How Much Easier Is A Larger Tank

eduller · Jan 14, 2014

I need to upgrade my tank size. I have a 5 gallon right now. I have been looking at 10 gallon tanks, but should I look bigger?

How much easier is it really to maintain a large tank? On a scale of 1-10, 1 being easy, 10 being a giant hassle, I'd say the maintenance on my 5 gallon tank has been like a 5? 6 maybe. Granted, I've only had it for about 3 weeks. I'm definitely getting a larger tank. I don't have a ton of space, but I also know the larger the hassle, the less likely I am to stick with it. Does it get exponentially easier to take care of a larger and larger tank? I'm thinking I should just take the plunge and get a 29-30 gallon. Although now I'm second guessing at 55 gallon seems to be the most popular size. I did *just* buy an air pump and some of those bubbley tubey things rated for up to 40 gallons, so that's making me lean toward the 29 gallon size.

I don't want a TON of fish. I'm happy with my couple of snails and the 3 glofish, and I probably would stick with that same setup in a larger tank - adding 3 more glofish and maybe a couple more snails but nothing elaborate. I don't want a bunch of real plants. I don't want so many fish that I can't keep track of which is which (I have an ocd thing about knowing each one's personality...). But I want the fish I do have to have a nice tank with enough room, and less maintenance is always better. Cost isn't THAT huge of a factor. There are tons of used tanks available in my area.

Chad · Jan 14, 2014

I do recommend the larger (55 gallon) tank if you have the room for it. If you are wise enough to keep the stocking numbers limited the tank will be very forgiving and easier to maintain healthy fish in. Any tank, no matter how big, when overstocked, will be a problem but I've found an under stocked large tank to be a pleasure to keep and the fish will behave better in it as well and generally be more interesting to watch. A 55 gallon with a school of cardinals and a group of cory and no other fish is a joy to watch and not too hard to maintain. Just my experience.

Wildbetta · Jan 14, 2014

Once cycled and as long as care is taken to not overstock...a larger tank is much easier and much more forgiving than a small one. The larger water volume makes the temperature more stable and the water parameters easier to maintain. I personally recommend getting the biggest tank that you can get your hands on that will fit into your lifestyle.

l_l_l · Jan 14, 2014

Have a 20 gallon and a 46..
My favorite being the 46.
I can keep more fish in it, environment is way more stable,
Maintenance is about the same thing in both.. I do have a lot of plants so nitrates are not even a concern (tested at 0 ppm for the past month now)
Larger tanks will be less of a pain if water goes bad at some point, and you can be loosser about water changes if need be.
I really suggest getting plants tho as glofish are originally danios which love plants.

but I'm a bit biased because I do prefer plants over fish.

eduller · Jan 14, 2014

Okay so the consensus is bigger = better. I can get on board with that. As for plants - what on earth do you do with them? Will snails EAT them? Do you need a special light? I envision myself spending my days skimming dead plant muck out of a gigantic fish tank.

b3cca · Jan 19, 2014

Just get some simple low tech plants.

All mine are simple ferns, anubius and mosses which really need no special requirement at all.
I just superglue them to a bit of wood or decoration in my tank and they look after themselves

frapadoodle · Jan 19, 2014

The bigger, the easier, as had been said.
Got a 55gal. S.A. community and a 10gal. Betta. And with a tank full in the 55, the Betta tank takes as much work. But I also over filter. Most work occurs early in the life of the tank. Once stable it's ho-hum normal work.
As for plants, plenty of easy to grow plants. Anubius, most stems, most swords, but they get big. Java fern, mosses. I just use the lights that came with the tanks. I use Seachem Flourish, but that's it. But I like lots of plants as well. Most work with plants is pruning. For stems cut em off and pop the cuttings in for new plants. Some plants are grown emmersed and those leaves will melt off, but new submmersed leaves take over.
As has been said, with a larger tank you have more stocking options. Larger schools, larger, shoals, more options for a centerpiece.
Good luck and don't get discouraged.