Need thoughtful help - add new 20g or 120g tank??

[DuffyGeos]

Been there with the little ones, kids are now teenagers. My 2 cents is to spend the time with the little ones, get thru the diaper phase, and start saving for what you want and put it in the living room once the kids get a little older and the space opens up. Didn't see many basement pics, but the kids will eventually move down stairs to play. I have 2 boys and nothing will be off limits with ball kicking, ball throwing, and wrestling in the basement.

 

Just a thought.

[matt]

How wide is that wall? 10' or so? Is the ultimate plan to put a 6' or 8' tank on that wall? Is this in the basement or upstairs? I'd get an engineer if it's not the basement. And I'd recommend any purchases you make for the bow, 120g, or cubes, be something usable on the ultimate "big" tank down the road, otherwise it's wasted money.  The SPS pics are great btw. You've definitely got the bug!

 

That wall pictured in on our main floor. I'd like to put a bigger tank on that wall, but I just don't see that happening. I've scrapped the notion of a bigger tank on the main floor for the most part...but maybe a move will solve that dilemma in a year or two. I'm going to keep the 46 where it is, but also have plans to put a bigger tank in the basement. We got a cheap basement couch and have decided our boys will play down enough that we'll be spending time there too. The 120 was sold and removed before that decision...haha. But, I just picked up a 90g and had the wife's blessing. The 90g isn't my dream...but it won't take up quite as much space either. Thanks for the compliments on my pics. I stole my wife's phone and it seems to be taking better pics than anything else I've tried...who knows why. :-)

 

Been there with the little ones, kids are now teenagers. My 2 cents is to spend the time with the little ones, get thru the diaper phase, and start saving for what you want and put it in the living room once the kids get a little older and the space opens up. Didn't see many basement pics, but the kids will eventually move down stairs to play. I have 2 boys and nothing will be off limits with ball kicking, ball throwing, and wrestling in the basement.

 

Just a thought.

 

yeah, we're close to the end of diapers...sort of. My youngest will be 2 in October. I hear ya, but I rather like the idea of taking the boys to the basement to play and watch the fish tank there for a bit. We also have a tv down there and we're reconfiguring the room to make the tank a feature easily visibible from the couch and my desk down there. I may even grab an excercise bike at some point to give me another reason to head to the basement. Wish the 90g tank i grabbed had a canopy to protect it from toddler projectiles, but at least it has screen tops and I can always do a little diy and add a canopy if the kids make me nervous

 

I'll have to start a build thread at some point, but I'm busy moving furniture around in the basement right now. Tank is still in my car waiting on me to move some bookcases and place the stand...haha. Hopefully that's all done this week.

[DuffyGeos]

That wall pictured in on our main floor. I'd like to put a bigger tank on that wall, but I just don't see that happening. I've scrapped the notion of a bigger tank on the main floor for the most part...but maybe a move will solve that dilemma in a year or two. I'm going to keep the 46 where it is, but also have plans to put a bigger tank in the basement. We got a cheap basement couch and have decided our boys will play down enough that we'll be spending time there too. The 120 was sold and removed before that decision...haha. But, I just picked up a 90g and had the wife's blessing. The 90g isn't my dream...but it won't take up quite as much space either. Thanks for the compliments on my pics. I stole my wife's phone and it seems to be taking better pics than anything else I've tried...who knows why. :-)

 

 

yeah, we're close to the end of diapers...sort of. My youngest will be 2 in October. I hear ya, but I rather like the idea of taking the boys to the basement to play and watch the fish tank there for a bit. We also have a tv down there and we're reconfiguring the room to make the tank a feature easily visibible from the couch and my desk down there. I may even grab an excercise bike at some point to give me another reason to head to the basement. Wish the 90g tank i grabbed had a canopy to protect it from toddler projectiles, but at least it has screen tops and I can always do a little diy and add a canopy if the kids make me nervous

 

I'll have to start a build thread at some point, but I'm busy moving furniture around in the basement right now. Tank is still in my car waiting on me to move some bookcases and place the stand...haha. Hopefully that's all done this week.

 

I am not worried about the young kids and nerf stuff, it is when they get a little bigger and decide to kick a regular soccer ball, or throw a football that dents the drywall. While they know they are not suppose to do it, and I have pretty well behaved kids. Also depend on the size of the basement.

[howaboutme]

Been there with the little ones, kids are now teenagers. My 2 cents is to spend the time with the little ones, get thru the diaper phase, and start saving for what you want and put it in the living room once the kids get a little older and the space opens up. Didn't see many basement pics, but the kids will eventually move down stairs to play. I have 2 boys and nothing will be off limits with ball kicking, ball throwing, and wrestling in the basement.

 

Just a thought.

 

That's great advice, Ken!

 

My issue is that when kids are small, they need more attention and the extra help around the house is extra important. A larger tank just needs more time. I personally feel bad if I decide to go to a WAMAS meeting or to pick up corals from here or there. It's not like my family are holding a gun to my head saying, "don't go". I just enjoy being with my kids/family more than my hobby. I am so glad my tank is more or less on cruise control and any urge to start a new tank gets put on the back burner because of the effort involved at the start up.

 

Now..when the kids are older, they don't need as much attention, do their own things and probably don't want to hang w/ daddy all that much...I think...Oh wait, forgot that the wife will still be around....so there will still need to be a balance.

[DuffyGeos]

That's great advice, Ken!

 

My issue is that when kids are small, they need more attention and the extra help around the house is extra important. A larger tank just needs more time. I personally feel bad if I decide to go to a WAMAS meeting or to pick up corals from here or there. It's not like my family are holding a gun to my head saying, "don't go". I just enjoy being with my kids/family more than my hobby. I am so glad my tank is more or less on cruise control and any urge to start a new tank gets put on the back burner because of the effort involved at the start up.

 

Now..when the kids are older, they don't need as much attention, do their own things and probably don't want to hang w/ daddy all that much...I think...Oh wait, forgot that the wife will still be around....so there will still need to be a balance.

 

Jack life is a balancing act. My experience is that I would rather spend my free time with my kids until they can't stand it anymore. My wife and I both work, but we have never had a babysitter, I work from home and am kind of the Mr. Mom, probably since I have two boys. Now that they are older I feel I can have the tank I want my 16g was actually a present to my then 11 year old (sorry I pretty much stole it). He loves it, but does not like all the chores. Some of you have met my oldest son who is 15, as I drag him around to buy used stuff and show him everyone's tank. They are getting to the point  where they don't always want me around, which is good since they are become independent. Sun. morning I watched as they flew out from Dulles to Denver to stay with my mom. She met them at baggage. This scared the heck out of my wife, but to them it was no big deal.

 

Spend as much time with your kids as you can, the hobby will always be there, they won't.

[matt]

You guys have similar priorities to my own. I'm just taking a little time to do this for myself...it's totally selfish...but I need the outlet...especially in time for the winter when I come and go from work in the dark like so many others. 

 

You may find in other posts I've pretty much called myself out as a possible flake if someone is far away and selling something. My family never tells me not to go, but I have a real guilty concience when I disappear before a bedtime, skip a kid event, or make my wife fly solo just so I can go get that WAMAS deal somewhere. I'd probably have stocked my tank over 4 times if I could jump on all the stuff I see and contemplate....so maybe my higher priorities are saving me from myself a little...haha.

 

Now the WAMAS meeetings....I feel like I can generally plan for those and I'm glad I make it to more than I miss. I'm hoping one day that one or both of my boys will want to come with me too.