Multiple Tank Syndrome (MTS)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
They help with malaysian trumpet snails?

Oh wait I forgot we are talking about the other mts! I thought for a minute maybe I should have kept her....
Oh my quote of esoxlucius esoxlucius failed....

I'd have soooo much more done if I only worked 40hrs a week. Or only 5 days, life goals! Lol jk.
Lol well I have those snails too but that's a better problem then the bladder snails I got.
 
When I lived in the states, and owned my own house, I always had about 20 tanks up and running (75s for grow outs to 100s or more for adults).
Mostly because I kept Central American cichlids, and more than a pair to a tank, is usually a recipe for disaster, but also Madagascans, that do better in shoals.
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Now, renting a house in Panama, I only have 2 tanks, a 180, and 125.
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You're in good company!

We bought a place where we're going to live for some time and made the investment in finishing our detached garage to be the permanent fish and plant room. It's insulated, heated / air-conditioned (split unit), has skylights, a deep sink with on-demand hot water, a semi-automatic water changing system (i.e. I turn on the water and it adds water to each tank)... with overflows to a main drain), a central air system, etc.). It's probably $100 per month in electricity.

I have about 60 tanks out there and can spend as little or as much time as I have available. I've had more manual fishrooms in the past and - although I got it down to maybe 2 hrs or so per week to change water on all the tanks - it was still work...and time which I didn't and don't always have.

A common trap is trying to turn the hobby into a business. I'm much happier keeping only the fish that I enjoy and not having every tank filled than trying to keep and breed fish that are profitable but not really what interests me.
 
So what's a minimum number for a shoal of Paratilapia sp in a tank?
For Paratilapia I got 3 females and a male which was peaceful for a while in a 6 ft tank..
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But for most Madagascans, I prefer a shoal of 6-8 if possible.
I was part of a joint order to Old World Exotics, their minimum made it only feasible if a number of aquarists joined in.
My only part of the order were 6 Paretroplus nourisatti running @ $350.
Within a year, the male had killed all others in a 150 gal tank.
I believe lack of enough current contributed in part of the excess aggression.
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Better luck with a shoal of 8 Paretroplus menerambo, until they outgrew the 150, (hitting almost 15") and started getting aggressive within the group.
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I had the best luck with 6 Paretroplus maculates, because when they matured, and got even the least be testy, I moved them to a 400 gal kiddy pool.
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14 with number 15 just waiting to finish patching holes and #16 needing new silicone.
 
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