your opinon on 5 gallon fish tanks?

Question

Hi all,
I've been given some thought of getting my own tropical fish tank..I am not an expert but did have a 20 gallon tank growing up..so I have some experience.
I live in a small studio apartment so I thought a 20 gallon tank would be out of the question..I didn't want a plain gold fish tank either..
I looked at the retail stores and was amazed that they sell those desktop versions..the 5 gallon tanks..but they seemed kid oriented and I am not sure of their quality??/
just wondering if anyone here had any experience with them..do you think they would be too small..really not worth my time/money..are they just crap??
should I just get a standard 10 gallon instead
it isn't like I want a billion fish
just a couple..perhaps 4..

Answer 1

I have a couple of both types running right now, and have likes and dislikes about each.

1) smaller size of a 5 gallon can be both and advantage (takes up less room) and a disadvantage (fewer/smaller fish)

2) some 5 gallons are very kid oriented (I'll pass on the "Pirates of the Carribean" and "Spongebob" tanks, thanks!), but others have a more modern black look (mainly Eclipse http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10447/product.web , some bowfronts) while others have color trim and hood that can be chosen to match or contrast with the color of the room or the fish (http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/22435/product.web ). Ten gallons generally look the same - most are rectangular with the black trim, but wood grain trim is available; a 10 hex is made with both colors of trim, but the more vertical orientation of the tank (tall rather than wide) lets you stock fewer fish than the rectangular shape.

3) The acrylic comes in one piece, can be scratched or cracked easily, and tends to develop tiny cracks within the plastic (called crazing); glass can be scratched (but is more difficult to do) or cracked, consists of 5 pieces (four sides and bottom) so a single piece could be replaced, but the multiple seams can leak if they separate

4) Included filters vary with the make of the 5 gallon tank; I don't like the Eclipse filtration - there's no way to control the rate of the flow; The bowfronts are using Whisper power filters, which I haven't used myself - the bowfront I bought, I got used and I run an Aquaclear nanofilter on that: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/207474/product.web The flow is adjustable, and I haven't had any problems with the filter itself. Unless you buy the 10 gallon as a kit, you can choose the type and model of filtration you want.

5) The smaller size really showcases a single fish, such as a betta - I get these for my bettas and as small fish quarantine tanks - but they would also work for a group of other small fish (male platies, neons, white clouds); the ten gallon would be better for schooling fish, or a group of livebearers if you are interested in breeding them (but then you need another tank to raise the fry)

6) With the 5 gallon incandescent lighting is included - although I've changed out some of my bulbs for full-spectrum compact fluorescent screw-ins to use for coral quarantine and propagation (with "kits of either size you get filter, light, and sample packets of food and water conditioner; still have to buy heater, gravel, etc.); if you buy a 10 gallon tank by itself, you also have to buy all the accessory equipment. The kit usually runs a little cheaper, but you get what the manufacturer gives you - if you buy items indivually, it may cost more, but you get what you want.

7) check price differences - a 5 gallon kit runs about $45-50, a 10 gallon kit at WalMart runs about $50

I've really had no problems using either type, so I would say get either depending on where you want to put the tank and what fish you'd like to keep.

Answer 2

I have had the 5 gallon fish tanks before. They actually aren't too bad. The only down side is not too many fish can go inside. By the time you get the plants and other things in there you only have room for 2 or 3 small fish. I know the general rule is one fish per gallon.

Another bad part is most are plastic and I'm not a big fan of plastic. As for the ones with filters, both that I have had have worked great. I would give it a try. There are also 10 gallon tanks you might want to look into those.

Answer 3

Danios, platies, white clouds, even the female bettas like to swim around a lot. I have all those fish except the white clouds in some tanks, and they're all active swimmers, swimming all over the tank. There won't be much room for them to swim around in a 5 gallon tank. Male bettas are a bit slower because of their long fins, so I would recommend going with 1 male betta, and an African dwarf frog would do well with one, and would appreciate the smaller tank to surface to get air. Eventually, you could add a mystery snail to the set up as well. I know you said it's 6 gallons, but you won't fill the tank up to the very top rim, and the substrate and decorations will decrease the gallon size. So figure it's a full 5 gallon set up. That's my recommendation :)

Answer 4

We have a variety of tanks in our apartment (including a 20 gallon). We have a five gallon tank that holds a dwarf puffer and some cherry red shrimp. We also have 3 2.5 gallon tanks with Endler's livebearers in one and 1 killifish in each of the other ones. The smaller tanks seem to hold up just as well as the larger 10 gallon ones, and the ones we have are just the same standard tank that you would get a 10 gallon in (not some fancy purple tank).

Really, it's up to you and what you want to put in it. The smaller the tank, the fewer options you have, but you can still have very nice set-ups in the smaller tanks. You seem to understand this well, judging from your post. What I would recommend is for you to decide what type of fish you want and then think about which size tank is the most suitable set up for them.

Answer 5

First of all the ten gallon tank is so much better than a five gal. tank becuse you'll only have a small amount of fish in there. Not so much fun. Get the ten gallon tank and before you fill it up or even buy it, decide on where you want to put it because once you put it there, there's no going back-you cannot move it once it is set up. The seams will recieve stress and likeley to cause a leak later on from being hauled with the pressure of a huge weight of water being sloshed around. But you already knew that. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

A ten is better if you want to keep a few more fish than just one betta. Five gallons would hold a nice betta. There are some really cool ones out there. What is so simple as a goldfish tank? Not that I recommend you keep gf in a 5 gallon. They are a more interesting fish than you think.

Answer 7

All in all a 10 gallon is probably the better choice as it does allow you more choices and is far more forgiving of mistakes than a 5 gallon. Don;t get me wrong, there is no problem with a 5 gallon as long as you really know what you are doing, but for someone just getting back in the hobby, I would really suggest the 10.

MM

Answer 8

I have one of those 5 gallon tanks in my apartment...
it's this one here:
http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_Nav_217_sku_796255_R_2689_enemerch_1.aspx?cm_re=217-_-TopSellers2-_-796255

mine is purple (but they sell them in different colors at the store)...
it's not just crap. actually a really nice deal! the tank with hood and filter... I just got an air pump, gravel, plants and a background and it was all set...
definitely good for people who don't have a lot of room...

btw... I have 4 female Bettas in there... in case you want something colorful... they look awesome!
Lot's of people believe that female Bettas don't get along (just like the males)... but that's not true. It took a few days for them to figure each other out but now they get along wonderfully...

hope I could help... :)

Answer 9

The plastic tanks won't last. Your fish will likely die and it has crappy filters and such. Get at least a 15 gallon tank if you keep any fish. That will be small enough for an apartment and easily moved.

Answer 10

tthe rule I've always been told about fish is "one inch of fish per every gallon of water"