Indoor Pond

[Chago09]

I was planning on buying one of those huge 300 gallon plastic tubs, used for ponds. Cant I use those for my cichlids in my basement?? Just put it on the floor and throw on some canister filters??

My only concern is, would this create a lot of moisture in my basement??? humidity like a pet shop??

 

[Toby_H]

I've had this set up inside the house for 5 years...

I either use a dehumidifier in the room (winter) or have an exhaust fan in a window (summer)...

I should also add that I'm still renting so this set up will not be in the same room for 10 years. It has spent 2 years in the same room twice… and I’ve been in this house for about a year… it’s caused no damage as of yet, I just have to watch the windows for mildew.

If I were to use a bedroom as a fish room for 10+ years I would want to paint the walls with something like killz mold resistant pain and remove carpeting... Using a large open top tank like this one would make that even more important.

I don't use any top for this tank, just keep the water level 6"+ below the rim. In 5 years I had 2 fish jump out. Both were Oscars when I was still experimenting trying to keep to many fish of the same species in the same tank... something I've since accepted just isn't the way to keep Cichlids (my opinion based on my experience, not what I'm telling anyone else to do).

 

[ZCciVic22]

It will create humidity eventually, and that means mold. You can fix this buy buying a dehumidifier, and just letting it run. Also, cichlids are jumpers, so You'll have to think about working around that... Alot of them eat insects in the wild, and jump to get them. You don't want to come home to a floor covered in fish... Let us know what you plan, as my fiance wants to do close to the same thing!

 

[duanes]

I bought one a few years ago for the same purpose, when I got it home, it(duh) wouldn't fit thru the staircase.
Its permanently outside, or until my wife leaves me and I can cut a hole in the house.

 

[Chago09]

I bought one a few years ago for the same purpose, when I got it home, it(duh) wouldn't fit thru the staircase.
Its permanently outside, or until my wife leaves me and I can cut a hole in the house.

good luck getting her to leave LOL I asked mine what she wanted for birthday. She said a divorce. I was like aaaahhhhhh I wasn't planning on spending that much.

 

[ZCciVic22]

LOL that's hilarious!

 

[NilePufferFanatic]

Hey nc_nutcase, what is that tubs dimensions?

 

[Toby_H]

It's a little under 6' round... 2' deep... 300 US gal...

Made by Rubbermaid purchased at Tractor Supply Company...

 

[ZCciVic22]

Well, as long as any pathway in your house is at least just over 6' high and 2' wide, you should be fine. Be sure you have enough room to manuver it around corners if you need to, like the bottom of stairs or anything

 

[cjohll]

i covered mine with styrofoam for awhile andit helped. I cut a hole for the light and covered it with plexiglass. It kept alot of the moisture in and was easier to heat bujt i couldnt see the fish.