5 Gallon Vs 10 Gallon Aquariums - What's The Best Tank Size For Your New Fish Tank? скачать в хорошем качестве

5 Gallon Vs 10 Gallon Aquariums - What's The Best Tank Size For Your New Fish Tank?

5 Gallon vs 10 Gallon Tanks 🐠 Which is Better? In this video, I’m sharing my personal experience with 5 and 10 gallon aquariums—comparing everything from dimensions and costs to stocking options, maintenance, water quality, filtration, and aquascaping. 💡 Short on time? Here’s the verdict: 10 gallon tanks are the better option for most people, but 5 gallon tanks definitely have their place in the hobby—especially if you’re limited on space or your landlord restricts tank size. 📏 Tank Size & Dimensions: Tank sizing isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Between US gallons, liters, and different shapes like cubes and rectangles, it gets complicated. For example, 25-liter tanks are often sold as 6.6 US gallons in Europe. Rectangular tanks offer better swimming space, and if possible, I’d always recommend a long 10 gallon rectangle for ease of stocking and scaping. 💰 Cost Differences: You’d think 10 gallon tanks cost a lot more than 5 gallon ones, but that’s not always the case—especially in the U.S. At stores like PetCo, the difference can be as small as a few dollars during sales. In Europe and other countries, tanks cost significantly more, so budget-conscious hobbyists may lean towards 5 gallons. Just remember, larger tanks often mean more flexibility and better value in the long run. 🐟 Stocking Options: 5 gallon tanks are ideal for bettas and shrimp colonies (like neocaridina). While some people keep guppies, scarlet badis, or killifish in them, these species generally do better in larger tanks. A 10 gallon tank opens up options for small groups of neon tetras, chili rasboras, pygmy corydoras, CPDs, and even a honey gourami. A 10 gallon offers more diverse, stable stocking options. 🧼 Maintenance & Care: There’s very little difference in maintenance time between the two sizes. Water changes, plant trimming, and algae cleaning take about the same effort. Epiphyte-heavy tanks (like with anubias and java fern) need less trimming, while faster-growing setups (like Walstad shrimp jars) require more plant management. Still, overall care time is nearly identical. 🌊 Water Quality & Stability: Water volume plays a big role in stability. A 10 gallon tank dilutes ammonia and waste more effectively than a 5 gallon, which gives it a safety net—especially for beginners. That said, well-planted 5 gallon tanks (like my Walstad shrimp tank with 70+ shrimp) can be very stable. I always upsize my filters to ones rated for 20 gallons to improve biological filtration on smaller tanks. 🔁 Filtration Options: Whether you're using sponge filters, HOB filters, internal filters, or going filterless with the Walstad method, both tank sizes can be well filtered with the right setup. My preference is the Walstad method combined with an oversized sponge filter for added stability. 🌿 Aquascaping & Aesthetics: Aquascaping a 5 gallon can be stunning—but smaller tanks do come with size limitations. Still, thanks to cheaper hardscape and plant needs, 5 gallons can be more budget-friendly for aquascaping. A 10 gallon gives you more room to work with larger driftwood and rocks, so it really comes down to preference and creativity. ✅ Final Verdict: If you're tight on space or budget, a 5 gallon tank is a solid option. But if you have the space and funds, go for the 10 gallon—more stability, more stocking options, and a better overall experience. #aquarium #fishtank #nanotank