Trying to decide between 5- and 10-gallon beginner tank

Hello! I'm brand new to aquariums, never had one. My 5-gallon tank just showed up, but as I've been reading on here, it seems maybe I should have got a 10-gallon to start with. I want a school of danios, I've been reading extensively about starter fish and pretty much settled on danios. However, I've read it both ways - that a small school of danios is fine in a 5-gallon, or that a 5-gallon is just too small for them. I will be upsizing (is that a word?) to around a 20-30 gallon tank once I move to a larger house in six months (no room now). Would I be ok with a school of danios in the 5-gallon till then, or should I bite the bullet and start with a ten? Thanks all!

 

Ok stop!! Buy a 29g tank and start from there. Use the 5 as a qt tank. If you do this you will save money!! Yes you won’t be buying the 10 the 20 and all the equipment they need. 29 is the right size tank and easier to use. You will have a better chance of success .

 

Hello! I'm brand new to aquariums, never had one. My 5-gallon tank just showed up, but as I've been reading on here, it seems maybe I should have got a 10-gallon to start with. I want a school of danios, I've been reading extensively about starter fish and pretty much settled on danios. However, I've read it both ways - that a small school of danios is fine in a 5-gallon, or that a 5-gallon is just too small for them. I will be upsizing (is that a word?) to around a 20-30 gallon tank once I move to a larger house in six months (no room now). Would I be ok with a school of danios in the 5-gallon till then, or should I bite the bullet and start with a ten? Thanks all!

Yeah you'll be fine until then, though a 10 gal would be preferable. 5 gal really is a bit cramped, even if just for six months.

Ok stop!! Buy a 29g tank and start from there. Use the 5 as a qt tank. If you do this you will save money!! Yes you won’t be buying the 10 the 20 and all the equipment they need. 29 is the right size tank and easier to use. You will have a better chance of success .

They did say they don't have room for a bigger tank...

 

Yes but come on we all no there’s room somewhere . And a 5 g is really only good for shrimp. Or fry or as a qt. So they up it to a 10. Which is also good fry shrimp….. so if your a beginner the 29 is the place to begin. With the larger amount of water it’s easier to keep fish. 5s and 10s to beginners are just death traps to fish. But for shrimp they are a great way to start with aquariums.

 

I am assuming we are talking about zebra danios? Danios are some of the most active fish you can keep. They need a school of 8 Or more and a 20 gallon long, or 30-inch long tank at a BARE MINIMUM! These fish are notorious for being nasty and fin nippy when kept in small tanks or small numbers. You don't want to start this hobby with a tank full of fish tearing at each other's fins.

The bigger the tank, the easier it will be to care for, wait until you can get a 29 gallon, take the 4-6 weeks to do a fishless cycle, then start your fish journey!

 

Thanks all, this sounds like really good advice, and I appreciate all the detailed explanations. I'll hang onto the 5 gallon till we move, and then go bigger.

 

The bigger the better

 

lets Say you have a small school of danios in a 5 gal. You’d have to change water alot etc well if you put that small school in a 10 gal then it won’t be as much work cause the tank can handle the bio load
But as double Dutch said bigger is always better

 

If you're going with a 5 gallon, get a betta and live plants. You'll learn a lot so you're ready when you can get a bigger tank.

 

Oh yeah at most if you can start with a 20. I had a 10 and also a few smaller tanks and boy the smaller ones are not very forgiving to mistakes. I now have a 20 myself.

 

30+ years ago I had a 10 gallon and it was a good starter tank. Gave that away after a few years, finished raising my family, then grandkids came and grew, and I needed a hobby. This time I started with a 20 gallon long and it was perfect for me. For awhile. I'm using a small spare bedroom, not a huge amount of space and really wanted a 55 gallon. Coulda woulda shoulda - but I got a 40 gallon wide and just love that thing. Also have a couple 10 gallons set up. Yes, you develop MTS as you go, always want one more. At my age it's too hard to do larger water changes. Bought a 29 gallon half price at Petco, brought it home last summer and my husband and I just looked at each other when we were going to set it up and asked "what are we doing?" I hung my head and returned it begrudgingly. It's time for the ol' grandparents to now start downsizing, so I put up a 10. My heart wants a 125 gallon but nah. Lots of work involved in all sizes, but the larger, the less work. Just keep up with those water changes and don't overstock like I tend to do... that's MORE water changes.

To get a cycle going, do you know anyone with a tank right now you could get some media for your filter, from theirs? You could even ask them to put a small sponge filter in their tank for a month or 2, then use it right from their tank when you're ready and you'll have an instant cycle. That cycle is the most important part, no matter the size, and it takes time and patience if you don't have another tank to borrow from.

 

Keep the 5 gallon and get 1 betta, or shrimp, or snails. Get between a 20 and 40 gallon once you move. Make sure to live plant it with simple low light plants.