It's not really 2" and it's not really 4", so when people say that's what you need, they mean you don't need it to be 2"x4", but 1.5" x 3.5"

So when people are saying you need a 240, they mean ~200 gallons of water with air and decor and substrate. And when they say you have to turn your 240 5 times, they mean you have to turn your 200 6 times. It all works out the same as long as you are hearing the same idea.

I agree with Joe. Add a large sump and decorate the tank with no worries.
 
joe jaskot said:
Add a large sump to your tank and don't worry about the displacement of water due to gravel, backgound, or decorations.
Click to expand...

Agreed. With a larger tank a sump is always suggested so it negates this whole question.

I honestly just don't think about it. When people suggest a trio of oscars for a 180 they don't mean 150 gallons after all said and done with 3 inch sand and driftwood and who knows what else. Plus the fish aren't going to notice 30 gallons short of water. It'll affect nitrates if it's 30 gallons short of 180, but that's it. The footprint is what matters imo. So I just don't think about it.
 
I agree just add a big sump. A friend in college had a ten gallon tank filled to the max with sps corals and other difficult to keep species 13 years ago. He glued them right to the wall of the tank and let them take over. No rock, sand, just corals. He lit it with a 175 watt metal halide. I asked how he was able to do this and keep parameters good and heat to a minimum, he opened the stand and had a 55 gallon drum nearly full as a sump. Tank might have been 10 gallons but he had over 60 of water.

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I am in the planning stage now for my twin 245 setup. I am looking to put them side by side in a basement and put them on 42 inch stands. Under I am trying to fit 4 of the 150 gallon Rubbermaid tubs. One will be a sump, other three just water holders used for growout of stingray pups or to move females for birth or recovery. All in all I should have about 1000 gallons of actual water in the system.

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JK47 said:
I build my tanks so that the size of the tank I have post installing a BG is what the stock needed if it were without one. Need 24" width, buy 30" tank, install 4" BG and be done with a little extra.
Click to expand...
I'm moving to your house.
 
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