2 10s or a 20L?

[Zeaqua]

Hi all! Recently, I've been considering replacing 2 of my tanks. I have 2 10 gallons side to side on a desk, and I'm trying to figure out if I should replace them with a 20 gallon long. I love breeding fish, so I'm not entirely sure if the increased swimming space and volume is worth the trade-off to not have 2 separate tanks with different species. If you'd want to convince me in one direction or the other, I'd definitely appreciate it!

[Zeaqua]

unfortunately, I don't exactly have enough space for the 10s if i got another 20, and even if I did, I would worry about the weight on the floor, as I am on a second floor room.

[Kit Craft]

I'm a more tanks are better kind of person, lol (to a point). As for space, I understand that. Our flat in Spain is around 900 sqft and that doesn't leave much room for play. Bookshelf, desk and TV stand tanks is about it. Good thing I like nano tanks. Have fun whatever you decide but I like having somewhere to move inhabitants and or plants if need be. I wouldn't go back to a one tank setup, at least two. 

 

 

[madmark285]

On 11/20/2023 at 11:53 AM, Zeaqua said:

I would worry about the weight on the floor, as I am on a second floor room.

Not sure why people worry so much about being on the second floor, a load bearing wall can support thousands of pound. Typically you have beams in the basement/crawl space which has to support the first and second floors plus the roof. From the perspective of the house, it could care less if a tank is on the 1st of 2nd floor, it's the same load on the beams.

I have a 75 gallon tank with a sump in a finished 3rd floor attic space. The tank sit on top of a load bearing wall which sit on top of a load bearing beam which sits on the fondation (I don't have a full basement).  From a load perspective, the tank is sitting on top of the foundation. I also have a 40 gallon tank and 29 gallon tank which are connected to the outside wall which is very strong when you include the wood siding. 

Now putting a large tank in the middle of the floor joists is a problem, you need to stay close to the load bearing walls. 

[Galabar]

You might as well maximize the space.  Would a 29 fit in that space? 🙂

[nabokovfan87]

I would opt for a 20L in most situations.  10's are really difficult to work in.  I would say 20H vs. 20Long.  The difference being floor space.

 

[jwcarlson]

I vote for a 20L personally, but really defends what fish you want and if you want them to stratify.  So a 20H might be a better option in that case.

Then start your "I am not going to use these" tank pile and wait a few weeks before you find a totally fabricated reason to start using them again.

[Pokey]

What do your folks think? Maybe they can reassure you about the floor.

Are they interested in fish at all? Maybe they would let you have a bigger tank in the living room or something, then you could keep the two smaller ones for breeding. 😃

I don’t have any fish (yet) and don’t plan to do any breeding when I do get some, but if I was going to, I would want two tanks for either separating fry, or keep one as just in case QT.

Write down the pros & cons of each choice. Maybe that will make the decision easier. 😃

[Matt B]

20 gal long. 

[Galabar]

Are those these lights: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-marine-aquarium-clip-on-led-fixture

How do you like them?

 

[Matt B]

@Galabar  Yes, those are the lights. First LED aquarium lights I bought sence getting back into glass tanks. I like them. We didn't have so many lighting options back in the day. 

[Matt B]

I'm always goofing around with lighting!