What Would You Do?

[markandhisfish]

i can probably guess most peoples answer but heres the crack anyway

ive got a 4x2x2 from nd aquatics stocked with malawis , the cabinet is 2 years old , but the actual glass tank itself is only 2 months old ( still by nd ) , and a 2nd little 30g tank i juat bought off ebay to set up as planted. i shew the missus a really nice 8 ft tank last night on aquarist classifieds , she said it was nice , then i went to bed and thought nothing more of it .

then she comes to bed and said you should sell both the tanks youve got and order a nice shiny new 6x2x2 from nd aquatics. the only problem is it would mean id have to sell mu malawis as id have nowhere to keep them .

now ive always wanted a 6x2x2, and the possibilities itwould give have me drooling , but i havent had these malawis long and i really like them. ok so i know i can get more for the new tank . hmmmmm

what would you do in my position??

 

[onebto]

Quite a conundrum I am not into malawis but that is not relevant however I am seriously into loaches and would never give mine up as they are more than just stock to me.

Not knowing much about malawis could you not put them in the bigger tank? Surely if you can it will give you and them more space? More space to swim and you the opportunity to select some more fine examples of the species.

Ask yourself could you gaze into your two tanks happily saying your glad you did not go for the big tank? I do not think I could.

If you were going to get rid of the malawis what would you replace them with? Again could you be able to stare into the tank and say I am glad I changed species?

Of course this question is not easily answered until you have done the change and I think no one can help you with that, your on your own with that one sorry.

If I was in your situation I would go for the bigger tank, keep the stock you have and see how the new tank settles with you. Then in time you can decide to change the stock if the urge takes you.

I have always thought keeping an aquarium is about patience and taking your time to decide and do things, I hope my ramblings on help you to find some clarity on the matter.

Regards onebto.

 

[markandhisfish]

thats the only thing thats giving me a dilemma. the current malawis. if i did this id have nowhere to put them during the swapover. but on the other hand , if i let the opportunity of a 6 footer pass me by id no doubt kick myself .

part of me says do it now before you get too attatched to the current stock , part of me says poor fish you havent had them 5 minutes .

 

[onebto]

I take it the new tank has to go were the 4ft is?

The 30 gallon is insufficient for your current stock for a day or two?

Do you not have anyone local LFS or another keeper that can help you by keeping your fish while the change over takes place?

If you plan it well you could do the change over reasonably quickly.

Regards onebto

 

[markandhisfish]

the 6 footer would have to go where the 4x2x2 is , the 30g would have to be sold to help finance it , and would be too small for the malawis even short term , none of my friends keep fish , and no lfs round my way i would trust with £150 worth of helthy well cared for malawis .

ideally if i did this id be able to find a buyer for the tank and the fish as a complete setup so they would not have to be re-homed

 

[ZoddyZod]

I say keep the current set up. You haven't had any time at all to properly enjoy it yet.

 

[Kesaph]

Ask the missus if she doesn't mind keeping the offer on the table for another 6-12 months. If she is keen now, any reason why she wouldn't be down the track, or is it a one-time offer?

 

[markandhisfish]

I say keep the current set up. You haven't had any time at all to properly enjoy it yet.

but imagine the same only on a bigger scale

Ask the missus if she doesn't mind keeping the offer on the table for another 6-12 months. If she is keen now, any reason why she wouldn't be down the track, or is it a one-time offer?

probably a 1 time offer

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Could you not "rent" a reservoir tank at a local Maidenhead Aquatics for the swapover period?

Failing that, is there anyone you know on any forums or otherwise local to you, that could look after your Malawis for a couple of weeks?

Another short term solution that springs to mind is to scour local hardware stores for large plastic containers, such as the ~100l one I've got as a QT, that can house a handful of fish in each until you're sorted.

 

[bae1994]

do you have a garage you could stick a 120litre storage tub in for the fish


or the bath tub ?

 

[markandhisfish]

no garage i live in a flat , no bath just a shower . i think that with this being the missus's idea and it being a now or never offer im leaning towards going for it while shes in a good mood if i let that shiny new 6 footer slip through my fingers i just know il regret it . id like to keep the existing fish , altho realisticly thats unlikely .

do you have a garage you could stick a 120litre storage tub in for the fish


or the bath tub ?

also its a 6 to 8 week gap between sale of the 4 foot and delivery of the 6 foot

 

[bae1994]

go for it then if your not too attached to the fish already nows better than later imo

 

[markandhisfish]

ok ive made my mind up i think ive gotta go for it while the offer is on the table . i just cant pass up a 6 footer. thanks for your input everybody .

 

[Carlovel1]

ok ive made my mind up i think ive gotta go for it while the offer is on the table . i just cant pass up a 6 footer. thanks for your input everybody .

Good choice
I'd drop the Malawis though

 

[Gaz_S]

Get a couple of Dustbins from a cheap store like B&M and chuck them in there short term?