Two tanks or just one nice one?

[BenDont]

I currently have two tanks, one 20 gal long in my living room, the other is a 10 gal in my kitchen.

My 20 gallon is a tropical community tank that is aquascaped with plants, shrimp and 5 platies and my 10 gallon had a small crayfish and a dwarf gourami (it was my first tank I've ever owned), but the crayfish died and now the gourami is an empty bare bottom tank (I took out the cheap colorful gravel).

I wanted some input on whether or not I should upgrade my 10 gal by aquascaping it like my 20 long and adding a couple of platies with the gourami. Or, should I just take down my 10 gallon completely and move the gourami to the 20 long. My family really likes having a tank in the kitchen, but for me currently its a lot of work.

Since making my 20 gallon look very nice, I had to do less maintenance with it, I figured doing the same with the 10 would make it less work too. I want to minimize the work needed on my fish keeping in general, so would it best to have two really nice tanks with relatively the same workload I do now or just one I can focus on specifically?

 

[MEWaters]

well here it is probably always recommended as many tanks as you can have.
no one can really make a recommendation here for you. I would say your Gourami would be happier in the planted 20, so move him, preserve the filter media of the 10 gallon and see how you feel in the next 2 months

 

[newbywho]

I would keep both tanks if nothing els use the 10 gallon as a hospital tank you never know when a fish might become ill and you don't want to be stuck wonder if he or she will get other fish sick

 

[Donthemon]

More the better! And get a 55 gallon too!

 

[saltwater60]

Is say if two tanks is stressful or puts pressure on you go with one. You want to enjoy the hobby and not make it seem like work.

 

[PhoShow]

I currently have two tanks, one 20 gal long in my living room, the other is a 10 gal in my kitchen.

My 20 gallon is a tropical community tank that is aquascaped with plants, shrimp and 5 platies and my 10 gallon had a small crayfish and a dwarf gourami (it was my first tank I've ever owned), but the crayfish died and now the gourami is an empty bare bottom tank (I took out the cheap colorful gravel).

I wanted some input on whether or not I should upgrade my 10 gal by aquascaping it like my 20 long and adding a couple of platies with the gourami. Or, should I just take down my 10 gallon completely and move the gourami to the 20 long. My family really likes having a tank in the kitchen, but for me currently its a lot of work.

Since making my 20 gallon look very nice, I had to do less maintenance with it, I figured doing the same with the 10 would make it less work too. I want to minimize the work needed on my fish keeping in general, so would it best to have two really nice tanks with relatively the same workload I do now or just one I can focus on specifically?

I'm 16 years old and I have 2 10g, 1 29 gallon and a 5 gallon aquarium and I enjoy having these. I have one planted tank and the rest have minimum decorations. I'd go with 1 really good aquarium but two isn't bad. It just depends on if you can take care of them

 

[StarGirl]

I say you can keep the one for a hospital tank if you want. I would do just one nice one as I have. It is so much work I don't know how people keep a fish room honestly.

 

[Burnout1620]

If you already have 2 tanks and all the necessities, it really isn’t that much extra work... particularly if they are small. I’d move the Gourami into the 20 and maybe get a Betta for the 10G. Tiny bioload would keep maintenance low, and they really are wonderful fish.

 

[JCM]

I currently have 2 tanks a 30L with betta and 120L community tank. If your finding the 2 tanks too much work I would just maintain the 1 tank and keep that looking amazing either keep the small one as a hospital tank or get rid all together. With a busy lifestyle sometimes maintaining aquariums is hard. Always make sure you are enjoying the hobby!!

 

[AcuarioAmazonico]

Not everyone is fish mad Iike most people on here. To me it’s simple. Put all the fish in the 20 gallon - make it a show piece and be done with it.
Put the filter from the 10 into the 20 as well. If at any point you do need to quarantine one of your fish - or perhaps you even decide to go out and buy a betta or something very low maintence - you’ll have a fully seeded filter ready to go: very quick establishment of a new tank that way (well at least versus weeks and weeks).

don’t feel guilty not wanting multiple tanks. Upkeep can be tedious and some people (unlike us) actually have lives

 

[MacZ]

From a practical standpoint I'd also say put the gourami and the filter in the 20 and take down the 10 until you either have a concrete plan for it or you need a hospital/quarantine tank. So basically what everybody else is telling you here.

 

[Islandvic]

Get a 40 gallon breeder or 55 gallon tank next time Petco has a $1/gallon - 50% off Aqueon sale.

Build a stand then use the current 20 gallon as a sump tank. Top it off with a Jebao DC pump and a Beamswork DA series LED from Amazon. That would be an excellent budget combo.

Keep 10 gallon and use as needed for a quarantine/ hospital tank.

Larger tanks are easier to maintain, especially with a sump.