Multiple Tanks Vs. One Single Tank

[Mako Man111]

I don't know, I have 3 tanks right now, they all look alright and have alright equipement, but sometimes I wish I just had one tank to focus and perfect.

In other words, I almost think that I would be happier with just one tank around 55 gallons (so it could go in my room), that I would get all the nicest equipement for, the best filter(s), and best mix of substrate, the niceest driftwood, and the nicest plants and overall tank. Instead of having 3 tanks that just always seem to be half complete. You know what I mean? Plus in the end I would be saving a lot of $$ just having to maintain and keep one in tip top shape.

Maby if I had only one tank I would test my water more often and just try and keep it as perfect as possible (my obsesive compulsive self )

Anyone else agree?

 

[sjcneedshelp321]

yeah, i think i agree with you, even though there are plus points to having a few tanks, like you can have non-community fish in seperate tanks or whatever. i agree with you though.

 

[andywg]

Not for me. Can't really keep my FW preds with my reef, and certainly can't put my frogfish in with the reef.

 

[themissingelf]

Yeah - I agree. Many years ago I had four tanks on the go. In some respects it's much harder to make a single tank all that you want it to be. I've always been torn between cichlids and planted tanks and the temptation to have one of each is quite strong. However, I've taken the planted route and therefore struggle to find fish with the character that I'm really after (i.e. cichlids!).
Neverthless, I still prefer to concentrate on one tank.

 

[iroc]

Yeah - I agree. Many years ago I had four tanks on the go. In some respects it's much harder to make a single tank all that you want it to be. I've always been torn between cichlids and planted tanks and the temptation to have one of each is quite strong. However, I've taken the planted route and therefore struggle to find fish with the character that I'm really after (i.e. cichlids!).
Neverthless, I still prefer to concentrate on one tank.

I have cichlids in my planted tank 55 gal pics Why do you HAVE to chose?


And I like the idea of haveing more then one tank becuase I want to do different things with each tank

 

[Mirriah]

Not that I have much of a choice because I can't afford to get another tank. But I have to agree with the posters who said they only wanted one tank, I would be stretched a little too thin with more than two or three tanks on the go. I would be worried about the welfare of each I'd be spending all my time bouncing from one to the other instead of concentrating my energy on one great tank.

But of course, when I manage to afford my big tank I'll end up with two anyway.

 

[samyboy]

sometimes i would prefer just 1 tank but as soon as your on one tank you see some fish in the LFS store you've not seen before but theres just not enough room in your main tank

 

[Mako Man111]

Any other Opinions?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Mako Man111

I have something like 26 or 27 tanks running now and like it that way.

Some of my corys do best in single species tanks and will spawn in them but not in community settings. Some of the others contain fry and smaller fish. Two are quarantine tanks.

I also like the idea that if a filter or heater goes haywire, all my fish are not at risk. The same for a disease that could appear in one tank. At least all my fish are not at risk like they would be if I had fewer but bigger tanks.

 

[QuotheRaven]

I have 3 tanks running and Im happy with that HOWEVER If I was to get more tanks I would get a upwards of 90 Gallons

 

[Flumpus]

Gotta have different tanks... FW community, low end brackish, high end brackish/marine, and a seahorse tank. If you like variety, different tanks are the only way.

 

[TammyLiz]

I have a number of tanks, some of them are more involved than others to care for. I like having more than one because it keeps my interest. I am quite the perfectionist and am never completely happy with any one of my tanks, but I have to say, I don't think I'd be happy with it if I just had a single one to concentrate on, either. With more tanks, I can concentrate on the ones that are doing well and just sort of cruise through maintanence during the boring stages in the others. Always something interesting going on, you know? However, during times where other things happen in life that pulls me away from the fish (hey, it happens when you have kids and health issues and own a home), it is a little much to maintain. I can see how there would be a time in someone's life where a single tank is the only practical thing to do. Somtimes there are things that are just more important than fish. But how would you choose which type of setup to have? You can't just throw everything in together.

Inchworm, 26 or 27 tanks? You can't even keep track of how many tanks you have running? Thats just craziness. How small is the smallest? If I count down to my 2 gallon tanks, I have a total of 7. I love the 2 gallon ones. I have three of them. A beautiful little world sitting on a table, and so easy to clean. Five minutes to gather supplies, five minutes to get my daughter out of my hair, two minutes to gravel vac, thirty seconds to dispose of water, two minutes to refill, and BAM! I'm done. Fifteen minutes, and only ten if daughter is already in bed or over at Grandmas house. The 55 gallon is another story. I really need to get a python. All those buckets are just too much on a pregnant belly. I'm sure anyone with 27 tanks already has one unless you spend 40 hours a week on water changes. Or maybe you have a big system like a pet store? Point me to a thread that outlines it. There must be one, right?

 

[Tolak]

Multiple tanks are more flexable as far as keeping fish that wouldn't be compatable in one larger tank. Larger tanks give you the opportunity to keep large fish. It's all more of what the individual is interested in.

For what I like to do, it's racks of smaller tanks, it's what's needed for breeding.

 

[Inchworm]

Inchworm, 26 or 27 tanks? You can't even keep track of how many tanks you have running? Thats just craziness. How small is the smallest? If I count down to my 2 gallon tanks, I have a total of 7. I love the 2 gallon ones. I have three of them. A beautiful little world sitting on a table, and so easy to clean. Five minutes to gather supplies, five minutes to get my daughter out of my hair, two minutes to gravel vac, thirty seconds to dispose of water, two minutes to refill, and BAM! I'm done. Fifteen minutes, and only ten if daughter is already in bed or over at Grandmas house. The 55 gallon is another story. I really need to get a python. All those buckets are just too much on a pregnant belly. I'm sure anyone with 27 tanks already has one unless you spend 40 hours a week on water changes. Or maybe you have a big system like a pet store? Point me to a thread that outlines it. There must be one, right?

Hi TammyLiz

Oops! I guess I was just too lazy to get up and do a count and you caught me. So, I just counted and it turns out that there are 28 of them up right now. I also have a one gallon jar that is home to a pair of African Dwarf Frogs. Every room in my house has tanks including 3 in the bathroom, so they are all on separate filters. I have three 55s, three 30s, a 29 gallon, and everything else is either a 20 gallon or a ten.

The reason I have to count them is because a few of them go up and down according to what fish I have at any given time. For example, if I get some new ones, I'll just clone a 10 gallon for a quarantine tank. If I have some fish that spawn, I might move them out of their tank and put a new one up for them. Then, when the fry get big enough, I often combine small batches in one of the larger tanks. Right now I have a 30 gallon tank that I've raised fry in. They will be gone soon and I'll move another batch up from a 20 gallon. This will give them more room to grow in and will mean that I can set up the 20 for fish that are now in two 10 gallon quarantine tanks and those tanks can come down for a while. It's constantly changing, so I've never made a thread about all my fish at once.

I do use a python and it's a big help. It takes me about four hours of steady work, every 5 days or so, to do my water changes. I couldn't manage without one, but I still either use a regular siphon, or dip water out, to clean the fry tanks every day. If you're pregnant, it would make your job much easier too. Water is heavy and you need to carry a lot of it if you are cleaning a 55.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I would love to have more tanks. If I could afford it and had the room I would have 2 or 3 in every room! Then I could have lots of kinds of fish. My son says I am obsessed. I read about them and talk about them all the time.
I have a 1, 10, and 29 gal. I am now begging for a 55 gal. I hope to get it soon. I try to watch for used ones, but can't find any around here.
It would allow me to have more variety since I watch fish instead of tv.