How hard is it to maintain multiple large tanks?
- Thread starter aaronb
- Start date
I agree, especially with multiple large tanks. If you can set up automatic water changes or close to it, that's 90% of the work done for you right there. Your fish choice will be another factor. Fish that will happily eat pellets and don't require a lot of fuss can be set up on automatic feeders and you will have to do very little. You can go as far as you want with it.
I think it pays to give yourself a little leeway, financially and time wise for life's...So when your wife finishes school, would she entertain having kids? Also, it is one thing to say it is okay to have lots of tanks, it is another to bump into a huge tank in EVERY room. Unless your wife is a fish fanatic, I think she would forget her promise very quickly. I think it is MUCH better to pick a good spot, do a beautiful tank first, then ask for a second one and so on. DO NOT start tanks in parallel...nor put fish with a face only a mother would love in the living room. That won't go over well. And of course, avoid the cardinal sin of our hobby at all cost...flooding.
I would run some numbers on how much these setups are going to cost you. Heaters, pumps and lights x 5+ big tanks can really add up. Here in CA, those setups would cost me $350/month just in electricity (that's a conservative estimate), but I pay a ridiculous $0.40Kwh.
Do you have a tankless hot water heater? If not, you will probably have to switch up the days you do water changes with so many large tanks. Doing a 30 or 40% water change on a 500G would empty your heater by itself. I ran into this issue when I was running a 270G, a 240 and a 50. I can see the wifey starting to really dislike the hobby, if she goes to take a shower and the water is coming out at an invigorating 55F. I've done that to my roommates before...I found it hilarious...they weren't very amused. If you are running a drip (auto-water changer), disregard my rant.
Also, be careful with multitasking when doing maintenance (ie- water changes). It is really easy to either be draining or filling multiple tanks at the same time and get distracted....all it takes is a few minutes and you are looking at some serious water damage and a really pissed off woman.
Do you have a tankless hot water heater? If not, you will probably have to switch up the days you do water changes with so many large tanks. Doing a 30 or 40% water change on a 500G would empty your heater by itself. I ran into this issue when I was running a 270G, a 240 and a 50. I can see the wifey starting to really dislike the hobby, if she goes to take a shower and the water is coming out at an invigorating 55F. I've done that to my roommates before...I found it hilarious...they weren't very amused. If you are running a drip (auto-water changer), disregard my rant.
Also, be careful with multitasking when doing maintenance (ie- water changes). It is really easy to either be draining or filling multiple tanks at the same time and get distracted....all it takes is a few minutes and you are looking at some serious water damage and a really pissed off woman.
Thanks for the replies. Yeah that's my intention to have auto water changes. I think we revised our list to the 500 cichla, 300 jag and other cichlids, 180 discus, angelfish, and a few assorted tropicals, and a 55 gallon saltwater. We may upgrade the 55 if it seemed feasible someday. I have no desire to overstock, because I want my fish to be as happy and healthy as possible.
I know we had discussed the electricity usage. We live in Kansas now, but are probably moving to Georgia before we do this. My wife is from there, so she wants to move back home. Where we live now with the 210 we had, a 55, a 54, and a 92 running power usage seems negligible. It might actually cost 50 a month. I never really paid attention or attempted figuring. Hopefully it won't be too much more there.
I know we're going to start with the 180 and 300 and then consider the others if it seems ok.
I know we had discussed the electricity usage. We live in Kansas now, but are probably moving to Georgia before we do this. My wife is from there, so she wants to move back home. Where we live now with the 210 we had, a 55, a 54, and a 92 running power usage seems negligible. It might actually cost 50 a month. I never really paid attention or attempted figuring. Hopefully it won't be too much more there.
I know we're going to start with the 180 and 300 and then consider the others if it seems ok.
LUCKY!!! Not married (yet) but, wish my gf was like your wife!! But presently got a 300, 125, 100, 40, 20 n(2) 5g and all in all takes me about maybe a good 4 hours.
Lucky indeed...got a 100 gallon now and was able to talk my wife into getting an upgrade to 300 with the promise of getting rid of the 100 when the 300 comes. I am only to have one tank in the house; but seriously though, with a kid in kindergarten, I don't have time for more if I really want to do a good job on both raising the kid and keeping fish.
Yeah when we first talked about this she suggested we get 3 500 gallon tanks, but I said even though I'd love that it might be a little much. We don't have any kids right now, but have thought about it in the future. That for sure would be a consideration. At least we have a few years to figure it out.
