Summer Tubbin Thread

[Aquarium Co-Op]

I'm starting this thread cause I've already been planning and thinking about the summer tubs I plan to put out to breed fish in. Anyone else have any plans yet?

[LuminousAphid]

i have been thinking of doing an outdoor tank, because i got an extra 20 gallon at an estate sale a while back and haven't done anything with it yet. i will probably wrap it with something to keep heat in since i don't always need to be looking at it, and also im sure it will help the fish feel more safe. i can't decide if i want to use just a sponge or maybe use the old undergravel filter the tank came with... leaning toward sponge because it should be easier. i think i even have an extra thrift store air pump around somewhere, so i just need a sponge filter

[PokeSephiroth]

I plan on making a Racoon Watering Hole. Seriously.

No. But I would like to give this a go. Perhaps I'll try with that 40 gallon breeder tank, that I used as a sump for the 8 foot breeder tanks that I no longer have. Decisions, decisions...

[fishNAbowl]

I wanna make a pond so I can have an excuse to get a Jack Russell to protect the fish against raccoons and birds

[MRTom]

I got a couple of north facing windows in the garage that I am thinking of setting up as a green water culture / breeding tub setup. I plan to put in all my rice fish in a big tub. Then a couple of tubs with micro rasboras to see if they breed as well. If I'm not tired by then, I may also setup some croaking gouramis in a tub outside.

[DMD123]

I have a 55g plastic drum that Im soaking some Mopani wood in.... maybe I should get some fish in there.... LOL, just because it holds water does not mean I have to have fish in it.

[MRTom]

I have a 55g plastic drum that Im soaking some Mopani wood in.... maybe I should get some fish in there.... LOL, just because it holds water does not mean I have to have fish in it.

At least you're using it for something fish related!

[DMD123]

I have a 55g plastic drum that Im soaking some Mopani wood in.... maybe I should get some fish in there.... LOL, just because it holds water does not mean I have to have fish in it.

At least you're using it for something fish related!

Yep, trying to get it to stop releasing tannins.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[cichlid-gal]

I have found with mopani the best way to stop the tannins is to boil it...that's kinda hard when the piece is really big. You can boil water and pour it over the wood in the tub until it is covered. Then let it steep. Do this about 3-4 times....then the wood will still leach in a tank but it won't leach for as long or as much. Most of mopani wooded tanks cleared up in a matter of less than a month with just weekly water changes using this method.

[MRTom]

Speaking of which, are you going to get your outdoor pond going again this year Donna?

[DMD123]

I have found with mopani the best way to stop the tannins is to boil it...that's kinda hard when the piece is really big.  You can boil water and pour it over the wood in the tub until it is covered.  Then let it steep.  Do this about 3-4 times....then the wood will still leach in a tank but it won't leach for as long or as much.  Most of mopani wooded tanks cleared up in a matter of less than a month with just weekly water changes using this method.

I used a diesel hot water pressure washer and heated the water and soaked multiple times. Not exactly the same as boiling but pretty close. It is almost ready to go in the tank but I am just giving it a little bit more time.

[Jubs]

I don't get to do one this year, I'm bummed it was fun last summer. There is no space here and can't have anything outside the apartment. Maybe I can use my mom's back yard or something... hmm

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Trying to decide between buying some more ponds or using tanks. Tanks can have glass tops, which means less cats etc. But also less live food... hmm

[MRTom]

Buy some more ponds, cover them with chicken wire

[CMooreCichlids]

Get a Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[cichlid-gal]

Speaking of which, are you going to get your outdoor pond going again this year Donna?

We have been trying to decide if we want to do something a little larger...but even if we don't go bigger...we will definately do the 35G pond again. I have minnows waiting to go. The ones we pulled the end of last summer and a few from the GSAS auction. They have been holding in the garage in a 55G tank.

We saw a very cool pond setup with a larger "pond" and using a pond filter and such that I was enamored with so I'm hoping to move up in size. I have to remember that the "workforce" (john and I) are a little more aged now than we used to be and taking on a big digging project is huge here. We once hit a rock so big that you couldn't even get it out of the hole..we just set the tree roots on top of it and hoped the tree would root around it. The soil here sucks big time as its mostly rocks and not really soil at all. Very hard to dig anything in.

We are off to Home Depot today (and taking the grandkids summer clothes shopping) so the decision will be made ... bigger pond or stay with what we have. Wish us luck...LOL.

[bronzefighter]

How do you guys setup your outdoor tanks/tubs? I'm thinking about grabbing either a rubbermaid tote or an empty 10g and put it on the deck, but wasn't sure exactly what I should be doing. Do you guys use a filter? Water changes? Substrate, etc etc.

[Aquarium Co-Op]

That's the best part of the summer tubs. Pretty much anything works. In the video series I had a 20 gallon tank going with no filtration just plants and bred some livebearers.

I think a lot of it is DIY and discovery. I do a lot of "lets see if this works" this year type of stuff.

I will say the more water you have the easier it is to get good results. I personally do larger ponds because if I was only doing 10 gallons, I could breed that same fish in my house. I try to do things that I'd be too lazy to pull off inside my house.

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Videos have been made!

[MRTom]

I was thinking of doing a few tanks... now I need tubs. Thanks Cory

[cichlid-gal]

Well...John was not game for the 10x15 pond liner...I think the size scared him. I'm going to look online and see what I can find that would work that is maybe a little smaller. I still want a bigger pond...that is really all that matters right? haha

[KaraWolf]

You know. Now that you got me thinking about it....there are several empty Rubbermaid tubs, the ones you store Christmas decorations in empty in my garage.....and there's one in the yard that's 3/4 full of rainwater already. Rabbit hay tub lid leaked so I left it in the rain... LOL Now I want to set it closer to the house and throw something in it....medium tub of water no power anything see if something will grow.

