How's it going guys (and girls)

I'm Will, I'm in my third year at Central Michigan University and I'm about to pick up my first tank today (50 gal). I've been looking all around at a ton of fishtanks on here and I decided I'm going with freshwater.

This is what I want to model it after: http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/photo-main.php/6521

My questions are:

A. Is my over-the-back filter going to suck up that crushed coral and destroy it?
B. How do I stack rocks like that, I assume it's mighty heavy (do I have to worry about the glass breaking?) and how do I stop them from tumbling?

In addition,

I've tried to send some people messages asking the same questions and they've responded to me.. but how the hell do I open up their messages? I can't click the lil notepad graphic and if I click their name it goes to their personal page? any ideas?

Thanks!

the messager thing is a little messed up, when you clic reply it doesn't automatically put the subject in and if you don't type one in then the person you sent it to can't open it, happened to me a few times...........

that being said, welcome to the hobby and the site on behalf of everyone

I am not a fresh water guy but love to talk tanks, lol,

the questions you asked are basic to all tanks, the filter will suck up substatrate and detonate a filter, BUT, only if you put the pick up to close to it, so as long as your 3-5 inches off the bottom and don't have a powerhead blowing sand at it, you'll be fine

stacking rocks, well it really is as simple as doing it in the front yard, make sure the bottom rocks are good and large and are "squished" into the sand so they don't move, from there, start stacking..............some people drill and pin there rock together with epoxy and acrylic dowels, some even zip tie it together. just make sure your fish, crabs or snails can't knock em over and you'll be fine there too................the jury is out on touching the glass, I don't have any rock touching my glass so i can clean around them, some people say absolutly do not touch the glass because of a stress point and possable crack causeing situation and ive seen other tanks with rock all the way up the side or back, so i think it's a matter of preferance and care - - - but it is much easier to clean around if it's not touching the glass - - -algae spots are nasty things to look at, lol


Good luck!!!!!


Snowboss

Crushed coral does raise your pH, but the tank you were trying to model yours after was an African cichlid tank. Those fish prefer a high pH so that is why it is a good choice for them. If you are not going to keep African cichlids then the guy at the store was right. If you are then he was wrong about it hurting your fish.

Good luck. The tank looks like a good start. What are you planning on stocking it with?

Welcome to the site as well.

I like to keep my water above the black trim....it looks nice that way. :)

Well..those mbuna would have been 3-6'' with some bulk, would've done o-k in a 50gal, and would've allowed for the crushed coral instead of this drastically different look you seem to have bought into impulsively because of your friendly LFS associate =P

What is it exactly he's suggesting you do with the first two ''rounds'' of fish...after you get the 3rd ''round'' you ''actually want''...?

Plants will absorb ammonia and lengthen your cycle btw. I'm not sure why he would tell you to add them first..

I have to ask the same question here bigwill, on this site and most other sites i've been to we all stress the bad husbandry in cycleing tanks with live fish, it is very stressful and in most cases deadly to the "host" fish. It has for years been a normal practice though and is just something most of us disagree with strongly. no one is attacking you in anyway.................

a good LFS is hard to find, so if you have a knowledgeable one that spends time with you consider yourself lucky, but remember, the bottom line is that they are in business to make money and sometimes can lead you in a direction that although will work has other options that might not pad their pockets, but is better for fish all around.

Again, no one here is attacking you, we just like to give the best advise from the aquarist perspective not the business perspective.............actually some of what we may consider "proper" techniques actually can cost more than what an LFS might suggest......especially in a salt system


anyway, you are off to a great start and sound like your seeking out all the advise you can...............make well informed choices and enjoy the hobby


Boss