The Cookout

[sourgrapes]

I have a small 20-gallon tank. Been keeping it going for almost 3 years now. I have some of that moss growing on a piece of wood in there, looks like a small tree. I have a few other live plants as well. I did have gravel and half soil. I am considering upgrading and getting a larger one but I am worried a larger one would require a lot more upkeep and care. I just have some guppies and shrimp in there now. Had to separate the males and females (the females are in a smaller 5 gallon) cause those horny little devils wouldn't stop breeding!

Just looking for general tips or advice for managing a larger tank. I think I want to go up to a 40 or 50 gallon one.

 

[lexodyssey]

I really want one! I'm in kind of a temporary place right now so I'm waiting until I'm in more of a permanent spot before I get one. I've actually heard the upkeep is a little less on a bigger tank because the water isn't so touchy. Not sure if that's true though. What do you want to put in the bigger one?

 

[Mastamind]

I don't but I really admire this hobby. There was a pet shop next to the CiCis that we used to go to and it specialized in aquariums and fish bowls. Everytime I visit my old neighborhood to see where it used to be...it's a plasma donation clinic now

 

[Rollie Forbes]

I've had freshwater aquariums on and off since I was a child. Right now, I have a 50 gallon tank. I might move up to a large tank and switch to saltwater (saltwater fish are super colorful 😁).

 

[Jay]

I've had freshwater aquariums on and off since I was a child. Right now, I have a 50 gallon tank. I might move up to a large tank and switch to saltwater (saltwater fish are super colorful 😁).

Of course you do Sly Clyde.


You the type of dude that drives a Mercedes and got a big fish tank with exotic fish.

"how the hell did he get Madagascaran Piranhas?"

 

[Troy]

I really want one! I'm in kind of a temporary place right now so I'm waiting until I'm in more of a permanent spot before I get one. I've actually heard the upkeep is a little less on a bigger tank because the water isn't so touchy. Not sure if that's true though. What do you want to put in the bigger one?

That's interesting Ive never heard that before. The upkeep is what scares me from getting one.

 

[sourgrapes]

I really want one! I'm in kind of a temporary place right now so I'm waiting until I'm in more of a permanent spot before I get one. I've actually heard the upkeep is a little less on a bigger tank because the water isn't so touchy. Not sure if that's true though. What do you want to put in the bigger one?

I am going to look into this more for sure then. I want to do more live plants. I'd probably get more shrimp since they maintain the plants and stuff. I saw some really cool set-ups on YouTube where they balance everything out so cleaning is very minimal. You just have to establish the right ecosystem. It is a lot of work to get there and trial and error.

 

[sourgrapes]

I've had freshwater aquariums on and off since I was a child. Right now, I have a 50 gallon tank. I might move up to a large tank and switch to saltwater (saltwater fish are super colorful 😁).

What do you have in your 50 right now? How often do you have to clean it and stuff?

I always loved salt water tanks but those fish are so dang expensive that I'd have to have a funeral everytime one died lol

 

[Rollie Forbes]

I love cichlids. They can be agressive, but they are very colorful and low maintenance.

I clean the tank about once a month (protip: if you keep the tank out of direct sunlight, you shouldn't get a lot of algae growth).

If you want to get started, goldfish and cichlids are a great choice. They're both pretty, and they're also hearty, hard to kill fish.