First Post - a Question that will probably annoy you! :)

[Malthus101]

OK - so here's the dream - I want a super-cool massive fish tank (aquarium) one day in my condo in Bangkok. (yet to be bought heh

I want it to have tropical fish, not big fish, like 10cm fish. A few species that work togther.

Thing is, I'll ony be there for 3 months of the year most likely.

Can this be done? With auto-feeders, auto-water filters and scum cleaning robots?

Will my fish die?

Is this a big fat fantasy?

Thanks!

 

[Malthus101]

OK - so here's the dream - I want a super-cool massive fish tank (aquarium) one day in my condo in Bangkok. (yet to be bought heh

I want it to have tropical fish, not big fish, like 10cm fish. A few species that work togther.

Thing is, I'll ony be there for 3 months of the year most likely.

Can this be done? With auto-feeders, auto-water filters and scum cleaning robots?

Will my fish die?

Is this a big fat fantasy?

Thanks!

I asked Grok and it said "Banggai Cardinalfish", "Green Chromis" and "Pajama Cardinalfish" would work together.

 

[GaryE]

So saltwater... that's a whole other kettle of fish.
Believe it or not, I had a friend who ran freshwater tanks in Mexico in a house she only lived twice a year for a couple of months each time. A neighbour would top up and she had calibrated an automatic feeder to an exact, small amount a couple of times a week. After 2 years, she brought her fish up here and sold the house. So it could be done, but then again, she was a very experienced aquarist, and had species that could handle the lack of water maintenance. She also had only a couple of small fish per tank.

Honestly, I would expect a ripe smelling failure in that set up, without an experienced aquarist friend willing to enable the project. Walking into that condo might not be as enjoyable as you'd hope.

 

[MaloK]

Having an installation that can run autonomous 9 months per year, is quite the challenge.

Salt water aquariums have a lot of automation available... But it doesn't really change the intervention factor.

If something get stuck on your water intake... Your motor doesn't restart after a power failure, your del resets to default... A fish dies... etc.

You need to be able to intervene in a timely manner... So without a friend close by, that have a good grasp on your setup that can quickly go on site to solve problems...

I would say, that even fully automated, running as long as 9 months without intervention would be nearly miraculous.

 

[Innesfan]

Will my fish die?

Is this a big fat fantasy?

Yes and yes. Unless....Bangkok, as is the case for many large cities, has businesses providing aquarium maintenance services. If they do, you would need to hire them for more than their routine service which will likely be expensive. And still not a guarantee that all would work out as you hope.

 

[jaylach]

I agree that it is a bad idea. I don't trust auto feeders but a concern that has not been mentioned is evaporation. After nine months the water level will drop a LOT increasing things like ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. As the water level drops the tank eventually becomes over populated to the point that the good bacteria can't keep up.

 

[GaryE]

Get a large shallow freshwater tank, and some long incubation Nothobranchius annual killifish, As the tank evaporates, their eggs will wait for better times. When you go back, add water and restart the circle of life!

 

[Burleson]

Assuming your rich with the whole condo and Bangkok just hire someone to take care of it

 

[Malthus101]

Thanks fot the insights - aren't there systems to hook a tank up to the mains water supply and top it when it falls below a certain level?

 

[GaryE]

I've seen people make them, but I've also mopped up eventual floods. It's all good til something organic clogs a pipe.

 

[Malthus101]

OK so I've been watching some videos on YT and it does indeed seem to be way over my head - I had no idea there was so much research and considerations into every aspect of this pursuit! Not as easy as filling a tank, choosing cool fish and dropping them in...

Yes - hiring an expert to manage them would seem to be the only viable option in reality.

 

[anewbie]

You might be able to do a self substaining aquarium with a drip system for water changes and a fish that mostly eat plant matter - think of it as a large pond. I was going to say something like guppies or swordtails but there might be a better option.

 

[Innesfan]

it does indeed seem to be way over my head - I had no idea there was so much research and considerations into every aspect of this pursuit! Not as easy as filling a tank, choosing cool fish and dropping them in...

Oh. You've never maintained an aquarium before and this would be your first attempt? If so, then yes, you were correct the first time in wondering if this was "a big fat fantasy." Yes, it is.