Which usually comes first?

[CACAdmin]

Which decision ususally comes first? Which fish or which tank? Namely does the desire to keep certain fish prompt you to purchase a specific size and shape of tank or do have have an eye on a tank you'd like to purchase and then decide what fish would be appropriate occupants?

Because of space contraints, I more often select a tank I like and can accomodate and then decide on suitable occupants. However, I have on occasion simply sought out a tank to meet the needs of creatures I want to keep.

What about you? Which decision comes first as a rule?

[crabfan52]

I havent posted much recently, things got busy with the end of the school year and finding a new job for the summer, but this seems a good place to start again.

I have to admit I do a little bit of both, i buy tanks, usually on kijiji, or craigs list, at low prices, clean them up and then go on a hunt for the varius occupants that can be housed in said tanks. i also have been known to find a fish i liked at the local store and go hunting, if i cant find a used tank to house the desired inhabitant, then i go looking for the tank i need at the stores, and i even once ordered a custom tank off the internet to house some turtles in

[vince0]

so far i only have purchased one tank, all other were freely given to me by people getting out of fish keeping. when i purchased said tank, i purchased based on the biggest i could afford at the time, and i regret that purchase very much (namely because the tank wasn't the exact dimensions i wanted, and it came with very cheap kit components) my future tank purchases are going to be based on what i plan on housing in them with a little extra room just in case i change my mind about the inhabitants. and i no longer will buy kits, since i like having top of the line equipment on my tanks and kits can't accomodate that

[crabfan52]

so far i only have purchased one tank, all other were freely given to me by people getting out of fish keeping. when i purchased said tank, i purchased based on the biggest i could afford at the time, and i regret that purchase very much (namely because the tank wasn't the exact dimensions i wanted, and it came with very cheap kit components) my future tank purchases are going to be based on what i plan on housing in them with a little extra room just in case i change my mind about the inhabitants. and i no longer will buy kits, since i like having top of the line equipment on my tanks and kits can't accomodate that

i like kits, but i build a lot of my equipment now so they work alright for me

[Dandee]

Two of my aquariums I bought because of the fish I wanted to have.

[Pamelajo]

I have bought mostly by size to fit were I have a space.

[amaruq]

I have done both.

Then of course I have done "Oh it's so pretty I have to have it" Get it home research and go "Oh Crappola! i need a much bigger tank!"

I learned not to do the impulse buy now. Too many big tanks!

[mdfa.ca]

I've got to admit it usually goes the 'get cool fish, take it home, realize tank too small, get bigger tank" way. Not much planning going on in that department.

[Ursus sapien]

I buy tanks for future use - so hard to pass a sale. Out in the old horse barn at my brothers are a dozen or so tanks, 5 to 33 gal, just... waiting.
Always buy used, most often from forum members.
My tank always start with the priciple occupant, and are assemble from there. I tend towards species-tanks, with various alagae and cleaner crews.

[OldMan]

I am much like Pamelajo in this. I buy tanks to fit available spaces then get them cycled. After that I keep an eye out for suitable occupants. Since most of what I keep are goodeids, the occupants are usually a new to me species.

[Dan_G_Calgary]

Right now, I am semi planning based on the space available, and what my intentions are.
So I have a 3 shelf fish rack, 6 feet by 24 inch, by about 24 inch high in each shelf. (I keep the floor level for storage of filters etc.).

I want to raise angels, so I need a big tank to let them grow up big and strong! 2 50s fit nicely on the bottom rack for this purpose.

I want to breed random fish, so 5 20s across the top for any possibilities. Saw somethign that caught my eye? into a 20 you go to grow a bit, or wait to get bred.

center, eye level rack has a 30, 10 and 5 on it right now. this will likely become a mish mash of whatever tankage I need at the time. multiple 5s and 10s for killies. maybe a 20 gets pulled down to eye level if I am working on a species and want to see the tank more.

of course this is just the plan. it will all go to **** when I have an "OH! I wants them! moment! haha!

[vince0]

of course this is just the plan. it will all go to **** when I have an "OH! I wants them! moment! haha!

lol, i go through that every time i go to a lfs, or a breeders house... but i just don't want my house to be taken over by fish tanks...or do i