Big Tank Vs Lil Tanks...

[electric yellow]

I want more bettas...but the problem is my fiancee wont let me have another tank. What would be a great idea to turn him around? I have thought about power bills, heating etc. Would it be an idea to get rid of my two aqua start 28ltrs and go for a 3ft tank and just divide? I could have four sections in a 3ft tank couldnt i? Or 3?I tried to redivide my 28ltr tanks again but its something i need to do when they arent full of water. I read someone on this forum that a bigger tank will not cosume as much power as what smaller tanks will when used in mass.

Has anyone done something like this before? Buying a larger tank, then getting rid of the smaller ones?

Any ideas, advice would be great! Im keen to throw all sorts of ideas at him.

Pictures, advice or instructions on how to divide and what you did would also rock!

(more details for him the better )

 

[stang1]

This is my old 3ft divided tank:

My partner made a false bottom so the intake pipe could sit below it and then fitted a spray bar along the top so that each section was filtered. It ran an external filter which made things easier but also meant we could create a minimal flow.
Each section was divided with perspex and a hole cut in the partition to allow the spray bar to fit. we also had heaters at opposite ends of the tank.
It was a more complex way of doing things but my other half loves a challenge and it did work great!
I know others have set up similar tanks but have used mesh as dividers, allowing them to run an internal filter. A less complicated way and look just as good, all depends how much time your fellla has on his hands!

 

[GSD]

I would have thought it would be alot easier to keep one big divided tank rather than many small ones, as it is easier to keep the water stable on a bigger tank, and you would only be heating/filtering the one rather than many smaller tanks (unless you decide to filter every compartment which i have seen but personally dont think neccessary)
I would divide into 4 personally.

 

[Honeythorn]

I'd say replace the small tanks ( sell one on ebay and keep the other for an emergency ) with one big tank. The longest you have space for. A 55 gallon long would fantastic if you have the space for it. Divide into approx 5 gal sections. One external cannister filter to run the whole thing, and a heater. You could decorate each section differently too.

 

[The Village Idiot]

Go for the bigger tank...always. As to your question regarding manipulating your fiance, well, far be it from me to advise the more intelligent sex on that one. If you do find something that works, please post back. My wife has drawn a line on aquariums that I would love to erase.

 

[liz2]

my OH has given up on me he lets me have as many tanks as I want!!

 

[Cdarmychi]

Eh...I just got my OH hooked even worse on the fish then I did. LOL.....

That, and bribery. "Babe, Im sorry I havent made dinner yet. It just takes sooo long to WC all of those little tanks. So much longer then the 55...."

LOL it only took 2 weeks to change his mind.

 

[heygetsmart]

Hahaha... My OH has given up also. We just bought my parents house and moved all the fish in my old room. We plan on getting a 290 GAL for the cichilds and convert the old 55 gal and 110 gal to tropical freshwater! : D No point in fighting about it anymore... I would say... IF HE LOVES HE'LL LET YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. Just kidding [ : But in all honesty... Like Honeythorn suggested... Great idea. Great.