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What to do with a 10 gallon


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#1 Guest_nativecollector_*

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Posted 26 April 2007 - 08:07 AM

I have an extra 10 gallon tank sitting on my back deck. It has three sides painted blue already.
Currently it has 3 crayfish in it just to have something put in there. "edited out this statement"

I would like to have either black banded sunfish or darters of some kind. Suggestions are welcomed for types of fish as well as the set up. I don't plan on putting a light on the tank because I want to leave it outside, at least for now. I do have a screen cover for it, mainly to keep the cats out.

So give me your ideas please?

#2 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 26 April 2007 - 11:00 AM

I have an extra 10 gallon tank sitting on my back deck. It has three sides painted blue already.
Currently it has 3 crayfish in it just to have something put in there. "edited out this statement"

I would like to have either black banded sunfish or darters of some kind. Suggestions are welcomed for types of fish as well as the set up. I don't plan on putting a light on the tank because I want to leave it outside, at least for now. I do have a screen cover for it, mainly to keep the cats out.

So give me your ideas please?


Assuming you can run air to it for a sponge or box filter, blackbanded or bluespotted sunnies, banded pygmy, sawcheek darter, lined killie, pirate perch, and/or mudminnow oughta do OK - all heat-tolerant species. Or a mud sunfish if you want a real "pet" kinda like an oscar.

#3 Guest_nativecollector_*

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Posted 27 April 2007 - 07:49 AM

I can put any kind of filter on it. I have plenty of DIY sponge filters, because I use them for my bettas.

Right now it is going to house a redfin pickerel until I build a couple of new 80+ gallon tanks. Then I will be back to what to do with the 10 gallon. I cant remember but I think it was teleost that had a really nice 10 gallon set up. I was thinking about doing something like that. But that is why I wanted to ask for ideas.

I know where to catch some pirate perch, bluespotted sunfish, and some swapdarters or some kind of darters (I have seen them but have not caught any to confirm which they are).

Oh and where would I find mud sun fish, I think that is the first time I have heard of those.

#4 Guest_teleost_*

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Posted 27 April 2007 - 07:57 AM

I can put any kind of filter on it. I have plenty of DIY sponge filters, because I use them for my bettas.

Right now it is going to house a redfin pickerel until I build a couple of new 80+ gallon tanks. Then I will be back to what to do with the 10 gallon. I cant remember but I think it was teleost that had a really nice 10 gallon set up. I was thinking about doing something like that. But that is why I wanted to ask for ideas.

I know where to catch some pirate perch, bluespotted sunfish, and some swapdarters or some kind of darters (I have seen them but have not caught any to confirm which they are).

Oh and where would I find mud sun fish, I think that is the first time I have heard of those.


I'll bet the nice set up was someone else since my aquascape technique is poor compared to most here.
Since you want to have the tank outside, I feel this will limit you. I don't thing the pirate perch, sunfish or darters would last in the summer sun (heat) but I could be wrong. I have no experience with this type of outdoor set up but I'd expect only the most heat tolerant fish to be able to withstand an outdoor 10 gallon tank during the summer months.

#5 Guest_Zephead4747_*

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Posted 27 April 2007 - 06:08 PM

I'll bet the nice set up was someone else since my aquascape technique is poor compared to most here.
Since you want to have the tank outside, I feel this will limit you. I don't thing the pirate perch, sunfish or darters would last in the summer sun (heat) but I could be wrong. I have no experience with this type of outdoor set up but I'd expect only the most heat tolerant fish to be able to withstand an outdoor 10 gallon tank during the summer months.



I'll have to agree here :(

#6 Guest_Skipjack_*

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Posted 27 April 2007 - 07:20 PM

North side of a building, and I think you would be okay with many of the above listed species. Otherwise, I would use the tank for greenwater. A ten gallon in the sun will be subject to drastic temp change. Your location will determine what you stock. A ten will lose, and gain heat very fast, so a shaded location is what you need, to minimize these swings. I am not speaking from experience, only common sense, and sometimes the common sense fails me.

#7 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 30 April 2007 - 11:31 AM

Also, keep in mind that when winter comes around you may find yourself with a cracked tank if you don't bring it in out of the cold...

#8 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 30 April 2007 - 12:11 PM

North side of a building, and I think you would be okay with many of the above listed species. Otherwise, I would use the tank for greenwater. A ten gallon in the sun will be subject to drastic temp change. Your location will determine what you stock. A ten will lose, and gain heat very fast, so a shaded location is what you need, to minimize these swings. I am not speaking from experience, only common sense, and sometimes the common sense fails me.



Yes, my species suggestions were based on the assumption he was going to put it in shade against the north side of a building -the safest place. Having said that, ive also had misc natives and tropicals (badis, enneacanthus, lepomis, heterandria, umbra) do just fine in a BLACK plastic 1/2 barrel (about 15 gal) in a SUNNY spot, with lots of veg and NO aeration. The upper few inches get HOT, but the lower half stays surprisingly cool somehow. I have potted plants around them to minimize sun striking the sides of the barrel. Gotta be careful about the bio-load and leaves, as too much decay will deplete O2 in the cool lower part. Ironically, aeration might kill the fish bcuz it would eleminate their thermal refuge. But I suppose you could put an airstone right at the surface and bubble gently, so you get surface movement to increase gas exchange without de-stratifying the thermal layering.

And yes of course you'll have to drain it come winter. Even if your fish can withstand ice, a glass tank cannot !

Mud sunfish are all over NC coastal plain including your NE corner, but not easy to find.
Dig deep into leaf litter, branch piles, mud, and dense veg with a sturdy-frame dipnet to find them.

#9 Guest_nativecollector_*

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Posted 30 April 2007 - 12:12 PM

I think this tank is going to end up inside now.

I am going to be getting the plywood to build an 80 gallon tank this week.
I will also be building a lighting structure for the 10 and the 80 gallon in the same process.

Filling the 10 with plants and I think I am going to go with some of the blue spotted sunfish or the black banded sunfish.

The 80 will turn into the redfins tank for the time being, but it will get some new additions as it goes down the road.

Thanks for the ideas and the advice on keeping it outdoors, I dont think I will be doing that with a 10 gallon. Might have to just get the $'s together to buy me one of those rubbermaid gaint tubs for the back deck.



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