Want to get a RTC .. your personal experience

[Fai]

@aldie, that's a good point. I did not take the winter temp into account; maybe cause the current setup keeps the koi happy. Will reasearch on it. So I have read on several other forums, about buy the bigger tank first .. question what is a big tank? I do not completely agree with buy the mansion when its not required. Understand 300G will be outgrown in 2 years; so why not enjoy for 2 years while plan the next step. An analogy I want to apply here is ... a young couple should not buy a sedan and go directly for MiniVan; though they may not need the MiniVan for 4 years down the line. So why not enjoy a sedan while working up resources for the next 4 years to upgrade to miniVan when its the right time.

When we got the 55G and decided on the Aro, it was decided that within 12 months, we would upgrade; and we did 10 months into the tank; the upgrade was 300G. So its not a situation we got trapped into. Anyways, I do not want to sound defending my decision or justifying myself when the arrangements are in place.

 

[muffywrx]

I think you're fine. Same reason I'm not building my indoor pond now.

Since you're in CA, you'll have an easier time in the winter than me in NE, thus why my pond will be indoor.

 

[aldiaz33]

In regards to heating the pond in the winter, it can be done, but plan to spend at least a couple hundred dollars a month to pay for the massive amounts of electricity that this will take. I have heard good things about Elecro pond heaters- I believe they make them up to 8,000 (8Kw). If you are able to set up a natural gas heat exchange system, it would be a lot cheaper (something I am considering for my tank).

I hear you in regards to keeping smaller fish in smaller tanks...I don't think there is anything wrong with growing a fish out in a smaller tank to be housed in a larger tank in the future. But considering your 19" arowana is in a 55 gallon (that is only 13" wide), it looks like the upgrade to a large tank is coming a bit late. To use your analogy, the couple had twins and were still driving a Mazda Miata (55 gallon tank with 19" aro) when they probably should have upgraded to a minivan (300G) before the babies actually entered the world.

Knowing that the RTC will eventually need a bare minimum of 750 gallons, are you prepared to heat that amount of water? Even if it's in your home, it can still take 2,000 or 3,000 watts to heat which would cost several hundred dollars a month (with California electric costs being what they are....crazy expensive). The only reason I bring this up, is because I am struggling with this issue myself... as I want to keep tropical fish in the 770G tank that I am setting up, but I don't want to spend that much on electricity to heat it.

I promise you, I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer...I just don't think that people think long term about these fish when they see these adorable little guys as 2 inchers at the fish store. They are a huge committment. But if you have the resources and are aware of what you are getting into, go for it!