[I was hoping to lurk for a while before joining, but I guess I'll just jump in...]
I live in south Orange County CA, and I'm planning to build a 500-800L outdoor tank adjacent to an exterior wall with a viewing window on the inside. Why outdoor? well, I'd prefer to keep the pumps and plumbing on the outside, and I also have the luxury of living in an area that never really gets too hot or too cold, so with a couple of energy-conservation measures I think the costs of maintaining a nice 72-76°F with such a set-up won't be too bad. I plan to circulate the tank water to a couple of growbeds on the outside for a year-round veggie patch.
As for fish selection, I would spend a couple of years with something expendable (like weather loaches and tilapia) until I get past any operational issues, and then I'd move on to something more fun. My dream would be paiche (arapaima) and pintado--or some other big South American species, but I now see that this tank won't be adequate for that. I'd be happy with a tank full of pacu as well.
Now, on to legitimate lurking.
Jeff
I live in south Orange County CA, and I'm planning to build a 500-800L outdoor tank adjacent to an exterior wall with a viewing window on the inside. Why outdoor? well, I'd prefer to keep the pumps and plumbing on the outside, and I also have the luxury of living in an area that never really gets too hot or too cold, so with a couple of energy-conservation measures I think the costs of maintaining a nice 72-76°F with such a set-up won't be too bad. I plan to circulate the tank water to a couple of growbeds on the outside for a year-round veggie patch.
As for fish selection, I would spend a couple of years with something expendable (like weather loaches and tilapia) until I get past any operational issues, and then I'd move on to something more fun. My dream would be paiche (arapaima) and pintado--or some other big South American species, but I now see that this tank won't be adequate for that. I'd be happy with a tank full of pacu as well.
Now, on to legitimate lurking.
Jeff
