what to do with extra tank???

[Magnum Man]

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 it's large, to just be sitting around, i got it at an awesome price on sale... I have a dozen tanks currently running, and I really don't have room to set up another tank that large... I know, it's not really a bad problem to have, but I don't really want to store it out of the house, where it would be exposed to the temp extremes... I thought about maybe placing it in the 3 season porch, set up with a big heater, for koi, or another pond fish, but just being a screened room, it would be exposed to snow, during blizzards, and extreme cold during those weather fronts, as they blow through, and I would expect a glass tank would not hold up to below zero temps, on the outside surfaces, even if the heater kept the water liquid on the inside... thoughts??

 

[emeraldking]

Well, as you've already mentioned, you could use it for pond fish (till a certain fish size of course). I've kept baby koi till a certain size in tanks and rain barrels as well until they were big enough to go to the grow out pond.

 

[Innesfan]

Koi and golfish grow fast and a 55g is only a very temporary home for a single small koi. A pair of fancy goldfish would work. Though commons and comets require 50 gallons per fish. But for either koi or goldfish the water change regimen is, in my experience, more rigorous and voluminous than for most tropicals.

Alternatively, you could do other species that like a cool-down period, such as the beautiful and recently discussed Black-Banded Sunfish, Enneacanthus chaetodon, or similar small natives. You could have several in a tank that size. You already have a species that would work--Bitterlings.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

One huge daphnia culture.
Or do the biotope tank with the Anaconda.

 

[GaryE]

So your real question is what piece of furniture inside a house can be disposed of?

 

[Magnum Man]

my concern mostly, is exposing the glass aquarium to Minnesota's brutal winters

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have all my empty tanks and their lids outside. I am nit in MN but out nighttime temps now are in the teens. The woman who gave me my earlu clowns kept a load of tanks outside over a winter in PA. They were fine. Mine are all empty and on a screended terrace I believe thay will be OK. But I want to sell them not use them again. I will check the in the late spring or early summer to insure they hold water OK before I sell any. They range from 20L to 40B and include 40Ls, 33Ls and even a 30B.

I know they do OK being in use in summers when the temps can be in the high 90sF with an occasional 100F+ day.

 

[Back in the fold]

This sounds like experiment time to me . What kind of temperatures could White Clouds or Paradise Fish handle ? Is there a Japanese Loach in my future or a Weather Loach ? The mind churns .

 

[Magnum Man]

so, since I didn't pay much for this new 55 gallon, I may experiment, with putting it on the screened porch... so now my mind wanders... aeration, if used, should probably come from within the house... I would expect there would be issues with air pumps in sub freezing temps??? both as far as function, and longevity... also I know the pump compression could warm the air a little, but if it's starting out at sub freezing, I would expect it would be notably cooling the water, and something else for the heater to battle... and I'll admit, I still have concerns about the life of a glass tank, with that much temperature difference, just separated by a pane of glass... we have a 48 inch round table we eat at during the summer, if I did my cement block and plank type stand, at just over the height of the table, to where the edge of the table could tuck under the tank, it would be nice for viewing, and not take up any real useable space... I have hot and cold water in a freeze proof spigots in the porch... the cold is hard well water, so would be useable for the tank, with the right fish choice... and I thought about native fish, like blue gill or perch etc. as possible tank mates...

also I like open tanks with plants growing out of them, but expect this would have to be a seasonal thing, with an insulating cover during the winter... but maybe a few cherry tomato's during the summer, then pull them in the fall, and install the cover???

 

[gimme30]

I've never kept an aquarium outside but it seems to me the sealant would be more of a concern than the glass itself. They're a little pricey but a heat pump would solve that issue and provide oxygenation.
I'd be more concerned about what finds its way into the tank. Back when I had property I kept koi in a row of 120 gallon plastic tubs while I was building their pond and it's amazing what could get into their admittedly not-tightly-sealed containers. Moths, beetles, earwigs, spiders...you name it and who knows what else that got eaten by the fish. I rescued a small frog, garter snake, and house finch that had all somehow found their way in. Cats and raccoons were always crawling all over them as well. Not a problem during your Minnesota winter but in the summer....?
I like the blue gill idea. Around here they get pretty big though. I guess you could eat 'em when they outgrow the tank. Just don't name them first.

 

[Magnum Man]

this is Screened porch, should limit critters

 

[gimme30]

Hmm, apparently my attention to detail is somewhat lacking.
I will blame the lack of coffee, having run out yesterday and forgetting to pick some up on the way home.
Not the first time I've been a complete idiot!
Nevermind!

 

[Magnum Man]

well it's cold and windy today, but still necessary to work outside ( junk from work, all round my driveway, on pallets )... one encroached into the driveway, and it had lumber and cement blocks on it... needing to go, somewhere... my screened patio, is closer than my block pile... so a few on a pallet, to haul them to the screened patio, and an aquarium base magically appeared... I'll try this tank outside, but will not be filling it until spring... thinking a heater for winter, but set at the minimum temperature, so it doesn't run during summer... looking at local fish, with maybe a cross over to rainbow shiners, or banded sun fish, or???

 

[Magnum Man]

thinking along this line, for next year, I plan on 2 heaters, in case one goes out, and keeping a spare here... any suggestions on a filter / tank circulation??? I'm thinking a pass through, through the house wall for both hoses, and running a canister in the house ( coincidentally, a pass through, would go into the work area behind my main tank group )... I'm partial to hang on back filters, however I don't think they would be best in winter temperatures, also, if I can push the tank all the way, tight up against the vinyl siding. it'll leach a little warmth from the house, during the winter...

really my biggest concern, would be failure of the sealant, around the edges and bottom of the glass.

 

[Deleted member 155206]

thinking along this line, for next year, I plan on 2 heaters, in case one goes out, and keeping a spare here... any suggestions on a filter / tank circulation??? I'm thinking a pass through, through the house wall for both hoses, and running a canister in the house ( coincidentally, a pass through, would go into the work area behind my main tank group )... I'm partial to hang on back filters, however I don't think they would be best in winter temperatures, also, if I can push the tank all the way, tight up against the vinyl siding. it'll leach a little warmth from the house, during the winter...

really my biggest concern, would be failure of the sealant, around the edges and bottom of the glass.

Hi there depends on your time and diy skills if it was me I would make a custom sump or sumps for your other aquariums where I come from this would save u a fortune