Question:
After reading the latest Aquarium Fish Magazine, my daughter wants to
try an outdoor fish tub. (for anyone who hasn't read it, the author uses
plastic laundry type tubs outdoors in the summer months for raising
fish. He's had great success with spawning and just maintaining healthy
fish, apparently)
Has anyone here tried it? Suggestions on things to do and/or avoid? I
found plastic type bins (Rubbermaid and similar) in a variety of sizes
at the store, we were thinking about a 20 or 35 g. one, for the new
Dwarf Croaking (AKA "sparkling") Gourami. I'd like to buy the tub this
week, fill it up with water before we leave town for a long weekend, add
fish when we get back. The article suggests allowing time for some
"food" to grow in it before adding fish.
How about cycling? I can add a sponge fro one of our existing tanks as
well.
Answer:
I haven't tried anything similar with gourami (much too cold here except
for about 2 months every year and even then questionable) but I have had
goldfish/koi ponds all my life. I have a few questions... what kind of food,
and are you planing any sort of aeration?
Again speaking from experience with goldfish and koi, I have never
personally cycled an outdoor pond, although I can't see any reason why this
wouldn't be beneficial. So adding the sponge should be helpful. Most pond
fish are also fed in addition to whatever grows in the water (mosquito
larve, daphnia, etc) so this would probably also be good practice. Also if
you aren't planning any other form of aeration, I highly recomend plants to
help with water quality. Also avoid placing the tub in full sun, as this
causes almost uncontrolable algea blooms and over heating.
My boyfriend just brought up an interesting point... We live in BC (that's
canada guys) and even now it's still to cold to have tropical fish outside,
however, he is from florida and brought up the point that outside even in
the shade in south florida you will end up with poached fish... great for
entertaining, bad for breeding So get a good reading on the
temperature ranges before adding the fish. Other than that as long as you
have somewhere to keep the fish when it gets colder and moving them won't
cause excess stress, I see no reason why this won't work.
My father just set up a outdoor pool that is working wonderfully and looks
quite attractive as well, he used a childs pool (about 5 feet across and 12
inches deep) that he has set into the lawn. He built up a pile of rocks
(slate mostly) that he is using a small pump coming from the pool with the
water flowing out from under the top rock down over the other rocks and back
into the pool. this provides aeration and in a pinch if he needs to filtre
the water all he has to do is add some media between the rocks.
