[NWA-Planted]

So having a bit of an internal conundrum... I currently have my 125 up and has been going for a while and is a gorgeous tank, however things financially for me and my wife have not progressed the way we wanted ie bigger house! Our current house is nice but small 1250 sq ft. With three children it's becoming more cramped originally we were hoping she would be working again by now and then we could get a bigger house which meant i could get a bigger tank!

The issue i am having is that my 6' long tank in the livingroom is taking up a good chunk of realestate... I have been considering tearing it down for now (not getting rid of) and in the meantime get like a 40 breeder or make a smaller tank that i can enjoy until things get better, from a practical standpoint it's an easy decision, but as we all know... You get attached to the tanks and the fish!

Just wondering what some of you would do in my shoes?

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[Aquatic Delight]

if you are in a tight financial spot what good would tearing down an established tank do? won't you have to throw money into the new tank to get it up and running?

 

[NWA-Planted]

if you are in a tight financial spot what good would tearing down an established tank do? won't you have to throw money into the new tank to get it up and running?

Not really have everything for one, unless i built one, mostly the financial portion is in regards to a larger house not the tank upkeep...

The issue with the tank is the size and our current house :-(

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[Merth]

I feel your pain but the comfort of the whole family must come first, after all you don't want everyone else hating your hobby.

 

[Aquatic Delight]

Not really have everything for one, unless i built one, mostly the financial portion is in regards to a larger house not the tank upkeep...

The issue with the tank is the size and our current house :-(

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

:-( than i guess the only option is to hang the tank from the ceiling!

 

[BenderBendingRodriguez]

:-( than i guess the only option is to hang the tank from the ceiling!

YES!!! awesome idea. pics? lol

 

[NWA-Planted]

:-( than i guess the only option is to hang the tank from the ceiling!

That actually is a pretty sweet idea... Just need the wife out of the house for a weekend!!!

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[Aquatic Delight]

That actually is a pretty sweet idea... Just need the wife out of the house for a weekend!!!

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

weekend? i think we could get it done over night! get a mirror to put on the ceileing above the tank you can see everything! it'll be great!

but getting back to the point, i think the right thing to do is to downsize. i don't remember what you keep but maybe get two small tanks so that you can keep most of your livesock?

 

[GraphicGr8s]

Get rid of the wife and kids. Keep the tank.

 

[dr.tran]

Hey man I really feel your pain. It's always hard to make the right decision when you are attached to something.

Personally I kinda went crazy and had about 25 tanks running in my bedroom at 1 time. Granted most of them were small little tanks, it was starting to get overwhelming especially in my bedroom. Then about 9 months ago, the place I work at had to cut cost and I got laid off. I eventually got bumped out of administration and am working part time at a much lower position. All these debts and bills was killing me. I also realized I was just using way too much time on this hobby.

I had just about every type of shrimps at the time and had so many different kinds of plants. I don't have to tell you how glorious and attached I was to it. But I remember what one of my old martial arts masters use to tell me, "Duties before aspirations" So I sold, got rid off, gave alway most of my tanks and inhabitants. Sure it was extremely painful but I had to live within my means. It was extremely selfish of me to keep going the path I did. Now I have 3 part time jobs and I am slowly building up my collection again. Nothing to that magnitude, but just enough to make me happy.

So in your position, it would be great to get some financial help in someway or another but you have to remember, you have a wonderful life with wonderful people. In the end, as painful of a choice it may be, your family and other duties are much more important. So if you must make that choice, take with you the piece of mind that you are doing it for a greater cause. After all, this hobby will still be here. One day when the time is right, you can have it all again. Money is not important because it can be earned back someday. That and you have so many other better things to live for.

I'm sorry if you have to tear down your tank and sell everything, but just remember it will always be here when you need it again. Enjoy your time with your family.

Good luck to what ever you decide.

 

[DogFish]

I'm confused here, replacing the 6' x 18" tank with a 3'x 18" tank gets you and extra 648sq. in. of Floor space. Granted that's a parking space for one big wheel, but that seems like a a lot of stress to gain that little space.

I could understand down sizing to a Nano. I'm just not understanding the pay-off with this move???

 

[NWA-Planted]

Thank you everyone for another view of it all it mirrors much of my own thoughts but guess i needed to hear it from others.

However i am more attached to the wife and kids over the tank lol.

Tran your very right, i will have it to come back to later! No need to sell it.. Hopefully.

Frank, a 40 breeder may have been a bad example, but downsize in some form for now.

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[mach_six]

It's a no brainer, kids first. I have to make the same decision with some tanks or the other option is to buy a bigger house.

 

[NWA-Planted]

It's a no brainer, kids first. I have to make the same decision with some tanks or the other option is to buy a bigger house.

Oh it's already been determined once we can get a bigger house... I get a bigger tank lol

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[NWA-Planted]

So reached a pretty good deal with the wife...

Current setup has the 125 in the middle of the wall taking up a lot of usable space...

To the very right is an open spot beside the couch, so she said i can have a tank that basically fills that corner next to the couch. Though this basically means a custom tank which... Is really a win for me. Doing some measurements that spot allows for a 36"x30" floor print and doesn't extend past the couch which opens pretty much that whole space the 125 is taking up.

Granted i am scaling down... But after the tax returns looking at this as a win win for me and my wife and kids!

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place

 

[DogFish]

That I understand. :hihi:

I'm guess your are planning to build this one, dumb question, right?
Keep in mind standard lighting sizes as that will keep cost down and
get you up & running faster that DIY lighting.

Just a thought from someone doing 30 to life, mock up a cardboard
tank & stand and put it in that space. Let your wife see it and live with it
for a few days before you start your build.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

 

[Aquatic Delight]

Just a thought from someone doing 30 to life, mock up a cardboard
tank & stand and put it in that space. Let your wife see it and live with it
for a few days before you start your build.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

i can't wait to follow the DIY thread

 

[NWA-Planted]

That I understand. :hihi:

I'm guess your are planning to build this one, dumb question, right?
Keep in mind standard lighting sizes as that will keep cost down and
get you up & running faster that DIY lighting.

Just a thought from someone doing 30 to life, mock up a cardboard
tank & stand and put it in that space. Let your wife see it and live with it
for a few days before you start your build.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

The card board mock up makes good sense, hopefully this build comes to fruition, always great ideas just getting them going always seems to be the problem

Sent from a dark corner in my happy place