in a pickle...

[ara35]

Heres the two options that I have:
-Get a 10G or 15G for college (which would have to be left for christmas break and moved atleast twice) and do a small community tank
or
-Wait another couple years till I get done college and get my own place and get a nice 55G or above tank and start a great looking community

The criteria is:
-Gotta get my work done
-Don't want to be held down at nights or on weekends
-Don't have the money to waste

I would want the tank for entertainment, company, pets, and fun.

What should I do???

[ara35]

or i could just get a little 5 gallon kit for now

[silicon]

hard decision, I'd get the 5 and get a betta and maybe a few compatible buddies so you can concentrate on the college stuff.

[Mgamer20o0]

i would get the 15 gal when you get your 55gal you can use it for a qt tank.

[blkwdw13]

It's hard to say but do what you really want to do.

[Hurley]

I'm in the same situation as you. I am in college and I have a 20 gallon tank. Is it a pain to move...yes. Is it worth it....to me, that’s a very big yes. Once a fish tank is set up it is pretty easy to maintain. And moving it isn't all that hard if you keep the tank simple. I think both tanks are manageable options but I wouldn't go about a 20gallon tank. I moved a 30gallon last year and that was more then I was willing to do 2x a year.

I find the tank is a great conversation starter, all my residents love it. On top of that, fiddling with the tank is the perfect excuse for a study break.


If you aren't sure, I second getting a 5 gallon with a betta. The tanks are fairly inexpensive. Just get a sponge filter, a small heater, a betta, and you are good to go.

[silicon]

I'm also thinking that if you're going into a dorm room, then a good question would be what do you have room for? because I know most dorm rooms aren't that big especially if you have to share it with several others.

[5TankHarmony]

The problem with having such a small tank and getting your work done is, of course, the fact that small tanks require much more frequent maintanance.

[Hurley]

The problem with having such a small tank and getting your work done is, of course, the fact that small tanks require much more frequent maintanance.


I know people say this but I don't find it to be the case. Once the tank is set up and stable the only things I do are weekly water changes, pruning of my plants and feeding my fish. Other then that I don't do anything. Its really not that much trouble at all once it is set up so long as it is not overstocked...even setting it up isn't hard.

The most difficult and time consuming part of setting a small tank up is the cycle but that is true for bigger tanks as well.

[paku]

5-10g and a betta :p would be your best option I think.

[hondamx]

What abot a 6 or 7 gallon. They're hard to find but at least it gives you a couple extra gallons and doesn't take up as much space as a 10 gallon. I would Go with a betta and several amano, cherry or ghost shrimp. Or some of each.

[Star_Rider]

actually I agree..smaller tanks may require more maintenance or about the same maintennace as a larger tank..but it's relative I consider a 5-10 gallon small. a 20 is what I consider the smallest I would recommend(it gives more otions for stocking.)

I believe that a smaller tank is subject to changes more rapidly simply due to the fact that the smaller environment is more easily changes. an example if you medicate a tank smaller quaratnine tanks need less meds to expose the subject to the right concentration of meds..the same holds true for pollutants.it taks less to affect a change in a smaller environment.

that said , it really depends on what you have time to do.

[Mgamer20o0]

you can get a 10-20 just keep it under stock. thats what i was thinking. when your gone 2 weeks a bigger understock tank would be better then a 5 gal thats stocked well.