Best variety of tanks

HI all! I just moved into a house that is large enough for me to start getting into my fish hobby. I already own an empty 30 gallon tank, but I’d like to purchase 2 to 3 more tanks over the next year or two. My question is what tanks would give me the best variety in terms of size what I’m able to keep in them? If you’d like to recommend some specific fish to house in them that would be great too. I probably won’t have room for anything larger than a 55 gallon. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

I would get a 20 gallon and stock it with Zebra Danios , Neon Tetras ,Cherry Shrimp and please someone tell me if these get to big ,but a BN catfish!

 

I would get a 20 gallon and stock it with Zebra Danios , Neon Tetras ,Cherry Shrimp and please someone tell me if these get to big ,but a BN catfish!

Bristlelnose plecos really need 30+ gallons to feed comfortable, but I'd go with some corys in that tank to keep the whole schooling look going!

I'd probably go with a 20 long, 40 breeder, and a 55. Personally I think the best way to do it is to figure out what kind of fish you want, and then go for whatever tank size fits them the best.

 

Bristlelnose plecos really need 30+ gallons to feed comfortable, but I'd go with some corys in that tank to keep the whole schooling look going!

Would ottos work, I think a fish that eats algae would be a cool thing to have in a tank.

 

Would ottos work, I think a fish that eats algae would be a cool thing to have in a tank.

Those could work! I just personally like corys more because I think they look cooler and aren't as sensitive to water conditions as far as I know.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I think the problem with figuring out which fish I want first is that there are SO MANY that are really awesome that I'd love to have. I like corys a lot too, they're adorable. But I could definitely do a BN pleco in my 30 gallon (or in a larger tank if I get one bigger).

 

I've got my 54G, I'm about to buy 2 20L to stack. One for Apistos, and one as my qt tank. Besides those, way down the road, (as in, when our 16 year old moves out) my wife and I plan on doing a big tank in the basement for a pair of Oscars.

 

That's awesome! I'd love to do a huge tank like that but A) my house is just not that large, and B) my husband will most definitely say no! lol. What do you keep in your 54G?

 

My wife's first tank, which she adopted when she married her first husband, was an Oscar / Arowana tank. My first big tank was my Oscar tank. I kept the poor old guy in a 60G, so I've always wanted to redo Oscars so I could spoil the heck out of my puppy fish now that I'm a better fishkeeper (with deeper pockets than I had in my 20's). As for that 54 gallon, it's a corner tank and is almost done cycling. I've got my stock mostly worked out to a shoal of 20 lemon tetras, if they're still available, 10 violet corydoras, and a decent sized harem of bolivian rams. I wanted to get Keyhole cichlids in this tank too, but the footprint of a corner tank wouldn't work with the Rams imo.

 

That is going to be stunning!

 

You probably get the most bang for your buck with a 40b or two. They have a wide range of fish that can fit in them. 20 longs are fun too, or you could do a couple 10s if you wanted to keep multiple bettas or something else in that vein

 

If you can fit a 55, can you go a little wider for a 75? It’s an awesome size with a ton of stocking possibilities.
Other than that, I second a 40 breeder. Could put a decent shoal of corys in one and they are easy to maintain. I have 2!

 

Why not start a fish room with a couple of tens and one larger tank?

 

Why not start a fish room with a couple of tens and one larger tank?

That may be a really good way to start for me being pretty new to fish keeping. I've heard that the smaller the tank, the harder it is to keep up though?

You probably get the most bang for your buck with a 40b or two. They have a wide range of fish that can fit in them. 20 longs are fun too, or you could do a couple 10s if you wanted to keep multiple bettas or something else in that vein

Thanks for the ideas! I like that it gives me some different sizes/shapes. And bang for my buck is really important to me.

You probably get the most bang for your buck with a 40b or two. They have a wide range of fish that can fit in them. 20 longs are fun too, or you could do a couple 10s if you wanted to keep multiple bettas or something else in that vein

I think for some reason in my mind a 75G just seems so much bigger than a 55 even though I think the dimension aren't that much different. I'd have to see it in the space but I do like all of the different options a 75 can provide

 

Yeah, smaller tanks are a bit more challenging to keep but nothing some understocking can't fix

In multiple tens you could breed some nice fish. What a bang to start off the hobby

 

Well I guess that’s decided then. I just got a free 10 gal and a free 40 gal! What a fantastic day!

 

Why not start a fish room with a couple of tens and one larger tank?

Uh oh. Once a room has been dedicated to fish, there's nothing to slow someone down from "just another tank"! Not that that's something I wouldn't encourage

I really love 40s. I like tanks in general with a larger footprint but not much height. What a steal! Make sure they retain water before you fill them up on a stand.

 

If you’ve got room for a 55 you have room for a 75. Much better footprint for aqua scaping.

 

Make sure they retain water before you fill them up on a stand.

For sure! I was told that they do both hold water, but I’m gonna test it myself before bringing them inside. Plus they’re both indesperate need of a good cleaning