Small vs. Large tanks.

[s4057679]

I was wondering, in people''s experience, whether it''s easier to maintain (in terms of water changes, vacuuming, cleaning glass etc) smaller or larger tanks.<
>I''ve read that larger tanks require less regular maintenance, but I only have a 3ft malawi tank and a 2ft multifasciatus tank, so my experience is skewed in the opposite direction.<
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>I''d obviously like to upgrade my 3ft at some point, but the maintenance is enough as it is.<
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>All things being proportionately equal (ie type of filtration, relative bioload etc.), would you say that smaller or larger tanks are easier maintain by conventional means.<
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>In other words, is a 5ft malawi tank less or more work than a 3ft?<
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>Any experience to share is appreciated.<
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>Daniel.

I think that it is easier to keep big tanks as even though every time you can do less changes, because there is more water to contian the fish''s bioload. However when you do the water changes you have to do more, etc = more gravel to vacum, more glass area to clean. Also, large fish tanks are more stable than small tanks in term of temperature PH, etc because there it has more volume<
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>Hope this helps<
>Dylan Dylan<
>Kg_no21@hotmail.com<
>Southside, Mackenzie

[IAMRustyBlade]

Quote:Also, large fish tanks are more stable than small tanks in term of temperature PH, etc because there it has more volume That was exactly what I was going to say.<
>If you have the room for a larger tank then I''d say you wont regret it. The difference in cleaning time between a 3ft and even a 6ft (I have both) is maybe half an hour? But the benefits of water stability and happy fish far outweigh that extra half hour, as far as I''m concerned anyway  <
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>The cons are if you have to medicate the larger tank, then it will cost you alot more   <
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>Kath  <
>Murwillumbah N.S.W.

[trofius]

Big tanks are heaps better, it is also why alot of people have systems runing off the one sump, in practice this entire system becomes the one tank, with stable water parameters.<
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>my 2 foot tank with 5 leleupi ~6cm needs to be cleaned pretty well after 4 weeks, also due in part because small tanks tend to have smallish , less effective filters, and less water circulation.<
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> my 6x2x2 tank with 7 largish fish ~12cm, and a few smaller ones ~5cm only has a hang on filter, it gets a water change every week, and a sand vacume every 4 weeks, i have not done a clean out on this tank, in more than 6 months!<
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>my 8x2x2 tank with 40+ 9cm fish well i might clean it out next year, until then i continue to vacume every month, attend to minor things in filter every 2 months, and water change 30%every 2 weeks. this tank has a sump, and great water circulation.<
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>you also have a much bigger space to work in so setting up a nice display is easier, and can easily have several different type of environment within a single tank.= lots of different types of fish.<
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>ed, also fish in large tanks seem to grow much faster<
>if you have to medicate and the cost is an issue drain half the water! Mick, Rockhampton<
>seeneym(at)hotmail.com<
>Tanganyikan pics here<
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>Edited by: trofius at: 12/6/05 17:26<
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[wrk21]

apart from the above it is also easy to make a large tank into 2 or 3 small tanks if needed. by this i mean use dividers so you can keep 2 or 3 different types of fish in the one tank, and may even
eed when they know that the others cant get  into their area.<
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[s4057679]

Thanks heaps guys, you''ve certainly given me a lot to think about. As well as many reasons to upgrade to a larger tank...this could be dangerous...<
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>Daniel.

[trofius]

LOL much moire dangerous than you think!!<
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>4 years ago I upgraded from a 4x18x18 to a 6x2x2<
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>I now have<
> 2, 6x2x2<
>1, 6x18x18<
>1 8x2x2<
>2, 4x18x18<
>3, 3x15x15 and<
> 6 2x15x15<
>and a bath tub full of
istlenoses,, plus fry tanks<
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>ohh and i have a stand ready for  another 6x2x2, and have steel to build another stand for 2 more 6x2x2, and confirmed to buy 5 more 2x2x18<
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>yes it is a dangerous step, lol, good luck. Mick, Rockhampton<
>seeneym(at)hotmail.com<
>Tanganyikan pics here<
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