I'm being harassed to introduce myself

[WayneSB]

So here goes.

I was referred here by someone at aquarium advice, so I thought I'd check the place out. As if I need yet another aquarium forum to visit.

Anyways, I'm a month shy of being a quarter-century old. I'm married. I have 5 cats, three ferrets, and two fish tanks (currently in a state of minimal stocking). We're going to be moving in the next couple of months, so my fishkeeping has been reduced, and any fish I could part with have been found a new home since I'm not very good at moving fish.

Anyways, I had an idea that I'd like to ask thoughts on, because this seems like the right place. Outdoor ponds stocked with Goldfish are illegal in Maine, but I know how Goldies can grow, so a typical tank just wouldn't be enough for them. Has anybody ever taken a old chest freezer, cleaned it out, cut out the front, put new glass or plexi-glass in the front, and then used it as a tank? It seems to me like it would be a really good choice for a tank. I'm just rather curious if anyone has ever tried something like this. For that matter, I'm rather curious if anyone thinks it would work. I don't really see why not, but my fishkeeping is limited to 29 gallon tanks, both fresh and saltwater.

Also, I'm poor, and it's not that hard to come by an old chest freezer.

 

[frasertheking]

i think that might work but if you could salvage wood or old bricks /blocks and pond liner or roofing rubber(cheaper) you could do the same think and might be easier .

i would still seal the inside of the freezer just in case

 

[BigPleco]

That does sound like a very good idea! Give it a try! Welcome to MFK by the way!

 

[WayneSB]

i think that might work but if you could salvage wood or old bricks /blocks and pond liner or roofing rubber(cheaper) you could do the same think and might be easier .

i would still seal the inside of the freezer just in case

Well, I currently work for an appliance store, so old freezers come through for disposal all the time, so that won't be much of a cost issue. Just cutting the front and putting some kind of window on it.

I would actually prop the freezer up with cinder blocks as supports (since those are easy to come by around here). Excuse the n00bish question, but what is a pond liner? Is it basically a tarp or something?

And of course, I'd be sealing the freezer, because they do have that defrost drain built in. I might leave that drain as is and see how it works, because it might make for some easy water changes.

This project is still a ways off, but I was just curious, because a chest freezer doesn't have any kind of air vents in it. The walls of the freezer are designed to get cold, which cools the interior. No vents means no water leakage.

I'm only mildly concerned about structural integrity, because although they are designed to hold lots of frozen food, water would be heavier since it fills in every single empty area.

 

[frasertheking]

pond liner is just any peace of material that you can put down to hold water

 

[rallysman]

you should intro yourself in the proper section

Looks good to me. He's introducing himself and asking a question about setup and filtration in the proper section. It's a bit more than saying "hi".


As far as the freezer goes, I've seen fish go in one before, but not with a window. I would be concerned that the structural integrity would be compromised when you cut a huge hole in it.

 

[Wolf3101]

It's an introducton/Question so this is still the correct place...IMO

 

[Dr Joe]

First...Welcome

I've used the freezers and refrigerators (on they're back) with good luck.

Overlap the glass 3" all the way around and frame it from both sides to hold the glass up and keep the metal from tearing and seal with GE I silicone door & window (NO bioseal).

Liner is like a the liner for an above ground swimming pool except 45mils thick and EPDM material.

Dr Joe

.

 

[CHOMPERS]

...I would be concerned that the structural integrity would be compromised when you cut a huge hole in it.

the glass and metal have a very different modulus of elasticity (elastic bending). The sheet metal that the freezer is made of is not enough to support the glass on its own. The glass would have to be sufficiently thick to bear all the stress on its own. The glass will become cost prohibitive.

The freezer, if left alone, will support the weight of the water (without the glass). You will just have to use it as an indoor pond (viewing from above). Keep the plastic liner and insulation in it and just seal it where needed. The insulation, liner, and cooling lines will all add to the support of the water. Btw, test fill it outside first

 

[hayden]

most chest freezers have a plastic shell on the inside, so im not sure where you guys are getting sheet metal from, i would brace the plastic liner out side the window so it wont bow where the hole is. other wise go for it.