How Many Tanks Is Too Many and Become a Chore?

[weedamese]

Well the joy you get form your fish > 4 hours of weekly water changes

 

[Knowdafish]

4 hours for water changes??!! What are you using, a straw?

 

[Full Metal Gundam]

your doing it all wrong try using a 700gph to 1000gph pump connected to a 3/4" or 1" inner diameter hose to drain your tanks filling your tanks shouldn't take that long either. it takes me 3 1/2 hr to 4hr to change 50% and most times a little more and also to clean all the filters on 12 tanks.
10g
15g
30g breeder
50g breeder
2x100g long
2x125g
3x180g
200g

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

You cant ever have to many tanks but you know that you do when you cant maintain what you have

 

[Spyder]

It takes me less than 4 hours for water changes, filter care and plant trimming on my 5 tanks and I don't have a python either.
300g, 180g, 125g, 40, 30g
my 125 is a heavily planted South American tank that takes the most time. My 300g is a Tanganyikan Community that takes very little time.

 

[Fat Homer]

I spend about 4 - 4.5 hours a week changing water for 3 tanks, although i'm the type of person who just uses that as an excuse to get some quiet time in the flat without having to deal with the G/F's antics, since she knows i need to concentrate so i don't get water all over our hardwood floors (at least thats the excuse i use)

 

[Mr Pleco]

Thank you everyone for your inputs. It does help to know I am not alone out there. I don't have a python but I do have 40ft of 1/2 inch hose that I use to do waterchange with. To refill I run the water straight off the garden hose then top it off with two gallon of hot water.

On top of my water change schedule I spend 1 hour a day chopping up shrimps and tilapia to feed these guys. That's 7 hours a week and add the hours of waterchange that is a total of 11 hours a week. I'll be converting them to pellets even if they wills starve to death. Work is too hectic right now and I cannot go on prepping food daily.

Are all the tanks in one area..?.I have a big rubbermaid and some cans ..that I store water in.....place a MAg pump or powerhead in the tank attached to a garden hose ..tank is drained in no time..for fill ups ensure the hose is empty drop pump in in the rubbermaid /can and place the other end of the hose in the tank...Bam it's filled....eventually I want to plumb the tanks so I can throw one switch to drain. then another to fill!

 

[gomezladdams]

I have 40 tanks close to 2000g of water and I enjoy the waterchanges.I can do waterchanges on the 36 tanks in my fishroom in about 5 hours,faster if my water heater could keep up.Its as relaxing for me as meditating is for some people,helps me clear my mind.
If you dont dig the maintenance multiple tanks is not for you.For me its not a chore its time spent on my hobby.Dont think of it as work,its play time.

 

[oscarcrazy]

A hobby is a hobby until its a chore.

Currently my 12 year old daughter's hobby is doing the dishes.

 

[devder1]

ya its different for everyone for me 2 40s and a 125 which isnt much for most people, became a lot for me once school started so i am selling one of my 40s, i would say keep 1 or 2 big ones you really like, and some small ones that are easy 2 take care of