Question on moving my RTC outside

[KCLAMBERT]

Hello everyone. I having been reading threads here for quite sometime but have never posted. I need some valuable input and advice. I have a RTC (SA) in a 125 gallon tank (he is about 24" long). I wanted to build an indoor pond for him (about 4ftX8ftX3ft), however I am worried about evaporation and humidty issues as it would be in a finished basement. We have a dehumidifier, but I dont want that to run 24-7 (that would be a hell of an electric bill:WHOA:). I had thought about the possibilty of building this pond outside. Only problem is that I live in Harpers Ferry WV, where the average winter temp is 38 degrees, with a freeze line of about 18 inches. Now an RTC is obviously a tropical fish, so would he be able to survive the winter is I can keep the pond from freezing over (at least completely). I have always heard that tropicals cannot survive in winter, but think he may be able to adapt. Im sure that no one thought snakeheads could survive Maryland winters (same temps as WV) and they seem do be doing okay (unfortunately for local fish populations).

I really need some good advice and input, does anyone have any suggestions? I dont want to get rid of him, but I dont want to keep him pinned up in a tank where he is already having issues turning around.:(

Please help??!!

[flyin lizard]

Build the indoor pond, make a well fitting cover for it and keep the air in the basement moving. If you build outside you will need to heat the pond during cooler months.

[KCLAMBERT]

From your avitar, it looks like you have an indoor pond. Do you have a cover for yours. I thought about a cover as well, but I do want to be able to see into the pond without obstruction. I guess I could use framed plexiglass or something (maybe in panels-1 or 2 with hinges for access). As for heating the pond (if outside) during winter, would you think I just need to keep the water from freezing or keep it from dropping below say 50-60 degrees? Also, would a heater and good insulation work okay outside and maybe even a green-house type cover.

[justonemoretank]

I think the cost of heating the pond would rival or possibly even exceed the cost of running a dehumidifier. Also, you may not have thought about the summer... sure, they like warm water, but I'm in VA, and it gets 95 or 100 here on the hottest days... you'd have to run a lot of aeration in order to keep water that hot oxygenated, and he'd still be uncomfortable. As for a cover, a frame of 3/4 inch PVC with bird netting (the stuff Home Depot sells for covering plants to keep the birds away) works really well for us on our indoor pond. We attached it with zipties. The holes are large enough to see through easily, and it's a dark color.

[tscharf]

I think the cover was intedended to help control evaporation in the finish basement. Im not quite sure how bird netting would help with that. Feel free to correct me if im a wrong im not trying to shoot you down, just saying.

An indoor pond would probally be your best bet. You could even just go with a kitty pool from wal mart and buil 2 plexiglass lids to fit it. Build a frame for the glass and make sure the wood touches the ground. put wheels on the wood and you hav an easy to slide off cover which is transparent as well as mobile. The pool wont cost ya much either and itd be easy to find a filter for it.

[justonemoretank]

Oh okay.... I apologize then, I thought you were trying to ensure he didn't jump out. In that case, nix that idea!

[basslover34]

RTC's arn't exactly famous for going for a walk :D

Personally I'd go with the Indoor Pond with a nice Plexi lid when you want to look at the fish you could always just open the lid and look...when your done you close it up and leave him his privacy :grinno:

[tscharf]

my thoughts exactly, that should control the humidity fairly well, if it staqrts getting to humid, during the warmer months take a window fan and use that instead of a humidifier. like they said before, just keep the air moving

[KCLAMBERT]

Actually, I was thinking of both, a cover indoors and out. The cover indoors would be to help with evaporation. The cover outdoors would probably only be used in winter to help keep heat in the pond (like a green house). Although having a bird netting cover in spring summer and fall would be good to keep leaves and other debris out. I dont think the temp in the summer would be an issue. Water temps in the Amazon are generally warm and yes there would be plenty of water movement and aeration (I would be running a pressurized filter with a waterfall feature, if I chose to do it outside).

Still, if I choose to do it inside, a cover could likely solve the evaporation issue, and running the ceiling fan that will be above it may help as well.

JUSTONEMORETANK- you have an indoor pond, right? Do you have any issues with evaporation?

[justonemoretank]

We do lose quite a bit of water. Our dehumidifier removes about sixty liters of water per day from the air, all of which is coming from the pond! So top-offs happen about every few days, although right now, we're having problems with water quality, so there's no need for top-offs when you're doing 50% water changes! If we had a bigger dehumidifier, I believe it would pull even more water out of the air. There's really quite a bit of evaporation -- more than I expected.

[indiana.dutton]

just thaught that i should add that in 40-50 degree water for anything longer than a day your RTC will die, just wanted to make that clear

[KCLAMBERT]

Do you have a cover on it?

[indiana.dutton]

Hello everyone. I having been reading threads here for quite sometime but have never posted. I need some valuable input and advice. I have a RTC (SA) in a 125 gallon tank (he is about 24" long). I wanted to build an indoor pond for him (about 4ftX8ftX3ft), however I am worried about evaporation and humidty issues as it would be in a finished basement. We have a dehumidifier, but I dont want that to run 24-7 (that would be a hell of an electric bill:WHOA:). I had thought about the possibilty of building this pond outside. Only problem is that I live in Harpers Ferry WV, where the average winter temp is 38 degrees, with a freeze line of about 18 inches. Now an RTC is obviously a tropical fish, so would he be able to survive the winter is I can keep the pond from freezing over (at least completely). I have always heard that tropicals cannot survive in winter, but think he may be able to adapt. Im sure that no one thought snakeheads could survive Maryland winters (same temps as WV) and they seem do be doing okay (unfortunately for local fish populations).

I really need some good advice and input, does anyone have any suggestions? I dont want to get rid of him, but I dont want to keep him pinned up in a tank where he is already having issues turning around.:(

Please help??!!
snakeheads are different the northern snakehead Channa argus is the one we are having problems with in the US it is NOT TROPICAL! Pic shows distribution manchuria is cold like alberta cold!

[KCLAMBERT]

That was my other concern...would the RTC survive. As I said before, I'm sure no one believed a snakehead would last in our local waters (Maryland) and they now have evidence that they are breeding. Snakeheads are from Southeast Asia and are tropical, right? At the same time, I dont want him to kick the bucket because of me. I read a thread recently (but dont remember where) of a guy in Seattle who had an outside DYI tank (Several thousand gallons I think), but Seattle's avg temp in winter is about 40 degrees or so (a little higher than ours). I dont think he had a heater and he had an RTC in it, as well as Pacu and others.

[tscharf]

go with the inside pond. i think itll be easier for you and im fairly positive the water temp in winter will kill your RTC, What if by some chance you have an overnight powerfailure? And the northern snakehead is not tropical and that is the one we have trouble with

[KCLAMBERT]

Thanks for the map and info Indiana. That explains it I guess. Is a common name for Channa argus, Red Snakehead? Just wondering , cause they have been found here too.

[indiana.dutton]

The snakehead in the potomic is Channa argus trust me on this one!

[KCLAMBERT]

I think I will take everyones advise and go with an indoor pond. I dont want to risk losing my buddy (his name is Ebinezar by the way). It will be better anyway, because I will be able to see and interact with him much more indoors.

Thanks for all the input, I do appreciate it. Hopefully, I'll take lots of pictures of the build and post them in the DYI section.

[flyin lizard]

Hey KC ,take a look at the pond section of this site ,the ideas are almost endless.
As for a cover I have not built one yet but so far mold is not an issue.I do keep a fan on tho..