To chi or not to chi, that is the question

I know lame topic name!

I dont know what got into me but I saw a craigslist deal and had to go get it. A Fluval 5g chi. I got this $60 set up for $15 and everything is working and pretty clean too. So my intention was to gift it to a friend who has a betta in a tiny bowl but.... After I saw it I kind of want to keep it for myself.

So the big dilemma should I set up another tank or help someone else get into fishkeeping?

first off a betta will never get you into fish keeping. they are too lazy, just interested in lounging on a leaf somewhere and hanging out. i would personally set it up as a small planted tank and add a betta yourself. or some nano fish of some kind.

They already have the betta and I feel sorry for it. My friend used to have tanks as a kid and is talking about getting back in so.... Is this the thing to help him get his feet wet?

Saltwater. You. do it!

I will hook you up with free live rock.

No salt water for me!

Someday you will give in

Its funny but my friend that Im trying to get back in the hobby wants to start up salt. I think he needs a little freshwater refresher first so that was the idea behind the chi. He wants to maybe try a bio-cube.... but Im trying to talk him into something around 50g instead.

Well to make my choice harder I ordered extra filter media and the top to prevent fish from jumping... So now I have a few dollars invested in this. I know I should just give it my friend and help him set it up, but it is so cool looking, I want to keep it. The internal debate goes on.

Looks like you may have already made up your mind by putting $$ into it.

My vote would have been to help a new hobbyist advance. There will ALWAYS be tanks out there for you DMD but I understand the feeling. For an addicted hobbyist that's the 1st thing that comes to mind when we get a new tank in our possession....ha!

Keep the chi, find another small tank to give friend...there's pretty much a never ending supply of craigslist specials out there...

nick_76 wrote:Keep the chi, find another small tank to give friend...there's pretty much a never ending supply of craigslist specials out there...

Truestory.

I think I would keep it.

Love my Chi and my Betta in it!

Im going to give it to my friend. Ive made the decision.

I had a 2.5 gallon betta set up that I really liked but downsized the number of tanks so that I could get a larger second tank. I had a 2.5, 29, 37 and sold them all to have my 56 column tank. If anything my goal would be to replace the 56 with a bigger tank as opposed to more tanks. When the parts come in that I ordered, I am going to give it to my friend.

DMD123 wrote:Im going to give it to my friend. Ive made the decision.

I had a 2.5 gallon betta set up that I really liked but downsized the number of tanks so that I could get a larger second tank. I had a 2.5, 29, 37 and sold them all to have my 56 column tank. If anything my goal would be to replace the 56 with a bigger tank as opposed to more tanks. When the parts come in that I ordered, I am going to give it to my friend.

It's better to get another person into the hobby than keeping this.