dorm room tanks

courts · 12/14/2013, 04:49 PM

This is my first post... so here it goes.

I am moving off to college in a couple of months and I read in the rules that I can have up to a 20gal aquarium in my dorm room as long as I maintain it and keep it healthy. I haven't had a tank in several years (I certainly wasn't an expert then either) but I am wanting to get back into the hobby with a nano saltwater tank.

So here is my dilemma...I will have to take whatever is alive in the tank back home over breaks (only about 1.5 hours away)and shut all of the equipment down as well. Also, the only water I would be able to get for water changes would be from the dorm bathroom, so not the best quality.

Has anyone kept a tank in their dorm room during college? Did it work out? What were you able to keep and how did you do it?
Thanks!!

FullBoreReefer · 12/14/2013, 04:56 PM

Sounds like a lot of work. No way I could have kept up on a tank while I was in college. IMO wait until you graduate, land a good job, and get your own place.

It can be done but I wouldn't risk the constant transporting.

FullBoreReefer · 12/14/2013, 04:57 PM

I don't like deterring people from the hobby, which isn't what I'm doing. I'm just saying wait...

billdogg · 12/14/2013, 05:06 PM

I had a 10g tank in the barracks when I was posted to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo back in the day. It seemed like no matter how much I neglected the tank, I couldn't kill the fish.

But then they were plastic.

I think you should spend the time and effort that you would use on keeping a tank on, I dunno, maybe studying???

jm.02

mbingha · 12/14/2013, 05:08 PM

As someone who attempted to do this very thing, don't. It's not worth the hassle, the tank will suffer with the use of tap water, and you will be more busy than you realise. I am 3 years removed from college, and I got a tank started about 2 months after college. It's well worth the wait to do it right, and you are going to be experiencing so much change in the first year you won't even realise you are without a tank. If you want to keep a tank, keep a freshwater planted or ciclid tank. With an auto feeder they can go on autopilot while you are on spring/winter break. Have fun, I sure miss the freedom and extra time college affords!

sleepydoc · 12/14/2013, 05:24 PM

Welcome to reef central!

It could work with a FOWLR - the fish and live rock could be transported in a 1 or 2 five gallon buckets, but in general I would agree with the comments above - the time constraints, financial constraints and logistics of college do not lend themselves to salt water fish keeping.

Plus you won't have to worry about your room mate dumping a beer in the tank.

Sethjamto · 12/14/2013, 06:15 PM

Why would you have to shut power down to everything? Keep it all running.

Also, if you go small, you could look into getting your topoff and water change water from a LFS nearby if there is one.

living_waters · 12/14/2013, 08:37 PM

Look up the nuvo 8g and take a but load of ro/di water in 5g buckets and cram them in your closet and have a FOWLR 2 fake perks clown fish will do I had a 5g tank when I first started this hobby with a fresh water hang on the back filter and a squidwerd house in there glass botom and did 100% water changes every 2 months and top offs with bottled water I don't know how those clowns lived I still have one now in my display the other jumped out of the 5g when I introduced corals and was freaked the heck out from living in a ghetto fish tank for two years

living_waters · 12/14/2013, 08:38 PM

I've come a long way......

cjm5283 · 12/14/2013, 09:38 PM

I have been out of college for almost two years and I wish I had started a tank then. That would be been so nice to look at while I studied. Even if it takes some time away from that cause who really studies that crazy. I would say though I would highly recommend staying away from saltwater. They are way more money and maintenance then freshwater. I would look into African Chilids. Colorful like saltwater but much easier to handle!

Boston21 · 12/14/2013, 09:48 PM

I wouldnt do it. Im toward's my final classes for my Undergrad and I started a tank about a year ago, its nice to look at, but its expensive as all hell on a college budget, and its a huge time commitment. Seriously, I get decent grades. (3.5 - 4.0) and I cannot count how many times my tank has came before my grades. -_- . Marine life seems more important to me I guess.

Reef Frog · 12/14/2013, 09:50 PM

Think goldfish or Betta. You could come up with a travel tote with a Tupperware container and soft beer cooler & take it home over breaks.

