That's what the BF said...Just do PVC. I got myself sold on the BG though... *sigh* All that excitement wasted in the face of practicality....
My new plan was to do a decorative layer of some sort of gravel on acrylic (or glass...) and incorporate some shelves out of LR bits I found around town. I'd also do something more permanent with the mangroves.
The PVC shelves would serve the purpose though...I'm thinking I'll do that for now and later, when I expand, plan more carefully for exactly what I want.