Need Help Trying To Convince My Grandmother To Let Me Get A 55g

[Durbkat]

Like the title says I need some help covincing my grandmother to let me get a 55g tank to rehome my pleco in. So could you guys give me some ideas on things to say to win the argument so I can get it. I have the money and the space its just trying to convince her I need another tank.

 

[morgan]

Hi, larger tanks are easier to look after, so you could tell her that. Also they look very nice, they are a feature in the room. As you're paying that helps too! You could try being extra helpful. I have been remarking to my husband (that's who I have to convince) how the Pleco needs more room and how much more he will like his new tank. Plus as a young person you could be wasting money on cigarettes and booze or wasting it in an amusement arcade. I know not all young people do that but it is a good argument. Hope you convince her! Will you tell us if you get one?

 

[Durbkat]

Will you tell us if you get one?

Now what kind of person would I be to not tell you guys. Also she thinks that the pleco looks fine in the long 20g and it "fits" in there.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Don't look to me for help, I've clearly failed with my own family. My birthday yesterday and not a single fishrelated present did I get- not so much as a tropical flake. All my heavy hints have fallen on deaf ears. They just don't want to understand.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Why won't she let you get one? Any reason in particular?

 

[BigC]

Buy the thing and worry about the consequences later. Sneak it in when she's not looking. She'll get used to the idea. I've been married for 25 years and my wife wouldn't even notice now if I've added another tank or not.

 

[Durbkat]

Why won't she let you get one? Any reason in particular?

Let's see "its winter time and if the power goes out they will die because its a bigger tank", this person she works for has a son with a 10g and a really big tank but shes not sure how many gallons it is and she says "this person had good luck with this 10g but when he got a bigger tank he had no good luck with it", "if we ever have to move it would be to hard to move it" even though I told her that I would empty it and put the gravel in a bucket and the fish in bags. Any more ideas guys? I like your idea bigC I might try it if no other ideas come up for persuasion. But the only flaw with BigC's idea is she is the only way I can get up there and my mom won't let me take a bus up there and the tank would be to heavy to lift my self and I would look incredibly silly taking such a huge tank on a bus.

 

[yvez9]

Buy the thing and worry about the consequences later. Sneak it in when she's not looking. She'll get used to the idea. I've been married for 25 years and my wife wouldn't even notice now if I've added another tank or not.

I wonder if you would notice if she took one out and agve it away?
You've got more tanks then most LFS I know! lol

 

[Tolak]

Actually if the power went out you would have beter luck with a larger tank. The larger volume of water would hold temperature longer, and larger tanks are more forgiving in regards to water parameters.

An empty 55 weighs 75 pounds, look around you & guess how many other pieces of furniture weigh 75 pounds or more. A 55 isn't that hard to relocate, I've done it twice. The other person's experience with a 55 has so many things that could be different from a 10. Filtration, stocking, mainainance, the list is endless.

The plec needs a larger tank, you wouldn't keep a german sheperd in a closet. The plec in a small tank is like that, it needs more room. As far as transportation, talk to a neighbor, see if you can bum a ride, especially if you spring for gas. Worst case, take the bus there & a cab back.

It just amazes me how some adults can be against something like aquatics with so much other nasty crap out there. You could be into gangs, drugs, who knows what. I'm sure parents who's kids are into that sh!t would be glad to buy them several 55 gallon tanks as an alternative.

Keeping that in mind tell her she's right. Then start looking at motorcycles online. Talk about saving money for a drum set & starting a rock band. Talk about dying your hair purple & getting it spiked. Look at firearms online, then tell her you are taking the bus to the local gun shop. Find things she dislikes more than a larger tank, & start acting interested in them. The 55 will start looking real tame.

Tolak

 

[Durbkat]

Actually if the power went out you would have beter luck with a larger tank. The larger volume of water would hold temperature longer, and larger tanks are more forgiving in regards to water parameters.

An empty 55 weighs 75 pounds, look around you & guess how many other pieces of furniture weigh 75 pounds or more. A 55 isn't that hard to relocate, I've done it twice. The other person's experience with a 55 has so many things that could be different from a 10. Filtration, stocking, mainainance, the list is endless.

Tolak

I told her about how a bigger tank can hold heat better and then she said "well they would die of no oxygen and I said all oxygen is surface agitation and that all I have to do is scoop water out and pour it back in. And she thinks that if we have to move into a smaller apartment that we wouldn't have enough room for it. Then I told her about we would put it somewhere else in the apartment. Keep the ideas coming guys I might be able to memorize some of this and bring it up in the argument.

 

[morgan]

You could tell her I got mine today (I did!) and I am in the same situation as you i.e. large Pleco in too small tank. Your Pleco really needs a bigger tank, same as mine does. She might enjoy watching it swim around. I bet you get yours and get it set up before me, I have to wait until next week (husband busy until then). Then I've got to cycle it. Good luck anyway.

 

[Durbkat]

You could tell her I got mine today (I did!) and I am in the same situation as you i.e. large Pleco in too small tank. Your Pleco really needs a bigger tank, same as mine does. She might enjoy watching it swim around. I bet you get yours and get it set up before me, I have to wait until next week (husband busy until then). Then I've got to cycle it. Good luck anyway.

I doubt that because I have to get the tank kit from wal mart then if I have to replace the stand that will cost more money and the filter will cost alot same as the gravel and don't even start me on the plants I have to get tall fake plants so it will give the angels I get alot of hiding places and fake plants around here cost like $3 for one for the tall ones. Things aren't cheap any more. I doubt I'll even have this set up and running any time before febuary at least. Unless you all want to donate some money to me

 

[JasonPlus]

"A mind changed against its will is of the same opinion still."

Please don't argue with your grandmother, it can only make things worse. Talk to her and try to work out a solution that will please both of you. If the size is a huge factor, and you have the money, try going for a bit smaller tank but try planting it. Thats what I'm planning on doing.

 

[morgan]

Oh I see. I have got a Juwel Rio300, nice and simple for me as I am not too good with technical things. Will someone help you lift the tank? They are extremely heavy. I don't know what it will weigh with the water and gravel, lucky the living room has a concrete floor.I am having real plants (easy ones) and I am going to soak them first. Don't want those pesky snails again.They are everywhere including in the filter box.

 

[Tolak]

Plecs with no O2? Hahahaha!! When my dad "inherited" a 55 from a neighbor who moved (got evicted, party animal) he would call me after the filter, an AC 200, hadn't been running for a couple of days. 3 commons in a 55 with no filter, or heater. He had it for 2 years, this would happen at least once a month. When his health got so bad that he had to go into a nursing home, I got the tank, plecs and all. That was 2 1/2 years ago, they are all still alive, though I massivly upgraded the filtration, and added a heater. My dad's apartment was a 1 bedroom, pretty small. He had no problem finding room.

Your grandma sure is worried about moving, this seems to be one of her key arguements. Tell her about my experience with the traveling tank of plecs. Even if you have to give it away tank & all due to moving into a smaller place you are going to find a good home for the plec, and it will have an adequate tank. Your key point should be having a good home for the plec, not aquiring more stuff. As you get older you will aquire more things than you will ever know what to do with. Tell her you realize this Show real concern for the fish.

Tolak