water displacement vs decor ie; backgrounds substrate etc

[petspoiler]

Add a large sump to your tank and don't worry about the displacement of water due to gravel, backgound, or decorations.

don't know how to build a sump.
no mfkers for hours away.

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.

yeah, I'm discovering all that "actual" specs stuff. but I want a 180, not a 150! Grrrr
Sump is a no-go unless I got help. seriously can't risk flooding. we had 3 plumbing breaks already & had to get the whole house re-plumbed out of slab foundation. I couldn't sleep unless a sump was practically bomb proof.
Footprint kinda bothers me more than gallons, in a way, kind of.
I'd like my fish to feel happy and spacious in there ;-)

 

[petspoiler]

I like decor but when you keep lots of big fish I rather give them full unobstructive swimming room.

By "decor" I meant a textured background, natural easy to clean bottom, and just enough DW etc for habitat & territories.

 

[Gill Blue]

how-to for a Very Cool Background that will not use any tank volume whatsoever. I almost did this, but got a good deal on a huge piece of driftwood that goes across the back of the tank.

I have a 245 but figure because my 60G sump was designed with all submerged media and runs almost full I have about 250G of water.

 

[petspoiler]

how-to for a Very Cool Background that will not use any tank volume whatsoever. I almost did this, but got a good deal on a huge piece of driftwood that goes across the back of the tank.
............

that's a very interesting idea.
someone with half the skills of Michelangelo could probably "pull it off" too ;-)
all those strange language illustrations are cool. incomprehensible, but cool.

 

[petspoiler]

you know what, I'm just gonna cram a couple dead fish & ducks from the local park pond behind my tank.
that's realistic.