Why You Should Keep More Than One Aquarium

Ichthyologists are aware of over 33,000 fish species, and with how many of them can thrive in aquariums, it's no wonder some hobbyists have entire rooms filled with tanks. Many of these tanks aren't just for keeping pets, and some play vital roles in keeping aquariums maintained. If you've ever considered owning multiple tanks, or want to know more about the benefits, here's why you should keep more than one aquarium.

Different Fish Have Different Needs

This may go without saying, but different fish have different needs. Saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater fish all have different care requirements. Sometimes, fish that live in the same water type can have drastically different care needs. For example, betta fish thrive in soft water, while cichlids prefer hard water, but they're both freshwater fish. That's not even the tip of the iceberg!

Some factors to consider are lighting, pH, salinity, and current flow. While some fish may be able to tolerate certain conditions in the same tank, you don't want them to simply tolerate their environment. You want them to thrive! Owning more than one aquarium means you're not stuck owning fish that require the same water conditions, and you don't have to force other fish to adapt to anything less than their ideal environment.

Not All Fish Are Compatible

Many species of fish aren't suited to live together, and this goes beyond water parameters. Believe it or not, fish have unique personalities, and some may not get along with others. For example, some fish are very shy and easily bullied by more aggressive or territorial fish. A pertinent example is the betta fish; males don't do well in community tanks or even with tank mates of the same species. That being said, female betta fish do well in what's known as a sorority tank, which is simply an aquarium with fish of the same sex.

It's not just aggression that you have to worry about either, as some fish are more predatorial or curious than others. The last thing you want to worry about is coming home to one less fish or finding a shy fish that's been fin-nipped too many times. With multiple aquariums, you can own different fish with different temperaments while keeping them with tank mates more suited to live together.

You Want To Start a Feeder Tank

Fish have different nutritional requirements, and some fish are carnivorous. While some prefer insects, like bloodworms and mosquito larvae, others prefer live-feeder fish. Live fish provide an excellent source of nutrition and enrichment for your fish. By breeding your own feeder fish, you don't have to go to the store and spend money on expensive live food, which is more economically viable in the long run.

When you buy live feeder fish from a store, you don't know what conditions they lived in or if they picked up any diseases or parasites. One sick feeder fish can cause serious damage to a tank. When you breed your own live food, you know their conditions, so you can rest easy knowing your fish are getting quality food for every meal. Feeding your carnivorous fish algae and other vitamin-rich food, also known as gut-loading, gives them much more nutrients.

Your Fish Have Bred or You Want To Breed Fish

If you keep fish of the same species and the opposite sex, you may wake up one day with some unexpected small fries in your tank. This may sound harsh, but you can let carnivorous fish eat them. The last thing you want to do is leave them in the tank because more fish means more waste. Your tank’s water levels can change rapidly, putting the health of your other fish at risk; you can either give away the new fish or keep them. If you decide to keep the fries, then you may want to separate them as soon as possible, as some species tend to eat their young.

You May Need a Quarantine Tank

No matter how well you take care of your fish, there may come a time when they get sick. In order to prevent your other fish from catching the same illness, you'll need to quarantine the sick fish. Because of how quickly some diseases can progress and spread through water, it's best to quarantine an ill fish as soon as possible.

It's much easier to treat and medicate a fish in a separate tank, as they'll require specific doses of medication. It's not only fish you need to quarantine; sometimes, plants can harbor pests that may overrun your tank. The most famous of these pests are ramshorn and bladder snails, which love to hide under the leaves of live plants and wreak havoc on your tank. Allowing plants to spend a week or so in a quarantine tank can help you determine whether any little stragglers decided to hitchhike on your plants.

You Want To Experiment With Plants or Aquascaping

Taking care of aquatic plants can be a challenge if you don't naturally have a green thumb. Some hobbyists like to keep separate tanks to experiment with different plants while learning how to care for them. Removing and adding new plants can mess with your aquarium’s water parameters and stress out skittish fish. It's also much easier to clear out dead plants from an empty tank.

Another aquarium is good for those who want to experiment with aquascaping or break into the world of ripariums and paludariums. While aquascaping involves using plants and other natural elements that only thrive in water, ripariums and paludariums are a little different. Ripariums include small amounts of land designed to seem like a coast or riverbank environment. Paludariums, on the other hand, are built with more land for animals like semi-aquatic turtles. That's a lot of -iums!

That doesn't even begin to describe how many different types and styles of aquascaping exist that resemble real environments. Could you imagine trying to do all of that in one tank and limiting yourself to one style? Multiple aquariums allow you to experiment to your heart's content without worrying about harming your fish or doing tedious cleanup.

Ultimately, the most important reason why you should keep more than one aquarium is if you want to care for different fish. Fish are beautiful creatures that deserve the same kind of care and love that a dog or cat receives, and there's nothing wrong with wanting a myriad of species. The perfect fish tank starts with the right tools, and that's where we come in. Fish Tanks Direct has everything you need to care for any kind of fish. From hexagon tank stands to advanced aquarium equipment, we have you covered!