Out door aquarium questions.

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aussieman57

aussieman57

Aimara
MFK Member
Nov 11, 2021
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So I've been toying with the idea of doing a bigger (180 gallon) tank outside on our lanai. I could fit it on my outdoor lanai which is shaded but it still gets pretty hot (90's) during the summer in SW FL. Occasionally the temp will dip in the 40's but i could use a heater to combat that if needed. Was thinking it would be a cool tank to do G. balzanii & others from that area that appreciate a cool down period. I was wondering what temps members like Duanes who live on tropical/subtropical islands (or other area with climates similar to mine) deal with these temps and how they set up their tanks to deal with the hot periods.
 
My 55G garage tank doesn't get past 86F when the air temperature in the garage is 102f. I don't do anything during the warm period except a cold water change (82F out of the garage faucet during these periods).

I'm betting the 180g will be better at keeping a lower temperature than my 55g

duanes duanes
 
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Rocksor said:
My 55G garage tank doesn't get past 86F when the air temperature in the garage is 102f. I don't do anything during the warm period except a cold water change (82F out of the garage faucet during these periods).

I'm betting the 180g will be better at keeping a lower temperature than my 55g

duanes duanes
Click to expand...
Interesting. Was hoping not to have to bother with a chiller.
 
Many of the Gymnogeophagus can take low and high temps, not quite convinced the balzani could handle 40s, but the more southern (Uruguayan, Argentinian) species can.
There are also Australoheros, and even some Crenicicha from that neck of the woods, I kept them outdoors in WI spring thru fall..
Above Australoheros sp "Red Ceibal" spawning in an out door tank.
Below Gymnogeophagus quilero, in a pond.
Below a Crenicichla saxitillus variant from Uruguay, that came from Ken Davis
 
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I could always add a heater in the winter months for the balzanii.
Those Red Ceibals are nice. Can they handle warmer temps during the summer months?
 
aussieman57 said:
I could always add a heater in the winter months for the balzanii.
Those Red Ceibals are nice. Can they handle warmer temps during the summer months?
Click to expand...
By noon in July, Aug, and early Sept my outdoor tank, and shallow end of the pond would easily hit @ 90'F.
The Ceibals would spawn then, you can see one in spawning dress in the upper right of the pic.
And below leading fry, as they dig depressions in the mud.
.
By fall, when it was time to net them out, they be everywhere.
I also had similar experience with Uruguayan Cichlasoma dimerus "Bella Union"
 
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I have a patio tank that drops to mid 40s in water temperature, and most likely will go up a lot higher in the summer months. It’s 55g, and houses gymogeophagus terrapurpurra. Gymno Balzanii would probably be able to live in our temperature range… C. Breeze C. Breeze
 
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The Masked Shadow said:
I have a patio tank that drops to mid 40s in water temperature, and most likely will go up a lot higher in the summer months. It’s 55g, and houses gymogeophagus terrapurpurra. Gymno Balzanii would probably be able to live in our temperature range… C. Breeze C. Breeze
Click to expand...
I have wanted to get some balzanii for a while now but wanted to ensure they had the proper conditions to do their best. Worst case scenario I could always put a heater in to keep the temp from going lower than low to mid 60's. Also toying with the idea of an outdoor pond.
 
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I 2 outdoor patio ponds. 42g each, both half-cut wine barrels with pond liner. One has rosy barbs and one is just collecting rainwater. I need to trim the edges, but holds water just fine. Among others, kendragon kendragon is a pond master

image.jpg
 
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