Best Size For A Second Tropical Tank?

[mrchelsea]

Hey

I have a 28 litre tank but im now wanting a bigger one (everyone said this hobby is addictive and costly!!) So im wondering what size tank would be a good one to get a good stock of fish and plants?? someone recommended 150 - 180 litres.... is this a good suggestion or not?? Apparently it is better to go bigger because then you dont have to keep changing tanks as you decide to increase your stock.. is that right??
Thanks

 

[SharonCC]

I'd buy the biggest tank that I could afford...I bought a 55gal. thinking it was huge, when I started. It's not huge enough, now!

 

[fishlover500]

Ya, what kind of budget are you looking at and what type of fish are you looking at?

 

[Ace Of Spades]

IMO The biggest you can afford and have space for. Decide on your stocking before you buy it

 

[CFC]

Buy the largest tank you can afford to buy and run and fits into the space you want it to go into. Something in the region of 300 litres is the most common "big" tank for most hobbyists

 

[davidblackson]

i consider 6x2x2 the biggest tank for the average hobbyest anything bigger and your getting pretty serious

 

[mrchelsea]

Thanks guys

I have been looking on ebay and quite like the jewel 180 corner fish tank units this will be handy for me as i live in a flat Im thinking ill buy a used one to keep my costs low but who knows? im not sure what fish i want to put in it yet either as i am totally new to this i like most of the characins, in my tank at the min i have 6 penguin and 4 serpea tetra. I also like gouramis and definately want a siamese fighting fish.. apart from that im open to suggestions as to what fish to check out.. i already have 3 books on the go studying everything about tropical fish!!!, my girlfriend is gettin a little fed up with my new hobby she is calling me a fish geek lol
Greg

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Thanks guys

I have been looking on ebay and quite like the jewel 180 corner fish tank units this will be handy for me as i live in a flat Im thinking ill buy a used one to keep my costs low but who knows? im not sure what fish i want to put in it yet either as i am totally new to this i like most of the characins, in my tank at the min i have 6 penguin and 4 serpea tetra. I also like gouramis and definately want a siamese fighting fish.. apart from that im open to suggestions as to what fish to check out.. i already have 3 books on the go studying everything about tropical fish!!!, my girlfriend is gettin a little fed up with my new hobby she is calling me a fish geek lol
Greg

FILL IT WITH EXODONS!!! if you like characins

Erm Id becareful with weight if your living in a flat, Is it ground floor? as tanks can get VERY heavy

 

[mrchelsea]

oh really!! im on the second floor and my lounge is above an archway so nothing underneath... hmm so what weight are we talking for a plus 150 litre tank??

 

[drufly]

A 150ltr tank, with al water, substrate ornaments and whatever else would be in the region of 200kg. The water alone weighs just over 1kg a litre. With your flat being over the archway it should be dead-on there is usually more support over open alleyways. I am getting a 240ltr for my bedroom which is upstairs. Are the floors concrete slab? should'nt matter just would be stronger. Just think of it as if you had about 6 adults the floor can easily support them.

For buying a tank check out Wrightbuyers on ebay thats where i am ordering mine from. A 248ltr with stand for 285 including delivery, Mt lfs sells juwel 240ltrs for 285 tank only.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

A 150ltr tank, with al water, substrate ornaments and whatever else would be in the region of 200kg. The water alone weighs just over 1kg a litre. With your flat being over the archway it should be dead-on there is usually more support over open alleyways. I am getting a 240ltr for my bedroom which is upstairs. Are the floors concrete slab? should'nt matter just would be stronger. Just think of it as if you had about 6 adults the floor can easily support them.

For buying a tank check out Wrightbuyers on ebay thats where i am ordering mine from. A 248ltr with stand for 285 including delivery, Mt lfs sells juwel 240ltrs for 285 tank only.

Its a bit more then 6 adults mate, As it will be in the same spot for years..so thats 6 adults standing in the same spot in your flat for a very long time..

 

[drufly]

Its only a guide really. I was told something along those lines myself when iasked the weight ?. Another way of putting it would be that People get waterbeds which have a hell of alot of water in them and they are usually in the middle of a room. So a 150ltr in the corner should def be alright.

 

[mrchelsea]

Nice one for the help guys i am proud to be a fish geek lol!! Oh checked out those exodons... i think those vicious looking things would have a good munch on my penguins lol they are a species fish right?? apparently they put them in with pirhanas ??

 

[kim03333]

going back to stocking, you have to be careful if your getting a siamese fighting fish because this will really limit you as to what else you can get. i would suggest if you are dead set on getting one, you get the large tank that you want, move your existing fish into the new tank and use your old 28 litre for the fighting fish. just a suggestion though and obviously depends on what other tankmates you want for either tank. serpae tetras with fighting fish are a big no.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Nice one for the help guys i am proud to be a fish geek lol!! Oh checked out those exodons... i think those vicious looking things would have a good munch on my penguins lol they are a species fish right?? apparently they put them in with pirhanas ??

They are a species only fish really, well very limited tank mates. I only suggested them as a joke really jsut because I want them .

You could do a brackish set up with Figure 8 puffers for something different then community fish.

But if community fish is your taste id go with 2 Centerpiece fish such as Kribs//rams//apistos//Angels, Shoal of 12 small shoaling fish such as tetra or rasbora and then 8-10 Cories (Peppered, Albino, pgymy etc the smaller variety) That would be a basic stocking, Im not sure if you could get more then that but at first id let the filter settle and cycle it before stocking it