I've always believed that when you take something you love to do and turn it into something you have to do, it can easily turn into something you hate to do.  My vote would always be to keep a portion of what you're doing something you love to do whether it makes $ or not, that way the joy and wonder and excitement never stops.  And like you said, it's your garage, your hobby, your side $, so you can do whatever you want.  Love your channel and your videos!  If I lived on your side of the Atlantic, I'd definitely buy from you.

Perhaps move your smaller, non-profit-making aquariums up to your living areas, so you can free up space for new tanks of sellable fish?

It's the same thing artists struggle with. I sell my paintings, should I paint commercial stuff that sells or what I enjoy? Ultimately, if you don't enjoy it, you won't do it. Keep it fun for you. That's what I did.

I was like you but went for a shop and never looed back. I've been retired 25 years but still keep 3 fish tanks in my home.
You have a very likeable personality which is important and I think if you can find the right premises you would love the experience. Good luck.

You’re raising an existential question: life, or simply letting life happen.

I've been keeping fish for over 30 years, whenever I've come across people who want to make a business from it, they specialise. You have an excellent track record of keeping Discus, so like someone else said, move your self interest tanks to your living area and keep downstairs for your business. Good luck...

Keep a few "hobbyist" tanks, it was after all a hobby before a business.

The ICA Heckles I got from you are doing great, really confident and always looking for food, am really pleased with them.

Would recommend that anyone looking for discus pay you a visit.

Ultimately as you say its your shop/hobby so do what you are comfortable with.  Personally looking from the outside I think you have got to where you are with your channel and business because you are passionate about what you are keeping. People see that which builds trust and ultimately sales/views.  I think you have to keep something for yourself to keep fostering that passion and joy in the hobby and not just make it a 'job' where the only thing that matters is sales.  Focus on key lines and supporting products that sell for the business and its bottom line with a few of your favourite things to show enthusiasm.  Fingers crossed you may also be able to sell these if not in smaller quantities.  Love what your doing and rooting for you to succeed.  Keep the enjoyment, you'll want to work harder without even realising it.

It's a case of Head over Heart. You have to remember why you Started. You love keeping Fish. If the business head takes over you will loose the love of fish. In saying that expanding to what your keeping works.. in both scenarios,  breeding what your keeping pea puffers ect , will invigorate your passion for fish ...

A mix sales tanks and personal a good mix they can always be turned to sales tanks or extra grow out
It your retirement plan if nothing else

Maybe keep both, with a twist in that you make content on breeding from your hobby fish tanks “how to” mistakes success” and then for sale “ locally bred by me” links to most people with tanks and have success in breeding then now what ? Sell for $$ classic loop, I would interested in both forms of content from you mate, you do great stuff

I personally if it’s a business I would go all in on the business side and discuss is your passion so you will always do well with them, I think specialising in discus short term is a hard but once established and known you will smash it and I think that would be the same for any people specialising in a certain area

I think id turn Brian's tank into a holding tank for larger discus. Get some nice larger fish in stock. Im surprised those wilds haven't gone yet. They are looking good. If i had the spare cash i would of had them haha

Don’t maximize every square inch. That’s how you create a space you’ll eventually hate to be in. While it might seem obvious to separate your work and home life, keeping the fun things at home… it ends up creating a situation where “fun” is no longer associated with the work space. At the same time, unless you are gojng to try to set up an arrangement selling with local stores, you should still focus on specializing. My take? Move the cichlids to a smaller tank, and sell the babies as they happen, but as a side effect of “I have cichlids,” not as a part of your business plan. Have the “goal” of having them pay for their food, but nothing “I am a specialized discus breeder” related. Consider splitting the shellies between your home and work, to reduce the fighting, and possibly create more room in your work space. As for the murder beans, they really like watching people, so move them to wherever they are going to get the most interaction with people… but that tank? Let’s be real, that’s not taking up discus space the way the others are. 😉 As for the monster tank, keep it as part of your desk/backdrop. Those fish are your scale puppies.

It's the best not to have tunnel vision. Discuss are great! They are. However, preferent, you would get more business with a selection of fish.
And oh no..you sold out commercial..

Anyway..IMO Discus are only a select  crowd . I would do a.spreadsheet cost analysis
See if your sales (profit) outweigh the burden..Then multiple it by number of aquariums .
Then run it past your LFS..
Love your videos and been a subscriber for a while.

Every store or LFS has a selection to keep the lights on.etc.
I have a great mentor and he owns 360 Aquatic in Houston  Tx..check it online.
Every fish should should be three times wholesale.
And if you buy 6 the seventh is usually free. Why? Because fish die and he almost encourages the 6 to get one free
Take care sir

I guess the choice somewhat hinges on your long-term plan. I know how much you loooove your regular job (sarcasm intended). Does your plan include making fish your sole income. If so, you probably need to convert all that space into revenue generating tanks. Maybe, just maybe, you keep one tank for “fun”. My personal choice would be the shellies. Of my 20ish various tank, the Shelly tank is the most en - especially if you can get them to breed.  Good luck Graeme!

If its money or love/enjoyment,think you know your answer. The question is keeping the love and making some money and how to carry on? If its a sideline,then you are there already,if its full time and change of career,then take the money more seriously over the enjoyment.. I guess when you know you`ll know.

Hi Graeme. My wife and I have discussed this and she asked ‘do you need the money?’ and is it about making money? Your answer might be there.
Also, the comment someone made about not watching your business videos and preferring your ‘hobby’ videos….i understand that because we’ve watched you evolve and have loved seeing your love for the hobby through the highs and the lows. We think 123 thousand subscribers are enthusiasts and hobbyists enjoying your content and tales of keeping fish.
Whatever you decide, we will still watch every video you post, please please please don’t get rid of Brian! Through his murderous antics and vegetable tasting shorts, he’s been the constant joy, click bait (no pun intended) that keeps you grounded as a hobbyist and not a businessman and keeps the subscribers growing. Good luck!

Jack Wattley brings in wild Discus to breed back to their tank raise dicus to strain healthy and strong . Jack Wattley has YouTube . I prefer wild discus strains over captive bred discus .,

It depends also on what you want with your channel. I found myself lately less and less  interested in your channel when the main subject seems to promote selling your fish, discus and companions. I loved the previous videos about your projects and the hobby much more!