Multiple tank owners opinions please!

Daniel Waters · Dec 31, 2018

I currently have a 72"Lx 24"W x 18"H reef tank that I maintain consistently and love. I am considering a second tank and wanted other people's input and opinions that own multiple tanks what their experience has been like. I have maintained two aquariums once before many years ago, and I swore I'd never do it again as it was a bit of a pain keeping up two tanks. Thus, if I do another tank, it will either be a frag tank for corals or a like a 4 foot 150 gallon fish only tank for some fish I can't or don't want to keep in my current reef tank (but would love to have). The tank would be it's own separate system within my home but will not be able to share a common sump (which would make things easier).

So my questions to those that have owned multiple tanks, what do you enjoy best about having an extra system? What would you change or do different or not do at all? Those that have frag tanks as a second tank, is it as much or less work as a fish only type system? Do you find a frag tank as much enjoyment as your main display tank? Any general comments or inquiries are welcome!

Ignore cost differences for purposes of this discussion. And my current display has mostly SPS corals, so I do love having both fish and corals!

Dtfnemo · Dec 31, 2018

I started with a 75g tank that came with a house I bought years ago, now I have 4 tanks in my house

I can't decide witch is my favorite but they all have something I love about them.
The frag tank by far is the one I spend more time looking at, its a 80g deep blue with a 40g breeder as a sump. Made so that I don't have to spend much time in maintenance.
Probably the hardest was to keep up with maintenance like dosing feeding and water changes on all four. Once I came up with a system on how to take care of them it's a breeze.
Even though I would love to have a fish only system I enjoy being able to grow corals on their own system with nothing to bother them, and then trade them or move them into the main tank.

saltyhog · Dec 31, 2018

I share your pain. My current DT is a 72x24x21 mixed reef. I would really like to have some angels/butterflies/mandarins but I won't give up my pod eating leopard and halichoeres wrasses/LPS. Would love to have an SPS only tank that I could include those in.

That said, I have temporarily satisfied my multiple tank addiction with an IM Fusion 10 gallon. It has zoas, duncan, barnacle blennies and a clown goby. One of these days I'll do the second tank one day when I have more time.

Sailingeric · Dec 31, 2018

I started with a 29 gallon tank for about a couple months before moving the FW out of my 75 gallon in the living room. Now that I have gotten rid of the FW in the 29 gallon I have it going as a SW tank in my garage. It is all inverts other than one damsel. Other than spending about $20 on rock, it was all recycled stuff I had. Maybe I will get a good light for and do a BTA down the road.

marvelousone · Dec 31, 2018

I went a little crazy. I had 7 tanks at one time. That was to much. Down to three and its not bad. I like having different tanks. 1 for SPS, 1 for softies, and 1 for mixed. 2 are plumbed together and 1 on its on. Having them tied together to me causes problems, at least tied to the SPS tank. Softies like a little dirty water.

Sparkymarc · Jan 8, 2019

I enjoy having two tanks. (100gal and 30gal). 30 gal will be anemone tank once matured but it also gives me option if tank mates aren’t getting along

Troy V · Jan 9, 2019

I have also wrestled with the same dilemma. There is a huge advantage to having multiple systems as others have already outlined. But for me every time I've chosen to keep several separate tanks, inevitably one of the systems becomes too much of a burden and I will eventually begin to neglect it. It is sad but true, and unfortunately I've proven this to myself many times. I attribute this to my inability to read multiple systems successfully. So when I designed my current system I went with 3 different tanks tied to one 75 gallon sump. I have found this to be the best of all worlds for me, plus it's easiest system I have ever kept in 25+ years reefing. If you have the space I would highly recommend trying something like this if you can. Another added bonus is that you can easily take a tank or two off line in the event of a parasitic outbreak, or if you need to move to a new house. I know you said you couldn't tie it to the existing system. But if you ever decided to change your current 72" system it could be a good option for you. Good luck!
I went from a 240 (8x2x2)gallon with a 60gallon cube frag tank

The current system 116gallon 36"x30"x25"(SPS)-241gallon 60"x30"x30" (Mixed) -116gallon 36"x30"x25"(Softie)

75 gallon sump and frag tank

Daniel Waters · Jan 9, 2019

@Troy V Thanks for sharing. That clam in your middle tank is incredible! I can't imagine how much calcium and alkalinity it uses up each day, not to mention it probably keeps your nutrients in check all by itself!

Dlealrious · Jan 9, 2019

I have and frag tank(well 2 currently as I'm in the process of upgrading it) Its plumbed into the main system so pretty easy to maintain. I am using it to house corals before I glue them into my display and grow out frags. Not making the mistake of glueing something down and then not really liking it once it encrusted on the rock.