Should I Get Another (bigger) Tank?

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of getting a bigger tank- maybe about 55 gallons. I currently have a 26 gallon, a 10 gallon, and a 5 gallon. The 26 gallon is the first tank I have ever had that is over 10 gallons, and it really is alot of fun.

We have a bunch of 55 gallon marine tanks in my science classroom, and every day I find myself staring at them and daydreaming about what I would stock them with if they were freshwater. It got me to thinking that there were 55 gallon tanks at Wal Mart at a decent price, and if I roamed ebay long enough and got one second-hand... That just might work.

However, I am not sure it would be responsible of me to get another tank, especially one so large. I will be a senior next year (high school) and although I might live at home for at least 2 years of college, I would eventually have to move with 3 dogs, 2 cats, possibly some rats, and the fishtanks. I know it is possible to move a large fishtank, but would it be better for me to wait a few years before getting another tank, especially one so large?

I would also have to find somewhere in the house to put it, lol. Wait, would it be ok in a mobile home? Even though no one lives below us, I would hate for it to go crashing through the floor. The house is pretty old, come to think of it.

Anyway, would it be irresponsible for me to get another (large) fish tank, knowing I will have to move in a few years, and I already have quite a few animals?

 

[Don Trinko]

Moving tanks and fish can be a hassle. The easiest way is to establish new tanks in your new location then move the fish, then move the tanks. The advantage to this system is that you have more tanks everytime you move! Don T.

 

[DevUK]

I've just bought a 180 litre/47 gal tank, knowing full well that I will move house at some point in the next few years (I rent my apartment). I have a 20gal and a 10 gal, along with a 7 gal I just set up also. I think what I'll end up with is the 47gal and the 20gal, sell on the 10gal and then give my sister the 7gal (eventually!)

I would maybe consider thinning down your tank collection and then get the big tank, if you think you can maintain it

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

Well, the 10 gallon is really a hospital/quarantine tank more than anything. The 5 gallon just has a betta in it, and when he passes on, I probably will retire that tank to storage for if I needed to seperate a fish or something. Besides, the 'goshdarn' rats somehow pulled the wires into thier cage and chewed clean through both the filter and light's wire, so neither of them work. (Luckily for the rats, I had unplugged both for some reason.)

I will probably move the betta into the 10 gallon and when I need the 10 gallon for hosptial or quarantine, the betta will go back to the 5 gallon temporarily.

My point is that there isn't much thinning out to do, because I really only have one tank stocked (the 26 gallon is a community tank, more or less).

Does that mean I can get the tank?

 

[DevUK]

Does that mean I can get the tank?

Thats up to you

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it is a bit of a tough moral dilemma, i'd advise you to do some research into the places that you are likely to be living in when you do have to move, the sort of money you expect to be earning and hours you'd be working and therefore free time to maintain the tank

really you need to put yourself into the shoes of you when you've moved and see if it's likely that you can house and maintain this tank.

if there's a fair to medium chance you can't then it's not out of the question, but your best bet would be to stick to species of fish you know you cna easily re-home, taking on any fish that gets large and is therefore difficult to house long term is a life long commitment and not one you should undertake if you can't house the fish for life

 

[loachman]

Just be aware that most college dorms limit tank sizes to 10 gal. Although, with all the other animals it doesn't sound like you'll be living in a dorm (all mammals are generally not allowed).