12/14/2013, 04:49 PM	#1
courts Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1	dorm room tanks This is my first post... so here it goes. I am moving off to college in a couple of months and I read in the rules that I can have up to a 20gal aquarium in my dorm room as long as I maintain it and keep it healthy. I haven't had a tank in several years (I certainly wasn't an expert then either) but I am wanting to get back into the hobby with a nano saltwater tank. So here is my dilemma...I will have to take whatever is alive in the tank back home over breaks (only about 1.5 hours away)and shut all of the equipment down as well. Also, the only water I would be able to get for water changes would be from the dorm bathroom, so not the best quality. Has anyone kept a tank in their dorm room during college? Did it work out? What were you able to keep and how did you do it? Thanks!!

12/14/2013, 04:56 PM	#2
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	Sounds like a lot of work. No way I could have kept up on a tank while I was in college. IMO wait until you graduate, land a good job, and get your own place. It can be done but I wouldn't risk the constant transporting. __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.

12/14/2013, 04:57 PM	#3
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	I don't like deterring people from the hobby, which isn't what I'm doing. I'm just saying wait... __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.

12/14/2013, 05:06 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I had a 10g tank in the barracks when I was posted to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo back in the day. It seemed like no matter how much I neglected the tank, I couldn't kill the fish. But then they were plastic. I think you should spend the time and effort that you would use on keeping a tank on, I dunno, maybe studying??? jm.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

12/14/2013, 05:08 PM	#5
mbingha Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southeast PA Posts: 730	As someone who attempted to do this very thing, don't. It's not worth the hassle, the tank will suffer with the use of tap water, and you will be more busy than you realise. I am 3 years removed from college, and I got a tank started about 2 months after college. It's well worth the wait to do it right, and you are going to be experiencing so much change in the first year you won't even realise you are without a tank. If you want to keep a tank, keep a freshwater planted or ciclid tank. With an auto feeder they can go on autopilot while you are on spring/winter break. Have fun, I sure miss the freedom and extra time college affords! __________________ 75 Gallon Mixed Reef in the works 30 Gallon Sump 28 Gallon JBJ 28 HQI

12/14/2013, 05:24 PM	#6
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Welcome to reef central! It could work with a FOWLR - the fish and live rock could be transported in a 1 or 2 five gallon buckets, but in general I would agree with the comments above - the time constraints, financial constraints and logistics of college do not lend themselves to salt water fish keeping. Plus you won't have to worry about your room mate dumping a beer in the tank. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

12/14/2013, 06:15 PM	#7
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	Why would you have to shut power down to everything? Keep it all running. Also, if you go small, you could look into getting your topoff and water change water from a LFS nearby if there is one. __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

12/14/2013, 08:37 PM	#8
living_waters Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: coral springs fl Posts: 424	Look up the nuvo 8g and take a but load of ro/di water in 5g buckets and cram them in your closet and have a FOWLR 2 fake perks clown fish will do I had a 5g tank when I first started this hobby with a fresh water hang on the back filter and a squidwerd house in there glass botom and did 100% water changes every 2 months and top offs with bottled water I don't know how those clowns lived I still have one now in my display the other jumped out of the 5g when I introduced corals and was freaked the heck out from living in a ghetto fish tank for two years

12/14/2013, 08:38 PM	#9
living_waters Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: coral springs fl Posts: 424	I've come a long way......

12/14/2013, 09:38 PM	#10
cjm5283 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 70	I have been out of college for almost two years and I wish I had started a tank then. That would be been so nice to look at while I studied. Even if it takes some time away from that cause who really studies that crazy. I would say though I would highly recommend staying away from saltwater. They are way more money and maintenance then freshwater. I would look into African Chilids. Colorful like saltwater but much easier to handle!

12/14/2013, 09:48 PM	#11
Boston21 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 452	I wouldnt do it. Im toward's my final classes for my Undergrad and I started a tank about a year ago, its nice to look at, but its expensive as all hell on a college budget, and its a huge time commitment. Seriously, I get decent grades. (3.5 - 4.0) and I cannot count how many times my tank has came before my grades. -_- . Marine life seems more important to me I guess. __________________ Currently Running: 10G Pico AIO 20G High Mixed Reef - ASM Mini G, Taotronics 120W, 10G Sump, Mag 7 R-Pump, 200W Heater, Purigen, Carbon, ESHOPPs Float Valve, Apex Jr, Smart Wave

12/14/2013, 09:50 PM	#12
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Think goldfish or Betta. You could come up with a travel tote with a Tupperware container and soft beer cooler & take it home over breaks.