Dont upgrade that tank! WAIT!!

[Rhetoric]

“Bigger Is Better” — The Problem With the Why

Page after page, post after post, we’re told the same thing:
Bigger is better.

More room. Bigger fish. Bigger systems.

Let’s take a brief moment of silence for every hobbyist who bought a bigger tank…
then got burned out, too busy, or simply tired of maintaining it.

The idea that bigger is better sells more aquariums, more coral, and more fish.

What it doesn’t sell is patience.
And patience is the part no one seems to talk about.

So here’s what real patience in this hobby might actually sound like—because I almost never hear it said:

WAIT. That tiny frag will grow into a beautiful colony—in a couple of years.
WAIT. You’re about to buy a third aquarium while the first two are sitting on Marketplace for a third of what you paid.
WAIT. That bigger tank won’t just cost ten times more—it will cost ten times more to fill, and you’ll still be buying tiny frags.
WAIT. Moving from a 20-gallon to a 40-gallon still doesn’t mean you can keep big fish.
WAIT. You’ve been in the hobby less than a year. How could you possibly know what your dream tank is—or what equipment it truly needs?
WAIT. If you’re obsessed with buying more, that isn’t progress. It’s consumption. And eventually, it passes.

Team Big Tank will always be mainstream.
But Team Small Tank could use a few more voices willing to say one simple word:

WAIT.

P.S. - I know this topic is swimming against the current, lets hear some more WAIT thoughts along with all the justification for bigger is better)

 

[exnisstech]

TBH except for water changes being larger and more glass to clean I don't really find a larger tank much different than smaller ones. Maybe a little more expense but not really much more work. Maybe it's because I'm simple and I tend to let the tanks run with minimal intervention on my part so I'm not fussing and fretting over everything like some folks seem to do? I currently have 5 running from 330g down to 8g. I went from a 180g to the 330g because I felt my tangs were looking cramped. I felt a larger tank was necessary for their well being not just because someone said bigger is better.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

very true!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

“Bigger Is Better” — The Problem With the Why

Page after page, post after post, we’re told the same thing:
Bigger is better.

More room. Bigger fish. Bigger systems.

Let’s take a brief moment of silence for every hobbyist who bought a bigger tank…
then got burned out, too busy, or simply tired of maintaining it.

The idea that bigger is better sells more aquariums, more coral, and more fish.

What it doesn’t sell is patience.
And patience is the part no one seems to talk about.

So here’s what real patience in this hobby might actually sound like—because I almost never hear it said:

WAIT. That tiny frag will grow into a beautiful colony—in a couple of years.
WAIT. You’re about to buy a third aquarium while the first two are sitting on Marketplace for a third of what you paid.
WAIT. That bigger tank won’t just cost ten times more—it will cost ten times more to fill, and you’ll still be buying tiny frags.
WAIT. Moving from a 20-gallon to a 40-gallon still doesn’t mean you can keep big fish.
WAIT. You’ve been in the hobby less than a year. How could you possibly know what your dream tank is—or what equipment it truly needs?
WAIT. If you’re obsessed with buying more, that isn’t progress. It’s consumption. And eventually, it passes.

Team Big Tank will always be mainstream.
But Team Small Tank could use a few more voices willing to say one simple word:

WAIT.

P.S. - I know this topic is swimming against the current, lets hear some more WAIT thoughts along with all the justification for bigger is better)

agreed!

 

[Rhetoric]

TBH except for water changes being larger and more glass to clean I don't really find a larger tank much different than smaller ones. Maybe a little more expense but not really much more work. Maybe it's because I'm simple and I tend to let the tanks run with minimal intervention on my part so I'm not fussing and fretting over everything like some folks seem to do? I currently have 5 running from 330g down to 8g. I went from a 180g to the 330g because I felt my tangs were looking cramped. I felt a larger tank was necessary for their well being not just because someone said bigger is better.

Like all walks of life, there is all spectrum of hobbyist.

You have hands on experience with many tanks. It definitely gives merit to your statements. I would also point out your version of low maintenance and simple set ups is still on 5 TANKS lol. Appreciate the input

 

[bushdoc]

I actually downgraded from 150 to 100 gal few months ago ago and just love it. Easier to maintain, clean, water changes cost less. Very happy from my new reef

 

[vlangel]

I agree, bigger is not always better. One has to honestly assess their available time, their available cash and the available space.

 

[Jasonak]

Team Big Tank will always be mainstream.
But Team Small Tank could use a few more voices willing to say one simple word:

I have 330 Ive had it since 2017 I love it, I consider it a big tank. But I dont think that's mainstream actually. Id bet majority of people have smaller tanks, 120 and under. I dont know could be wrong. Ive been in the hobby for 30 years and this is my first big tank.
I dont think anyone has anything against smaller tanks, Im always happy to see people get into saltwater no matter what size tank they start with. I think starting small is a good idea, you might end up hating it

WAIT. That tiny frag will grow into a beautiful colony—in a couple of years.

True

WAIT. You’re about to buy a third aquarium while the first two are sitting on Marketplace for a third of what you pai

I never buy new theres always deals to be found,,,, if you wait :)

WAIT. That bigger tank won’t just cost ten times more—it will cost ten times more to fill, and you’ll still be buying tiny frags.

Unless its 10 times the size im not sure I agree on this one.

WAIT. Moving from a 20-gallon to a 40-gallon still doesn’t mean you can keep big fish.

True

 

[Aquacrazed]

This is very true, I have a 20g and have the space for a 75g but I refuse to do it because I can only keep more of the same in it (fish, coral). If you want to go big just make sure it really is a big upgrade and not just an incremental upgrade. For me that would be a 120g minimum.