that new outside 4 seasons tank…

[Magnum Man]

right now, I’m leaning towards 2 over sized air driven sponge filters, and no mechanical filtration, only gravel vac during water changes… since this tank will be outdoors in the winter, I will only do winter water changes on nice days, maybe once a month, but this will be during basically a hibernation period, very low feeding, as the tank will be cocooned in a foam box… so the heaters can keep it above freezing… these will be dwarf sunfish, not “tropical” fish… does this sound like it has any chance of success??? ( air pump will be in the house, with the air line going through the wall, so the pumped air will not be sub freezing )

 

[bgarthe]

If your tank is glass (you didn’t say), I wouldn’t even try it w or wo foam, heaters and warm bubbler air. Too many things go wrong with glass and low temps….even for a short spell/outage or uncovered tiny spot subject to sub 32 temps. Sorry.
Imho, a tub/ tank inside for the winter is the way to go. And, by doing so, when spring comes, your fish will go outside being much healthier and stronger, you won’t lose sleep over super cold arctic polar vortex temps, and you’ll be able to see/enjoy your fish. With feeding being next to nill, WCs probably wouldn’t need to happen and doing so would require due diligence regarding temp matching and potential water disturbance issues with gravel vacuuming.

Sorry, but this looks dicey at best.

I had a 3,700g outside rubber lined pond and brought my Koi in for the winter into my basement 700g pond. Each spring they came back out totally fit/healthy not having had to endure the frigid winter temps. I live in north central Illinois…..fairly similar seasonal temps compared to your location.

 

[Back in the fold]

I gotta agree with @bgarthe . A plastic tub or a trough would be fine but glass sounds pretty dicey to me in a cold Minnesota winter .

 

[Magnum Man]

it was recommended previously, that I try it… planning on 2 new heaters for the coming winter, and the tank will be up against he house on one side, and be in a screened and roofed porch to be somewhat protected from the weather…

 

[Back in the fold]

it was recommended previously, that I try it… planning on 2 new heaters for the coming winter, and the tank will be up against he house on one side, and be in a screened and roofed porch to be somewhat protected from the weather…

Those variables might make it work but to be really safe I’d have a sort of lean-to enclosure that could be used temporarily in super cold times . You’re a handy guy , you know what will work .

 

[Magnum Man]

this was the original thread…

what to do with extra tank???

so I have an extra 55 gallon aquarium that I bought, back when an old tank I had, got suspected fish TB, as a back up, if tank sterilization wasn't successful... well, I didn't end up having to replace that tank... I could keep it around, for a spare, if one of my old tanks started leaking, but...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Back in the fold]

Yeah , now I remember that discussion . What the hell . Give it a whirl .

 

[emeraldking]

I myself have a couple of glass tanks outdoors all year round. But it also depends on how cold it will become. Overhere, winters have become more soft over the years and we hardy have such cold winters as you have in the States. Once we had a real deep cold, one of those tanks did burst. Thicker glass tanks would be okay during winter. Or choose an acrylic tank instead which is better than glass during winter.