6 replies to this topic

[jfs1985]

Hi, I am new to forums and I hope this question was not asked already in some shape or form.

 

I have a 125gal tank that I was thinking of setting up in my garage that is unheated or cooled. I live in NJ so the temperature can range from teens in the winter to 100 in the summer. My plan is to put pumpkinseeds and maybe a yellow perch or black crappie in the tank. My concern is that it will get to hot in the summer and to cold in the winter. I have never seen the temperature drop below 40degrees during the winter even with the coldest of weather. I obviously know that the fish experience that in nature but they have a much larger body of water to be in. Am I asking for trouble or would this work? Has anyone tried this or is currently doing this?  

 

Bringing the tank inside is also a no go before someone asks that.

 

Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

[Michael Wolfe]

You do not have to worry about the cold at all.  The heat may be a problem.  But just like your garage does not get as cold as the outside in the winter, does it really get as warm as the outside in the summer?  I mean you would not have the sun blasting in on it.  I would guess that if it stayed down in the 80s you might be OK.  But I have never tried a glass tank in a garage.

[Josh Blaylock]

I was thinking the same thing.  It should be fine in the winter, but it's questionable in the summer.  I suppose you could try.  I'd pump air into it and maybe have a fan blowing on the top.  This will help keep the temp down and water oxygenated.  

[jfs1985]

I don't know exactly what the temperature gets to in the summer but I would imagine the low 80's during the peak of the heat even when it is in the 90's outside. I am willing to try, I just did not want to torture a bunch of fish needlessly or buy any equipment before getting a few other opinions. Thank you Josh and Michael for your quick responses.

[gzeiger]

I kept fish in the garage with no climate control whatsoever in SC. NJ should be fine. I live in the Bridgeton area now - any interest in a collecting trip some time? I kept my fish, including bluespotted sunfish and an eel from SC along with NJ natives, in a shed outside last summer. Only one loss potentially attributed to heat, which was a sculpin from out west that really had no business there.

[smbass]

I used this method to condition two species of darters and a pair of spotted gar this past winter. Gar just got moved to an outdoor rubber lined pond a week ago and female looks gravid. Also both species of darters the females are very gravid. Like others said the concern would be the warm not the cold. Probably species dependent. The pumpkinseed can handle pretty wide range of temps but perch may not tolerate as warm of temps.

[lilyea]

I keep a 150g glass and a 80g acrylic aquarium in a non-climate controlled garage in central Florida so it is possible to work around the heat.  As previously mentioned the selection of species is important - considering the natural range of the fish is helpful.  Also, as suggested you should focus more on the temperature of the water not the surrounding air and remember that pumps and lights can add heat to the water.  Oxygenating the water at higher temperatures is also especially important so in addition to aeration more regular water changes can also help.

 

While the water temperature is the key, the air temperature obviously also affects the water temperature.  Usually in the northeast, the temperature drops overnight and then warms up during the day so take advantage of those cooler nightly temperatures if you can.  Also knowing if the temperature in the garage gets higher than the outside temperatures during the day will help you make air flow decisions.