Tank Swap - Need Advice (long Post Sorry!)

Today I went a bit crazy and swapped my Betta and White Cloud Mountain Minnow tanks over. The Betta was in a 9-ish gallon tank (I'm from NZ and not entirely familiar with gallons) and the WCMM's were in a 6 gallon tank which was meant to be just for the winter (I keep them in a 20 gallon outdoor pond from spring to autumn). The WCMM's seemed like they needed more space so I decided to swap them over with the Betta. I might make it a permanently set up tank if it's possible (I know they WCMM's probably need 15 gallon minimum but I can't afford a larger tank, I think I can keep on top of maintaining the 9g tank though).

Anyway, as WCMM need cooler water I also moved the plants and substrate from the 9g tank to the 6 gallon tank. These plants include a 7 inch Amazon Sword and some Cryptocorynes. I'm wondering if the 6 gallon tank will be too small for the Amazon Sword?

I'm expecting the Crypt to melt a bit as I know they don't like being moved much but that's OK. The plant is mature enough to handle that. My second problem is that I didn't have enough room for all the Crypts so I've left some in a bucket that I've surrounded in blankets until I figure out what to do with them...

My options are:

1) Move them into a second 9g tank which is home to another Betta, 2 smaller Amazon Swords, and Anubias and a couple of offshoots of the Crypts;
2) Move them back into the WCMM 9g tank and hope they grow in > 70 degree F water; or
3) Give them away.

I'm planning to pick up more substrate for the WCMM tank tomorrow (there's only a couple of cm's covering the bottom right now). I would like to make this tank permanent. Would the Crypts survive in this tank? Right now the only other plant in there is some Elodea. If I do make the tank permanent could it house anything else with the 8 WCMM's? I moved as many of my Red Cherry Shrimp from the 9g to the 6 gallon tank, but I think a few stayed in the 9g which is fine.

Sorry for the long post! I've never done anything like this before and need some advice!

 

All your plans sound ok except that WCMM need a lot more room. There quite active and fast moving. They really need a minimum 2 foot long tank. As far as your extra plants what I do is bring them in to my LFS for store credit. If that an option for you. If you can load up your betta tank with plants I sure he wouldn't mind.

 

I wish I could buy a bigger tank but I really don't have the money right now, we are saving everything we have for our wedding and a house deposit! The tank they are in measures 1.5 feet long and I do have the HOB running at it's top flow so there's some current in the tank. I know it's not ideal but it's what I have to work with and much better than the 6 gallon tank they were in.

 

I have never had problems with plants in cool water. I have a crypt with my WCMM. I would just leave the plants wherever they are,

 

I think I'll try that. I guess worst case is that they won't grow as fast. It's not like the water is cold, more semi-tropical I'm picking up more gravel for the 9g tomorrow so I'll put the excess plants in that.

 

Indescicive git that I am, I've decided that the Betta, plants and driftwood look a bit cramped in the 6 gal so I think I might move them BACK into the 9 gal and get a larger tank for the WCMMs!

I've found a 15 gal tank for $75, I think I can move my budget around enough to be able to afford it. The only other things I'll need are some more gravel and a light, which I'll think I'll just get an LED.

Starting to think fish tanks are like potato chips, you can never have just one! Am I crazy for doing this? I figure if I do set up a 15 gal tank them I could eventually add some more fish to it? I've always wanted some Pgymy Corries...

So I'm now the proud owner of a roughly 17 gallon tank... Managed to talk the shop down from $135 to $85 and 5kg of gravel for only $10!