Can I downgrade?

[Elliriyanna]

I currently have one 1" female betta and two otocinclus in a ten gallon and its taking up too much space on my desk with me trying to do homework and everything. Would it be ok to downgrade them to a 5 gallon? They'll be keeping the same 10 gallon whisper filter and heater so they'll have proper equipment ... I was just wondering if 5 gallons would be enough. If not I can try to make the ten work for her sake. Thanks in advance for any advice :)

PS I know I've had the tank on my desk all school year but it made doing homework REALLY hard and I never thought about downgrading her. If its not ok I wont do it :)

Sorry I've been posting so many threads with stupid ideas but I think this one is at least rational

[mermaidwannabe]

I wouldn't. The smaller the tank, the more water quality problems you can have, and I don't think your fish would appreciate the overcrowding.

-- mermaidwannabe

[Elliriyanna]

Its the same filter if anything the water quality will be better. And the oto's are bottom feeders so they won't be crowding each other ... Not that I'm justifying it just saying.

[KingFisher]

Its the same filter if anything the water quality will be better. And the oto's are bottom feeders so they won't be crowding each other ... Not that I'm justifying it just saying.

The water quality would not be better, in fact, it would be twice as bad. The fish would be producing the same amount of nitrates in either tank but the nitrates would be dissolved in 5 gallons instead of 10, making the concentration twice as much.

[Elliriyanna]

Ah I was just thinking of it being cycled ... I can do twice weekly 25% water changes and gravel vacuum once weekly. Is it overcrowded? And if I keep up the above schedule would it be ok? I'm just saying what I'd be doing so you know everything before you make a call.

[Rue]

...otos are not bottom feeders.

[rich311k]

I think a five gallon would be fine for those fish. It is not much of a difference in foot print though.

[smaug]

Yes,it would be fine.Just make sure the otos dont get bullied by the beta.And make sure to keep up the water changes.

[Elliriyanna]

with the size my desk is every inch counts ... I'll make sure to keep up with the water changes and Hinoko is fairly laid back and they are much faster but I'll keep an eye on everyone and provide plenty of hiding spots :)

[Elliriyanna]

Between the two forums I posted this on I got mostly yes's so I got Hinoko a marineland eclipse 5 gallon hex.

http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab297/elliriyanna/utf-8BSU1HMDA1NDQtMjAxMDEyMjgtMTkwNC5qcGc.jpg

What do you think? Just need to add the heater

[chrisfraser05]

I don't mean to be cheeky but wouldn't a rectangular tank take up less space than a hex on your desk?

[Elliriyanna]

not really since its more upright and I got this one from goodwill for 15 bucks

[chrisfraser05]

bargain!!!

[Elliriyanna]

I know I couldnt resist :) The ten is going in the closet til I can set it back up :)