6 replies to this topic

[mattknepley]

Ok, I'd really like a couple/few of Brian's A. serracanthus he recently posted about. Thing is, an aquarium big enough to house 'em and do 'em justice will likely never be feasible for me. I could probably get a couple more 100g stock ponds, but I'm hoping to house them together. We're hoping to move (staying here in Ninety Six, just want a bigger place) but don't know when that'll happen or what we'll wind up with, so pond construction is not a guarantee. So I'm looking for old bath tubs as an option. Anyone have experience with such a conversion? Also, I have seen fridges, still upright and in houses/offices that have been converted into novelty aquariums. Would it be possible to use a discarded one, doors removed and flat on its back as a pond? They're airtight, so I'm assuming water holding is possible? It might look redneck riviera, but it could probably be done on the cheap and the actual fridge hidden with plants, etc. Anybody have any experience with such an idea?

[Doug_Dame]

I found an old bathtub dumped in the woods once, took it home, used plastic sheeting as a liner in lieu of actually fixing the cracks, and it worked fine for housing rough fish for a couple of years. And I have considered buying more recycled ones from Habitat for Humanity, but so far haven't pulled the trigger, due to lack of any compelling need.

 

Typical bathtub = 35 to 50 gal, so much smaller than a 100g stock tank. OTOH, 1 or 2 fish per container has some advantages too.

 

New, certainly much more expensive than stock tank. Used, esp damaged, they're cheap or free. 

 

Pro: very easy to get a continuous circulation pattern going, without a huge water-moving pump. (With some PVC engineering, can even use air-power for water movement. I recall having seen some "racetrack fish tank" article describing that some years ago, but don't have a citation handy.)

 

Con: If not hidden in your garage, "redneck riviera" will certainly apply. 

 

Given the uncertainty/potentially short term need, you might want to consider buying a cheap above ground pool. Amazon has an Intex 12ft X 30in Metal Frame Pool Set for $104.64 + free shipping for Prime Members. This includes a "Krystal clear cartridge filter pump 530 gph (110 - 120v) with 1-year warranty" and presumably some easy to connect plumbing. (I didn't do much research, that was just the cheapest biggish pool that came up when I searched.) That's about 1700 gal. It'd probably be a disposable item, but probably would work as a easy temporary solution for a year or two. 

 

Last I checked, stock tanks from Tractor Supply cost in the range of $1 to $1.50 /gal. But they're all-but-unbreakable, and highly UV-resistant.  

 

Disclaimer: I have no experience using these kinds of pools for fish-keeping. But you could see your fish by snorkeling, which sounds like fun. However, since obviously you would not be using chlorine to control algae, you might have to add some UV-gear designed for yard ponds. Or a bunch of plants. 

 

HTH

[don212]

i don't believe refrigerators are even waterproof, why not check out a local junkyard, or build a small pond, i built my own little pond

[Michael Wolfe]

For the difficulty, I would suggest a bigger stock tank. They make a nice six foot diameter one.

[don212]

you might even find a used tank, or something similar at a salvage yard

[gerald]

A friend in VA used an old canoe, roughly 200 gal I'd guess.  It didn't leak (much) but the frame was too bent to steer it anymore.

Perfect for boosting your redneck credentials.

[Casper]

When you move to a bigger place make sure it has an inground pool.