new tank. give me some ideas!

[RoseyD]

I'm new to tanks and fish, so don't mind that my question may come out sounding really silly - but I'm trying to understand the concept ...

why do people add big rocks to tanks? If the rocks are taking away from the 'gallons' of water the tank holds, and thus reducing the amount of fish load that a tank can sustain... then, isn't it a bad thing to have too many big rocks?

[Zan]

that is true but you dont want to cram as many fish as possible into a tank. also with only water in a tank it would be so boring. :P

[Seanyb9985]

Originally Posted by RoseyD

why do people add big rocks to tanks? If the rocks are taking away from the 'gallons' of water the tank holds, and thus reducing the amount of fish load that a tank can sustain... then, isn't it a bad thing to have too many big rocks?

I believe it is an inch of fish for every gallon of water so it is not necessarily how many fish you have but how big the fish are. In larger tanks the amount of water the rocks displace is only a few gal. In a 55 gal tank you may only be losing 5 gal to rocks. So there is still room for 50 inches worth of fish.

[Ajsim]

Well, rocks ans plants make the tank look more natural, and that's how i like it! But more inportant, rocks, plants, etc. create good hiding places for the fish in your tank and thus they will feel more safe and will behave more natural. Also, they most often show much better colors.

I believe creating a natural environment is even more important than the gallons of water u lose while adding rocks and plants... And last but not least you can increase the amount of fish load of most tanks by upgrading the tanks filter.

[Seanyb9985]

I agree!!

[doggyhog]

I Love your 55 gal. tank!!! Beautiful!

[Seanyb9985]

Thanks!!! Yeah it was beautiful unfortunately I had to sell it. But it was one of my favorite tanks that I have done