What Would You Do? New Tank...

Hi.

I've wanted a 75G since a year after I got into fish keeping so I can house giant danios. I currently have normal sized danios and tetras in a 20G long. The problem is, I am 24 and move to a new apartment every year after my lease ends depending on roommate situation, rent price, etc. Not far, just to different parts of San Diego.

I'm moving again in 10 months, and plan to make that my permanent residence until I buy a house. I'm aiming to buy a house within 3 years +/-, depending on the rate on which I save for a down payment.

Anyways, I've wanted a 75G for a while now. I mean, NEED a 75 G. Haha. But I recently got back into scuba and that's made me want one even more... I was considering getting one when I move in 10 months. Then keeping for 2 years, and moving to where I buy a house.

My question is, would you get a 75G if you know you're going to move relatively soon? Or would you wait 3 years until you're at a permanent residence. I really want one, but I don't know how much of a PITA it will be to move. Moving a 20G sucks enough, now nearly quadruple that size, increase the fish count (especially danois which are super hard to catch and bag), etc.

Thanks for the advice.

 

If it's 3 years before you move again, I say do It! If it were only a year i'd say wait. But 3 years is a nice chunk of time. I say go for it.

 

Get the tank, in three years things can change, like kids or car payments and whatnot.

 

It will be a pain to move. it’s a big tank. So if you move it now or later is up to you. Just make sure you still have friends.

 

If I'm reading it correctly you're going to move in ten months but buy a house in 3 so you'll only be in the apartment for 2 years?

I would honestly wait. You want the tank to cycle and you want the fish to settle and if you get live plants your plants have taken root nicely. Then in 2 years you yank it all up and move it all including all of the substrate at the bottom of a 75 gallon tank? That sounds horrendous. That's just me though and I know how hard it is to wait especially when you get it in your head that you want something NOW!

 

If I'm reading it correctly you're going to move in ten months but buy a house in 3 so you'll only be in the apartment for 2 years?

I would honestly wait. You want the tank to cycle and you want the fish to settle and if you get live plants your plants have taken root nicely. Then in 2 years you yank it all up and move it all including all of the substrate at the bottom of a 75 gallon tank? That sounds horrendous. That's just me though and I know how hard it is to wait especially when you get it in your head that you want something NOW!

You’d have to completely empty the tank, especially the sand. You’ll blow the bottom out otherwise. I’ve moved a big tank and it sucks... I’d wait.

 

oh! maybe I read that wrong. So after 10 months it'll be 2 years before another move. I definitely wouldn't do it NOW....because you don't want to move it twice. But if you plan to be in the next place for 2 years...I'd still do it at that point. It will be a lot of hassle, sure.... But you can enjoy that tank quite a bit during those two years....making the move totally worth it!!

Basically....do you think 2 years of enjoyment is worth the trouble? Are you willing to sacrifice one day of extra time and energy to move it if it means 2 years of bliss before hand? I personally think it is worth it.

I have never moved large tanks before. Other than moving a 55 to a different location within the same house. So I guess I shouldn't talk. But I feel like you can enjoy a lot in 2 years.

 

You’d have to completely empty the tank, especially the sand. You’ll blow the bottom out otherwise. I’ve moved a big tank and it sucks... I’d wait.

Sorry, I meant you'd have to move all of the substrate that you'd use for the bottom of a 75 gallon tank vs the amount in a 20 gallon not that you would lift the tank with the substrate in it! I wouldn't recommend doing that at all!

Here's something to also think about, you don't have an apartment or a house for that matter. There are different shaped tanks that you can buy to fit your space. Some spaces would not allow the footprint of a 75 gallon but if I could find one I'd have space for a 70 gallon. I've wanted a bigger tank and have looked at different sizes but realistically if I want it in the room I have it in, the room I can enjoy it the most, then I can only go another 6" longer. If I want it in the room I would never see it in I could get one that is 5' long but that defeats the purpose of having one IMO. I'm not trying to discourage you but any home you'd buy will need to have a wall that you will leave 4' empty for your tank.

 

If I'm reading it correctly you're going to move in ten months but buy a house in 3 so you'll only be in the apartment for 2 years?

I would honestly wait. You want the tank to cycle and you want the fish to settle and if you get live plants your plants have taken root nicely. Then in 2 years you yank it all up and move it all including all of the substrate at the bottom of a 75 gallon tank? That sounds horrendous. That's just me though and I know how hard it is to wait especially when you get it in your head that you want something NOW!