[cichlid-gal]

OK...pond liner, pump, and filter ordered. Need to wait on a good outdoor airpump as the cost of this project was going beyond the scope of my budget. Hole digging to commence some time in the near future but lots more research needed before we lay and fill this thing. I hit my head this morning when I realized I did not get underlayment...yikes...and with the rocks we have I think that is probably a must have. So one more item for sure before we lay the dynamite charges and blast that hole.

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Best underlayment mat is old used carpet imo.

[cichlid-gal]

Great idea Cory...thank you!

[Aquarium Co-Op]

I got some daphnia from my daphnia guru today. Seeded the pond. We'll see how it goes.

Oh by the way. 346 gallon pond in the back of the van. Ready to setup once I have some time. If you mention the summer tubbin thread. These are $300 pre-order. 6 ftx4ft rigid enough not to bow and can be above ground or in ground.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Made some more videos today. Weather was great.

[cichlid-gal]

Pond envy !!!!

[Aquarium Co-Op]

How about some more videos? I was busy today

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Another Video rendered on youtube. 1 more to go!

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Last video. Dare I say it, even some cichlids in it!

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Here is a video from 2 years ago. These longfin gold white clouds were out in my pond. I sold them off when I opened the store. Now I'm hoping the original breeder can ship me some again. I miss them!

[KaraWolf]

0.o I thought that was 5 346 gallon ponds in your truck 0.o hahah it looked stacked.
Curious what you could breed in 18 gallon tubs besides guppies and white clouds

[DMD123]

Spent the afternoon watching all those videos....   

They were not that long.   

It did give me some ideas, which Im sure the wife wont like.   

[Aquarium Co-Op]

I wish I lived in Florida. Check out this guys "fish room". It's outside and awesome. His fish are really cool too.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[DMD123]

He has got some really cool fish! Some of the Hi-fin swords are amazing.

[KaraWolf]

Annnnd I looked up fish too soon.....found 3 different versions of endlers that I want....
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I have *1* tub set up outside as of like 3 days ago and now I'm tempted to stick them in my 20 quarantine until they can live outside....in different tubs of course.

[bronzefighter]

I just set up my a little 10g outside! Is there any sort of official contest? I remember something like from last year.

[cichlid-gal]

GSAS runs the Great Pond Race. Last years race started the 1st of June and ran through October 1st. I'm pretty sure the club will be doing it again but before posting a copy of last years rules up I need to make sure nothing has changed. We'll do a seperate thread for the Great Race once everything is set up. Thanks for asking

[fishyladdy]

i berried a 5 gallon bucket outside today dropped a few guppies in it and put some fencing over it along with plants and some sand from one of my tanks. now if i can keep the neighbor hood kindalinkers (childern) away from it and my darn cat maybe something will happn lol we wil see

[MRTom]

Question to the tubbers: Would it work if I left a plastic tub outside with a sealing lid? I want to keep the critters out (we get hungry racoons and cats here.) I am planning on using an air pump and drilling some airline holes to make sure there is oxygen exchange, but not so much that the big critters can crawl inside.

My other thought is to use a hard mesh material (maybe a terrarium lid?) to keep em hungries out.

[fishyladdy]

what i was thinking was like a mesh lid like a terrarium lid. right now im using chicken wire.. we will see

[MRTom]

If the chicken wire was taut enough, that might work. We once used chicken wire to cover up a bed of tulips... the squirrels and racoons jumped on it enough that after a few days the knots in the wire itself gave way it came undone.    YMMV of course... but I don't trust the racoons around my house.

[cichlid-gal]

I just set up my a little 10g outside! Is there any sort of official contest? I remember something like from last year.

See the link here for more info:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[fishNAbowl]

what i was thinking was like a mesh lid like a terrarium lid. right now im using chicken wire.. we will see

Chicken wire and a wood frame should keep those pesky critters out. May have to fasten the lid on. Elastic cords maybe?

[Aquarium Co-Op]

Shot another video. Thanks for the Fish Donna! Even got a wafishbox.com shout out in there

[Aquarium Co-Op]

And the follow up video.

[cichlid-gal]

As there seem to be a lot of question about how to cover ponds...John and I just got back from vacation.  One of our stops was to a beautiful pond and garden wholesaler (they have a retail shop for folks like us) called Hughes Water Gardens outside of Portland, Oregon.  They had some great outdoor ponds...here's a pic of how they are covering their koi ponds

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Just another idea...but you would need a lip of some type for this setup or maybe something else could be rigged up.

[bronzefighter]

My grandfather has an amazing koi pond that he built by hand in the 80's. he lives in southern cali, so things like herons, eagles, owls, and pelicans are a real threat. he built a similar cover using PVC that raised the netting about 6 or 7 feet up. seems to have done the trick so far, considering he has some koi in there that are older than me, and almost as big.

[PokeSephiroth]

I've always figured that any type of "net" would just get chewed up by the other critters that are there. If one is hungry enough, they would go through great lengths just to nab a fish or two (or even the whole stock).

I figure that a wire mesh would work better... granted, it's unsightly, but I s'pose it can be taken off when there's people over.

I still think an electric fence would work wonders. It also keeps those pesky kids away from mah fish! BWAAHAHA... kidding. (or am I?)

[Sponsored content]