Tips on building and colonising

Hey guys I need some advice.
Should I build my metal mine to lvl 23 from the current lvl 21 or invest all that res in my new planets??
Similarly, should I expand my crystal mine to lvl 21 from the current lvl 19 or invest all that res in my new planets??
Please advise.

Depends on play style . Are your planets close enough for quick transport ? Do you plan on having all planets operate independently or have mining planets that simply generate res for a main planet ?

one planet is independent, the other two (my main one and a colony) are together at a transport distance of one and a half hours.

I only like to have a mining planet in the same system as the main planet for that area . It makes it easier for transporting and defending , otherwise it can expensive and time consuming . It can be cost effective to have a built up colony as opposed to spending it on higher level mines but take into consideration travel time and the need for dueterium

How do you get your mines to that high a level, on my leo account my mines are around lvl 19...
What is ur det mine lvl?

My highest is 17 or 18 but having 4 planets help to produce massively

yeah, i have 4 planets.

well I have 3 planets, my main has 21 metal , 19 crystal and 14 deut.
My independent has 18 metal, 16 crystal and 10 deut, but is far away so has lots of deuterium generation.
My third planet is right next to my main and is a metal and crystal only planet with 15 metal and 15 crystal (will be 17 metal by today).
Right now the hyperspace 4 has sucked my res out, but will be complete in the next 14 hours. then I shall concentrate on espionage and maybe a 4th colony.

i suggest the 4th colony first.

would the 4th colony be necessary? by my calculations, I produce more res than even Kathleen with just 3 planets.