Correct. I'm moving in 10 months to a house (that I'll be renting), then buying a house about 2 years after that.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess I'll just wait until I move in 10 months and re-assess the situation. I've only been raising pet fish for 2.5 years, and it feels like I've been doing it forever. So even though I'll only be at my next location for 2 years and the move would be a pain (tank out water, sand, bag fish, etc) and probably take an entire day, 2 years is a long time to enjoy the larger tank.

I go through these cycles where I REALLY want the tank. Generally after a scuba diving session, after seeing giant danios at the fish store, or watching videos of big tanks online. I'm clearly in one of those now. I'll be patient, it's not easy though!

 

Correct. I'm moving in 10 months to a house (that I'll be renting), then buying a house about 2 years after that.

A lot of people who rent out their houses have restrictions on large fish tanks due to the potential damage a leaky or exploded tank would cause. Same for apartments...or basically any rental situation. Do you know if it is even an option where you will be staying for those 2 years?

 

I honestly would wait. As a lot of other's have said: it's tricky to move such a large aquarium. Cycling an aquarium that large takes a lot of time, then there's the price tag and set up. 10 months later you need to move and ****...gotta do a lot to empty it, make it safe to move and go through the whole refilling and the like? It's a bit of a hassle in my opinion. If it were me I'd wait until I've settled into a place I intend to live for at least 3 years. I know how tempting it is to upgrade but honestly it's better for both you and the fish to wait.

 

I honestly would wait. As a lot of other's have said: it's tricky to move such a large aquarium. Cycling an aquarium that large takes a lot of time, then there's the price tag and set up. 10 months later you need to move and ...gotta do a lot to empty it, make it safe to move and go through the whole refilling and the like? It's a bit of a hassle in my opinion. If it were me I'd wait until I've settled into a place I intend to live for at least 3 years. I know how tempting it is to upgrade but honestly it's better for both you and the fish to wait.

I don't think the OP intends to move it twice. They were thinking about doing it when they will be in a place for 2 years (10 months from now)

 

My first landlord nearly has a fit when he found out about my 30 gallon in the basement suit of a concrete floor. Only reason he relaxed about it was because I already paid a pet deposit on the cat. Ironically, he was fine letting a water line leak for a day and all the lovely mold I know is growing back there was never taken care of when I lived there. The three months it took to fix the 2.5x2 foot hole was the final straw and I moved.

Sorry, I meant you'd have to move all of the substrate that you'd use for the bottom of a 75 gallon tank vs the amount in a 20 gallon not that you would lift the tank with the substrate in it! I wouldn't recommend doing that at all!

Cause I’m know some people think it’s possible.

 

Cause I’m know some people think it’s possible.

How often do we see that question can I move my tank with water and substrate? The answer should always be no

 

I don't think the OP intends to move it twice. They were thinking about doing it when they will be in a place for 2 years (10 months from now)

Correct. And I'm not sure if they'll allow it. I didn't even think about that actually....

 

Coming from Russia, I never had such stable life as people in America. Ive learnt that whatever plans you think for sure gonna come true in 10 months, in 2 years - whenever, your life can be completely rearranged by the forces you can't control in a day. My parents were saving money for a car, lost all of it in a day on which they devaluated the money 1000 times. They started saving for an apartment - same story. My mother finally managed to buy out her apartment to leave it to her children, but our city got bombed, tore down and is just a war zone now. It is funny to me how americans can say "in two years, I will have enough money to buy an apartment'. What if there is a nuclear war with Korea tomorrow?
The lesson is, enjoy everything in this moment, do not wait. Get your tank, you will figure something out when and if the time comes to move.

 

Correct. And I'm not sure if they'll allow it. I didn't even think about that actually....

Definitely ask that question.
It might be a "no" and that would make your decision for you....

 

Hello fellow San Diegan!

Make sure your apartment building will allow a large aquarium for sure, because some don't / are not rated for it, structure wise.

But otherwise, totally get your 75G. Get young giant danios and just move them with you when you move into your house. Moving fish isn't that big a deal, especially when it's not a long move.

 

I would start searching Craigslist, Letgo, etc now. If you find a 75 gallon at a good price, get it now and wait to fill it up.

