What to do with all my tanks?

[jedi940]

First a little background. I got into the hobby back in October after spending a lot of time watching my girlfriend's for about an hour every time she would buy a new fish. So I started searching Craigs list and picked up a 55 gal tank for rather cheap. The more I got into the hobby the more I changed the direction I wanted to go. The 55 started out as a blue and white gravel tank with fake plants and has now evolved into a fully planted community tank. Since then I have picked up an additional 2 ten gallon tanks, 1 20 gallon, 1 30 gallon and 1 75 gallon that I just got yesterday

Originally I was going to set up the 30 gallon which is ready to go just has no fish yet, put my new L129 zebra pleco in there with an angel, some upside down catfish, bolivian rams, a snail and maybe some guppies (cause I have a ton of babies right now). But since I have this new 75 I am beginning to rethink this.

Basically I am looking for ideas as far as what to do with each tank. I already have a zebra pleco so he will be going in a non planted tank - possibly with a strong current so I need suggestions of freshwater fish that like a current. Additionally, I have been toying with the idea of starting a saltwater tank as a back burner project. I know they are expensive but I really want one. Please no "don't do saltwater" comments.

1 10 gallon is a QT for my 55 gallon at my girlfriend's house so that is out. The other 10 gal will be a QT for my other tanks. So what to do with a 20, 30, and 75???

Current Setup:
55 gal community
2 mollies
2 gourami
9 guppies
1 snail
6 corys
10 neon tetra

Thought about an agressive tank, cichlid tank, salt water tank, and the idea listed about. What are your thoughts??? Help me figure out what to do next.

Other important info: if the opportunity presents itself, I plan on purchasing a 125 gal or bigger. And if I do salt water, I will most likely run it with a sump system.

[ldoerr]

I would turn the 75g into either a supper community tank (look at brhino's 60+page thread, worth the few hours to read and look at all the amazing pictures), You could also turn the 75g into an Oscar tank for 1 Oscar). I would use the 20g as a second qt tank. It never hurts to have extra qt tanks (I have set up 3 this week alone).

[pjaldave]

2 ten gallons is ok for QT. Keep it that way.

If you are going to go for saltwater next time, you might need the 20 for the sump.

I agree with Idoerr to save the 55 as it is or maybe get the right ratio for livebearers (1m:2f). Also, 2 gouramis (if both male) might be spelling trouble in your tank, as well if you only have 1 female, she might get endlessly harassed by the male.

On the side note, guppies and angelfish are not compatible.

I would turn your 75G into an Mbuna tank with pure saulosi or johannis. I am not experienced on cichlids yet, but its a suggestion. :)

For the 30G.... Dwarf cichlids maybe? Or a species tank of maybe rasboras or smaller tetras?

[Cermet]

Saltwater fish are very impressive and a lot of work (esp. long term) and a lot of expense (both start up and long term: supplies, food, bachkup equipment of critical spares, and maybe a emergency power source depending were you live! Lighting costs are amazingly high for good units and something that would deter me now. Don't forget electrical costs long term, also) - I know about saltwater, I had one for a while. I moved back to discus as a lower work and cheaper effort (compared to salt.) That said, I am glad I did it simply because I had a lot of fun in setup, watching and for a while, maintenance - my issue was staying with the upkeep and refills. As such, pjaldave's idea of the 75 gal salt and 20 as sump is good. I will say this for salt - they have really advanced compared to when I did it and the tanks can be just like diving on a reef (been there) and so worth the effort if you have the $$ and staying power.

While the tanks are a trivial cost factor compared to primary support equipment, so what you do with the current tanks is not important. The space and money is critical (maybe) - so, I would suggest going to your local LFS and decide on a few animals types (but don't fall for one and rush to setup/get)and talk to someone there who keeps saltwater. Then target a bio-type and animals - read up, and ask on this forum for details. Only then start collecting critical equipment (that is better new since failure would mean lost of fish/animals; and may need to order) and check Crag's list. When ready, go for it!

I think you will like the results - if not, you will be able to know what you really like and a lot of the equipment can be reused on freshwater. For me, it was discus keeping that I knew I could handle long term but I'll always want a saltwater tank but know I am just not cut out for the long term upkeep - still, I did it and now know.

[jedi940]

Thanks for some of the Ideas. I had no idea when I go into the hobby six months ago I would own six tanks by now. There is so much I want to do I just don't know where to begin. Right now money is a bit tight so a salt water tank might be out for the moment unfortunately. I think it will be my back burner tank, acquiring equipment as it comes up on craigslist until I have enough to put a setup together. I stopped at a local guy who does saltwater and he suggested a 75 gal as the minimum tank size if I expected to keep any significant number of fish. Although he also said that once they were up an running they were fairly easy to maintain. Still looking in to that part of it. What I want in a salt water tank would be lots of coral (obviously) and small fish that get maybe 6 inches max with lots of invertebrates. I was told that blue tangs can get up to 24" so unfortunately they are never going to be owned by me since I'll never have a tank big enough for one.

My biggest problem is there are so many fish I want to keep but aren't compatible with each other so I need to do different tanks. I would like to try my hand at keeping some German Blue Rams as well as other types of rams. Also I really like discus fish and thought about giving those a shot in the 75 as well. Cichlids are also on the list as well as some sharks. The other thing is the more I read other peoples journals, the more types of fish I learn about that my LFS doesn't carry but I want.

About my other tank. I know I have broken a few of the rules but for now I am not having any problems. All my guppies are male. six of them are only about 1-2 months old and there is no problem as of yet with harassment. The two mollies are also both male. And there is no issue there. I am not sure of the gourami's as far as sex goes but they are extremely peaceful. I did have an agressive one once but I took him back the next day and exchanged him. I carefully observed their behavior in at the LFS for a while before purchasing them and they are as peaceful as can be and don't give anybody any trouble. Not sure if I just got lucky or just smart with my observations. Its not that I don't want the appropriate ratio, I just don't want the accompanying baby farm.

[Lady Hobbs]

I think many of us, when we first get into this hobby, start getting too many tanks because we want every fish we see. Then after awhile, we began condensing and start getting more picky about the fish we want. We all have to live within our means and that includes keeping fish.

It's very easy to get caught up into this hobby and began to make errors.