What Would You Do In My Situation?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What would you do in my situation? After moving into my new house i thought i really knew what i wanted with my tanks, but after buying a 125gal tank for the mean time i'm now at a very important decision in what i do with my fish keeping set up as i am ready to buy a large tank/s either way and i don't know which option to go for, i've written quick list of the pros and cons of each choice;

300gal tank(5 and a half feet long, 4ft wide, 2ft high);
Pro's(in comparsion to two 125gal tanks);

a. It will look stunning.
b. It will give my large plecs a very large space to live in for the rest of their lives plus other fish in the tank too.
c. It has many options for decorating, there is so much you can do to such a large tank when it comes to decor and plants.
d. You can fit some very large peaceful fish in a tank with such stocking capabilitys.

Con's(in comparsion to two 125gal tanks);

a. It will cost a huge amount of money to build the tank and stand, buy the and set up the sump system, heating, lighting, and hood.
b. It will take a long time to set up.
c. It will be very difficult/less convinient to maintain it, things like substrate cleaning sessions and water changes will take for ever.
d. It will pretty much use up all of the space i have for extra tanks in the future of any decent size as i need to be able to walk around it to maintain i properly.
e. It will be very/even more difficult locating sick or dead fish in it.

Two 125gal tanks(5ft long, 2ft wide and 2ft high);
Pro's(in comparsion to 300gal tank);
a. Having and extra 2 large tanks will mean i can have one large plec in each tank, making the posibility of them becomming terotorial towards each other imposible.
b. It gives my a lot more other oppotunitys when it comes to stocking, having three 125gal tanks in total.
c. The tanks will be easier to maintain and medicating the tanks when is needed won't be such an issue.
d. The tanks are a complete set up with a fitted hood, stand, heating and filtration(although i will be adding extra filtration, which i already have, and posibly better heating), making them far for convinient to setup and cheaper too.
e. The tanks can be moved around in the future if i don't want them or want to re-arrange them, but the 300gal tank stand will be fixed to the floor(made out of brick).


Con's(in comparsion to 300gal tank);
a. The tanks will look good but not as awe inspiring as the 300gal as far as size goes at least.
b.......



I would really like to hear your opinions/views/reasons on this topic, what option would you go for, or any more pros/cons you can see on either side, i know i have been talking about just getting the giant tank for ages now but now when the time is nigh i think i can see more benefets in getting 2 more 125gal tanks giving me a total of 3. Either way though once i have made the final decision it will be set in stone for all eternity so to speak, it will be extremely difficult to go back once i have got the tank/s.

 

[CFC]

If i were limited for space i would rather have the two smaller tanks as it gives more scope to be able to keep fish which could not be kept together in one tank.

 

[WILDER]

I went for the 250 to 300gal tank, but then again if you are having two 125 gals in different rooms that would look cool.

 

[Durbkat]

I voted for the 2 125g's because that way you can have 3 massive (to me) size tanks and you can put a vairety of fish in them and it can be spread through out the house and can have fish from different parts from the world. It would look awesome and like you said it would be easier to clean.

 

[rdd1952]

I tend to agree with CFC. Two tanks lets you have options on maybe a large community tank and a species tank whereas the one big tank means you can only have one or the other.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I went for the 250 to 300gal tank, but then again if you are having two 125 gals in different rooms that would look cool.

Nah the tanks will all have to be in the same room(kitchen) as the kitchen is the only room that has a water proof and concrete floor and a sink nearby that can fit large buckets in it . If i go for 2 more 125gal tanks, one of them will be to the left of it and the other oposite it.

 

[Weaver]

If it was me Id go for the 125 g.Whens alls said and done it leaves you much more in the way of options when it comes to adding stock.
Plus it should be much easier to maintain

 

[WILDER]

I would rather see one big tank then, as i have 3 tanks it my kitchen and wished i had just gone for one big one, it makes it look more balanced in the kitchen with just one massive one.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

If i were limited for space i would rather have the two smaller tanks as it gives more scope to be able to keep fish which could not be kept together in one tank.

The only fish i have to worry about are my big plecs, which can get a bit grumpy at each other meal times but either way this could be sorted out in a single large tank with re-organisation of terotorys, or simply separating them via the 2 125gal tanks- i most likely will not be getting any large and agressive fish(the most agressive fish i have is my RTBS, but he has calmed down alot since i adopted him and put him in the 125gal) but i could posibily get some more danio species, but they are about as nippy/agressive fish as i go(but there could still benefets even in separating them from the even more peaceful and slow livebearers), soo...

 

[littleimp]

One big stunning one for me, if I bought smaller ones I would probably regret it.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'd got for two smaller ones, they're both big tanks but having two offers a much wider scope fish-wise.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Hard one, this. I think I probably would go for the two smaller tanks, as that would give more options (e.g. one action tank and one small and peaceful). But then again a seriously big tank would look stunning... No, I think I would settle for the two smaller ones.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

I would go for the 2 125G because with this option you can have 3 very different setups, whereas with a 300 and your existing 125 you only get 2. More choices = more variety = a very stunning kitchen with 3 awesome looking tanks.

Also, rearranging them would be easier and if you ever moved, you wouldn't have to leave them behind like you would the mounted 300 gallon.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

I would go for the two seperate 125g tanks.

 

[Torrean]

I voted for the three hundred but I should have asked a question first. Do you own your home? If so then the large permanent tank will probably increase the value. If not then I would go for the 125's. Mainly because you can take it with you if you leave but also because of the ease of maintenance and variety of stocking options, not to mention lower aggression. Good luck Tokis.