 

From experience moving a 75 gallon I don't find them that bad to move. A tank with the foot print of a 75 (4' long x 18" wide) fits exactly in the back seat of a Crown Vic.
Then you put the stand in the trunk. If you bagged the substrate (double bagged heavy duty black trash bags) load those in the floorboard of the back seat.
Take your other equipment and put it into the trunk with and around the stand. Stand is a big hollow thing, put things in the stand (pad with towels/blankets to prevent any jostling potentially scratching or breaking things). I'm talking filters, pumps, lights, chemicals, nets, decorations, anything you can think of.
Take all of the bagged fish and place those bags in the empty 75 sitting in the back seat. Again, pad with towels and blankets to help keep the bags from sliding around or getting jostled too much. Oh and bag your filter media with some of the tank water too. Basically treat it like a fish and keep your BB colony alive. They're inportant! That way you aren't having to re-cycle your tank.
Okay that should be everything.
Make the drive to new place.
Unload everything and set it up.


....I realize not everyone has a car that can fit a 75 in the backseat. Find a friend. Bribe them with food or something. You're gonna need two people to move the tank and the stand anyhow.

 

How often do we see that question can I move my tank with water and substrate? The answer should always be no

Should being the key word. I personally haven’t seen it but some people that I’ve heard of do try draining all the water and decor but leaving sand/gravel behind.

From experience moving a 75 gallon I don't find them that bad to move. A tank with the foot print of a 75 (4' long x 18" wide) fits exactly in the back seat of a Crown Vic.
Then you put the stand in the trunk. If you bagged the substrate (double bagged heavy duty black trash bags) load those in the floorboard of the back seat.
Take your other equipment and put it into the trunk with and around the stand. Stand is a big hollow thing, put things in the stand (pad with towels/blankets to prevent any jostling potentially scratching or breaking things). I'm talking filters, pumps, lights, chemicals, nets, decorations, anything you can think of.
Take all of the bagged fish and place those bags in the empty 75 sitting in the back seat. Again, pad with towels and blankets to help keep the bags from sliding around or getting jostled too much. Oh and bag your filter media with some of the tank water too. Basically treat it like a fish and keep your BB colony alive. They're inportant! That way you aren't having to re-cycle your tank.
Okay that should be everything.
Make the drive to new place.
Unload everything and set it up.


....I realize not everyone has a car that can fit a 75 in the backseat. Find a friend. Bribe them with food or something. You're gonna need two people to move the tank and the stand anyhow.

My 45 fit in my Chevy Cruze by about 1/4”. oooh that was a tight fit.

Coming from Russia, I never had such stable life as people in America. Ive learnt that whatever plans you think for sure gonna come true in 10 months, in 2 years - whenever, your life can be completely rearranged by the forces you can't control in a day. My parents were saving money for a car, lost all of it in a day on which they devaluated the money 1000 times. They started saving for an apartment - same story. My mother finally managed to buy out her apartment to leave it to her children, but our city got bombed, tore down and is just a war zone now. It is funny to me how americans can say "in two years, I will have enough money to buy an apartment'. What if there is a nuclear war with Korea tomorrow?
The lesson is, enjoy everything in this moment, do not wait. Get your tank, you will figure something out when and if the time comes to move.

So true. In school we had to set “life goals”. Mine consisted of surviving the school year and passing.

 

My 45 fit in my Chevy Cruze by about 1/4”. oooh that was a tight fit.

Oh jeez, that's finger pinching tight.

You can do a 75 in a Crown Vic with about 4 inches to spare on each side once the doors are closed. Its enough to get the 75 in, but not enough to get a tank that's 5 feet long in. My sister wanted to try that once. It does not work.

Ironically, my husband's Dodge Caliber can get a six foot tank in through the back hatch if you put the back seats down. Problem is, that car just doesn't have the suspension a Vic does. You have to make multiple trips to carry all the substrate and other gear along with said six foot tank otherwise the Caliber bottoms out.
Solution? Put the tank and stand in the Caliber. Everything else in the Vic.

 

I think that when you get a 75 then you have to have a backup plan so you can give the animals and whatnot to somebody trusted Incase the house doesn’t have the room.

 

Oh jeez, that's finger pinching tight.

You can do a 75 in a Crown Vic with about 4 inches to spare on each side once the doors are closed. Its enough to get the 75 in, but not enough to get a tank that's 5 feet long in. My sister wanted to try that once. It does not work.

Ironically, my husband's Dodge Caliber can get a six foot tank in through the back hatch if you put the back seats down. Problem is, that car just doesn't have the suspension a Vic does. You have to make multiple trips to carry all the substrate and other gear along with said six foot tank otherwise the Caliber bottoms out.
Solution? Put the tank and stand in the Caliber. Everything else in the Vic.

I didn’t measure before hand. Won’t make that mistake again. Now my 1979 Lincoln on the other hand... that you could probably fit a 6’ tank, the stand and everything in it AND the suspension is amazing.