POLL: How QUICKLY did you UPGRADE to a LARGER AQUARIUM?

[Macbalacano]

It's been 1 year since I came back to the hobby and I never thought I'd get the itch to upgrade and yet here we are!

Just curious how quickly others have upgraded?

What did you upgrade from?

What did you upgrade to?

Any regrets, lessons learned or advice?

Pictures more than welcome!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Started on Feb 10, 2020 with a 20 gallon IM Peninsula

Bought an IM 25 lagoon and set it up on March 3, 2020. This isn’t my tank, it’s my dads. He’s a 30 year veteran of the hobby and thinks way differently from m

Then I bought a Waterbox 45 (first sump!) on August 27, 2020

Here’s the most recent pics I have of them.

20

25

45

 

[Macbalacano]

Started on Feb 10, 2020 with a 20 gallon IM Peninsula

Bought an IM 25 lagoon and set it up on March 3, 2020. This isn’t my tank, it’s my dads. He’s a 30 year veteran of the hobby and thinks way differently from m

Then I bought a Waterbox 45 (first sump!) on August 27, 2020

Here’s the most recent pics I have of them.

20

25

45

Wow fantastic, thanks for sharing!

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree I suppose!

 

[homer1475]

When I got back into the hobby I started with a 32G biocube, less then a year later I was doing an 80G cube.

 

[Macbalacano]

When I got back into the hobby I started with a 32G biocube, less then a year later I was doing an 80G cube.

Surprising me so far how many people upgrade within the first year!

 

[Vette67]

I set up my first 75 in 1997. In 2002, I set up my 180. The 75 was end of 97 and the 180 was beginning of 02, so closer to 4 years than 5.

 

[Spieg]

After 30+ years in the hobby, I've changed tank size/configuration many many times. Having started with a 10 gallon tank (in which I killed everything ever kept in it), I expanded over the years to multiple 180 gallon tanks at the largest and then back down ward again to my current 70 gallon tank. For me, I find this to be the sweet spot between maintenance effort, budgetary expenditure and enjoyment.

 

[Macbalacano]

After 30+ years in the hobby, I've changed tank size/configuration many many times. Having started with a 10 gallon tank (in which I killed everything ever kept in it), I expanded over the years to multiple 180 gallon tanks at the largest and then back down ward again to my current 70 gallon tank. For me, I find this to be the sweet spot between maintenance effort, budgetary expenditure and enjoyment.

This is very interesting, thanks for sharing! Could you expand or give some examples regarding your last sentence?

I'm thinking about getting a 130gal (100 display, 30ish sump) and I was debating on going one bigger or one smaller.

 

[Spieg]

This is very interesting, thanks for sharing! Could you expand or give some examples regarding your last sentence?

I'm thinking about getting a 130gal (100 display, 30ish sump) and I was debating on going one bigger or one smaller.

Pretty simple... In my case I'm of an age where I don't like spending a lot of time fussing with tank(s). For my current system, I can clean the glass and do general maintenance pretty quickly, can feed everything with minimal effort/expense, and I don't have to do any regular water changes.
70 gallons is enough to house a variety of fish and coral to keep me happy. YMMV

 

[Macbalacano]

Pretty simple... In my case I'm of an age where I don't like spending a lot of time fussing with tank(s). For my current system, I can clean the glass and do general maintenance pretty quickly, can feed everything with minimal effort/expense, and I don't have to do any regular water changes.
70 gallons is enough to house a variety of fish and coral to keep me happy. YMMV

Very well said, thanks for this, this is exactly what I'm hoping to achieve also and was hoping for similar results with that size of tank!

 

[Dbichler]

2006 54 corner sold because of deployment in 2015 Got home bought 29 bio cube kept until2019 then upgraded to my 210.

 

[KevPool]

Two weeks after getting my first nano tank I started building a multi tank system that totals 210 gal lol. now that it's up and running I'm planning my next build. I need a 12 step program for aquariums lol.

 

[vetteguy53081]

1994-2005. . Had various tanks FW and SW

2006 125g

2011 36g bowfront ( bought current house)

2012 95g wave front

2013 240g

2016 360g + 93 cube

2018 added 50g drop off tank

2019 660g tank

2022 1500 gal ( in Florida awaiting my move to my home)

 

[Macbalacano]

1994-2005. . Had various tanks FW and SW

2006 125g

2011 36g bowfront ( bought current house)

2012 95g wave front

2013 240g

2016 360g + 93 cube

2018 added 50g drop off tank

2019 660g tank

2022 1500 gal ( in Florida awaiting my move to my home)

This is an awesome progression. I hope my trajectory is similar! Haha

 

[X-37B]

After being out of the hobby for around 10+ years I got a 18" cubed nano.
2 years later started to put together my 120 once we moved.
Now have it and a 45 frag system.

 

[burningmime]

About 3 months. I tried a Pico Jar and realized just how little you could get in there. Luckily, I didn't spend a fortune on it.

 

[AZMSGT]

28 years

 

[Pntbll687]

It's been 1 year since I came back to the hobby and I never thought I'd get the itch to upgrade and yet here we are!

Just curious how quickly others have upgraded?

What did you upgrade from?

What did you upgrade to?

Any regrets, lessons learned or advice?

Pictures more than welcome!

Had one 25g cube for two years. Then two cubes.

Then 190g deep sea aquatics tank.

Now I have a 180g peninsula.

What would I do different. I would have made better budget choices. Should have went with a four foot tank instead of 6.

If I did it all over again, I'd probably set up something like a 33 long as a peninsula. I find taking care of a smaller tank much more enjoyable than the current 180.

 

[mango113]

I haven't upgraded yet.. Started with a 10G this past summer so it's only a matter of time.

 

[Macbalacano]

Had one 25g cube for two years. Then two cubes.

Then 190g deep sea aquatics tank.

Now I have a 180g peninsula.

What would I do different. I would have made better budget choices. Should have went with a four foot tank instead of 6.

If I did it all over again, I'd probably set up something like a 33 long as a peninsula. I find taking care of a smaller tank much more enjoyable than the current 180.

Thanks for sharing! How many gallons do you figure a 33 long would be?

What specifically do you feel would be easier with a smaller tank?