Tank Options... 75g or two smaller tanks

A

Akysten

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May 28, 2006
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I'm going to ask one final time... but word it a little different. I need to make a decision today.

The deal with the wife is:

1 60g community, 1 40 breeder community, 1 20l misc/malawi dwarf tank, 1 50g malawi mbuna tank

Or

1 60g community, 1 50g community, 1 75g Malawi(african cichlid)

I would be limited to three tanks, though I COULD put a tank UNDER the 75g stand for fry growout.


Part of my issue is overcrowding in the 60g.

There is a higher cost to the 75g option of about $150. I just can't decide if I'd rather have the larger tank or the flexibility of a bunch of smaller ones. I'm sort of locked in with the 75g option.. as appealing as it is, but most people say that it's a not brainer to go with the larger tank.

Thoughts?
 
I would go with the bigger one. You are still limited with a few smaller tanks IMO, just in a different way. The bigger my tanks got, my need for the smaller ones grew less and less but everyone's different.
 
smaller tanks take more work than larger ones to keep right =)

I spend more time on my 20 and 5 gallon than I do with my 80 gallon
 
You're probably right... I've pretty much decided that I'm going to pick up the 75g this evening.. well, half of it, I can't get the whole thing in my car.
I'll have to get the tank tomorrow.

I'm very excited about it.. I'll probably keep the 20L under the stand for a growout for fry.. as a hospital, or just some place to keep fish when holding.
At least it's out of sight... and I think, or it may.. well, it's a gray area.

It will cost me more to get this setup.. $200 more... I'm not sure it fits into my budget right now, but you know what? Make the move when you can.
 
Oh, and that quote of the spawning of the age of aquariums is very close to a song by They Might be Giants...

Cage and Aquarium:
This is the spawning of the cage and aquarium
Don't wait a moment too soon
Used to be different
now you're the same
Yawn as your plane goes down in flames
 
I am going against the general consensus - I would buy more smaller tanks. I like having more options and variety in my life. Not to mention the fact that the many tanks you would be getting are all large enough to be a lot of fun.

In my opinion smaller tanks get an undeserved bad rap. My 5g tank is no more difficult to care for than my 55g tank. In fact, I think it's a lot easier. From my many years of experience in this hobby, I have concluded that whole thing about smaller tanks being unstable and less forgiving to neglect is a while lot of phooey.

So yeah, I would get more tanks. But then I suffer from MTS. Almost every night before bed I will dream about a new kind of tank I want to make. Last night the dream of an African river tank has started to surface.

I fear what my house would look like if I were loaded with money.
 
Or if I were single...

My other concern, the 75g isn't going to be as cheap as I had thought.

It's going to cost me $180 for the 75, and NOTHING for the 40.. well, I'll have to pay $40 for a strip light... that's makes it $135 to upgrade from the 40 to a 75. That is NOT a bad deal, but free vs $135? That's a lot of fish stuff. Still, I lack that one large tank that I crave. Yes, I have a 60, but it's only 13" deep.. and I want 18".

And I fear that my wife will eventually make me take the 20l away... see, it's in a spot that she wants a bookcase...and it's in the living room. Let me put it this way, how many wives would allow 3-5 tanks and make the living room a fish room? How about 2 large tanks that are done really nice? Lets just say she doesn't like having three tanks.

I'll talk with her this evening... I'll proabably do the 75, though financially, it doesn't make sense... just because. I still have the 40g with no stand in the garage... but I can always sell that.
 
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