If i were you i would power up the three laprases up to lvl 30. How about IVS? Have you calculated them?, when the three reach lvl 30 start lvling up the best of the three, then the second, and finally the third (assuming the three got respectable IVS). I think that with 2 you will be cool, and then focus your dust in other defender with different type, like exegg, snorlax, or even slowbro ...
ps: Laura´s xD
Lapras defender tactics
I have 3 laprases
2129 cp is/ib
1995 cp is/b
1740 cp is/ib
And 40 candies
Question : is it better to power up 1 to max cp or power up the lowest till 2000 and power later 1 by one? I'm using them strictly for defence of gyms.
As for me I see no point of making one 2500 cp cuz if someone wants to take over gym he will. But 2000 cp lapras is more scarier than 1740 for players lvl 20-24
Answers
Short answer: if you want to use them strictly for defending I would power them up equally i.e. get all of them past 2000 to somewhat same levels and you get quite a few good defenders.
Of course it depends a little where you live. In some places there is a big difference in 2000 and 2200 defender, as the first one tends to be the lowest in the gym and thus easily kicked out. Also if you alreasy have many 2000 cp pokemons, it's not worth it to make just a couple more while you could be making much stronger pokemons