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When I first started the hoby 3 years ago, I stated with a 5 gallon. To me, a beginner, it looked huge. As time went buy my tank "shrunk" until I looked at it as a normal fish tank size. My friend went out and bought a 10 gallon. Again it looked very big from my point of view. However, I only saw it once. Last week, I went to my uncle's to visit. He had a 10 gallon tank set up too. I was surprised by how small it looked. Then, I went over to my friend's house, a few days ago. She has a 30 gallon tank in her basement which she might be giving away soon (hopefully). The first time I saw it, a long time ago, I tohught it was huge! I estimated that it was about 55 to 75 gallons. In fact it was about 30. Today, I went online. I saw a picture of a "40" gallon tank and I swear it looked no bigger than a 10. I looked on ebay and saw a 120 gallon tank. You'd think 120, that's pretty big! Nope, I was surprised by how small it was. Maybe I've caught some kind of fish fever, where no size tank seems big enough. I just wanted to see if anyone else has a similar experience with mysterious "shrinking" tanks.

- DJ :88)

all i can say is: Welcome, to the wide world of fishkeeping and the "diseases" that come with it

Daka<<<<

I suffer from smalltankanemia as well



Angel Eel

No matter how big a tank you get, given time, it wont be big enough!

WARNING: This is the start of MTS (multiple tank syndrome)

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

nooo, not mts! You always hear about other people having it, but you never think you will. I'm scared.....

- DJ :88)

it happens to us all DJ. I've only been in the hobby a little over a yr and already I'm well over 10 tanks.:%)

I'm experiencing the same thing. My twenty-nine gallon tank looked huge when I bought it, but it has since dwindled down to nothing. I'm now looking at getting a second tank- A seventy-five gallon.

Welcome to the mania.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

That is the first sure sign of mts- your hooked there is no turning back now

Yes, it is MTS... but luckily you're only in the beginning stages of it.

Allow me to tell my story of how I was lucky enough/ able to beat MTS, and how I control it to this day. This key is to concentrate like mad on the one tank you already have. It's easier if you start out with something larger, in the 40-60 gallon range.

I got back into the hobby in June '04. By August my MTS was starting to develop, and it was full blown by September. Though my 46 gallon was planted, I started making intricate plans for a heavily planted 10 gallon tank with apistos, and a 5 gallon planted betta tank, and even a 30 gallon this or that... you all know how it goes. But I was able to suppress those urges, and concentrating on doing things to the existing tank was the key. It's all mental. Want something heavily planted? Why not heavily plant the 46! Want C02 etc? Do it for the big tank! After a few weeks the urges to look at my 46 as "not enough" had subsided, and when they do pop up, it helps to "plan" like crazy for the other tank without actually buying anything. After a while you'll be able to rationally think about any new tanks

It's all a matter of will power.

And that's my little speach for MTS sufferers annonymous... or...um... not so annonymous...

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Back in the saddle!

AGREED with Nowherman. Want a DIY background in a tank? Move some fish into a rubbermaid container, put in the background, and replace the fish. Want to try out Tahitian Moon sand? Rinse it, move the fish to a rubbermaid container, change the substrate, replace fish. Want a funny theme tank? Convert an existing tank. Etc, etc.
OTOH, while I've gone from 17 tanks to only 9, I'm not sure everyone sees that as proof of this method's affectiveness.
It does help to replace tanks for tanks, too - buy a 20, sell a 10, etc.

And for the original query - yup. Even in-ground pools look small to me now. "But I could only keep about 30 koi in that one! And more like 20 if I want them to pass 3'!"

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

The only solution to MTS is a psychotic friend with a hammer.

a 120g tank is no longer than a 55g tank, so that is why it looks small.

75, and 90 gallons are in the same boat.

You probably looked at a 40 tall, which is the same length/width as a 20 long, but much higher.

You know you're addicted when you visit a public aquarium, see a 5,000 gallon reef setup with a 10,000 gallon sump attached, and start planning how you could rearrange the living room to fit it in

You know your addiction is serious when you consider buying a second house just to house your fish tanks.

You know your addiction is terminal when you try and figure out a way of sleeping underwater with your fish


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Wait Cali...I already have planned to do all of those...what's wrong with that?

PM/email/msg me if you have any questions/comments regarding me or my knowledge or if you want me to read a thread.