Rubbermaid stock tanks....worth it to use as growouts?

[emartin]

I'm seriously considering over time buying a couple Rubbermaid stock tanks to be growout tanks for fry so that way I don't have to devote glass tanks to fry.

Just wanting to hear from those of you that have them or like or don't the idea.

I figured I could just put sponge filters in them and use plexiglass or eggcrate or something as lids.

What do you guys think? Should I go for it?

~Ed

[Heyguy74]

You could use them. The only concern I would have is the evaporation. I would suggest making some tight fitting covers. How big were you looking to go?

[emartin]

Not sure, probably the 100g ones. I may even consider hooking them all up into a central system if I do this. I'd still have to have at least 1 glass fry tank unless I have a separate one for small fry which I don't know if I would do.

For evaporation, would that really be an issue? If I do buy them it would only be like 1-4 at the most depending on how the fish breed in an insulated-garage-door garage with other fish tanks. I figured if I keep up with water changes that it shouldn't matter. If you think it is a definite issue I could buy plexiglass and just drill holes in a few spots to allow gas exchange...

[karlopa]

E,
I would recommend it. All I can say is that it's very affordable and great for the fry. They sure do grow faster because of the tub and water changes and feed. I have stocked over 80+ fry in these 100g tugs without a problem just make sure there is enough oxygen for them otherwise they will die :becky:. I also use the tubs for holding tanks which is great because so far I haven't had a problem with aggression. Evaporation will be an issue but you know what? You can use Plexiglas from home depot or Lowes. Here is one of my empty tubs that I used for fry to grow out and now currently empty.

http://forums.eastcoastcichlids.org/picture.php?albumid=43&pictureid=325

[Heyguy74]

I was worried about the constant humidity in the room. If the garage is well insulated, you'll have high humidity in the room. Especially, with 3 or 4 of those things going uncovered. Mold and mildew will eventually grow someplace in the room. Keeping them covered well should help keep the room from feeling like you’re in the Amazon jungle. You could always keep the garage door cracked open. But you would lose any heat in the room. Some cheap Plexiglas should do the trick, as mentioned above

[emartin]

Well if i have to I could just leave the inner door that goes into the house open and let the humidity go into the house.

I don't think it will be an issue though. I have a 265g, 10, 29g, 120g, (and at one point had two 20g, a extra 10g, a 60g and a 2.5g also) in the dining room (former fish room, now theres only the two big tanks and a 29g in there) and never had humidity problems in that room or in the house.

Of course though I never had ALL of these tanks plus the "future" rubbermaid tanks set up all at once before so I don't know for sure... I'll think of something LOL. Like you said I could always crack open a garage door.

Currently these are the tanks that will be eventually all running in the garage:
60g
20g
20g
15g
10g
40g
75g
75g
125g
Total: 440g

Aren't there paints that are mildew resistant also?

~Ed

[Flareside]

I think those tubs are a great idea- if you have a Tractor Supply Co. nearby- there are a lot of sizes/choices of tubs because farmers use them for feed and water for their livestock- also they have plumbing and PVC connections etc...Between TSC and Home Depot/Lowes you could probably pull this off rather efficiently.

They have paint that is mildew resistent, but mold potential in a home is something to be very concerned about. Once the stuff starts, it can cause major health problems as you know and can cause your property value to drop significantly.

You dont however want to suppress tank evaporation too much with a tightly fitting cover because you dont allow the harmful gasses to escape your tank water and that will negatively affect your water parameters

Probably stuff you guys already know though

[emartin]

I don't have any TSCs nearby but I do have a couple Agways (basically same thing) that are within driving distance that carry them at fair prices.

With the plexiglass I figured I would make a couple 1" holes to allow proper gas exchange if I go ahead and use them as covers.

I'll keep an eye out for mold and mildew. I guess one thing I could do is if it starts to become a problem is buy a small dehumidifier to reduce it to a tolerable and safe constant level.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not going to do this though anytime soon though... The new fish will have to breed first!

~Ed

[Big ED]

I have one I use outside in the summer and works great.
Here is link I got mine at Ace Hardware. They do not stock but can order for delivery to the store and you will save on shippping as that is what kills you wth this stuff.


http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/farm-supply-livestock-equipment-c-70_778_77801.html

[Greenhacker]

I used their camouflaged 10 gallon ones that have handles that act as lid locks to move my fish from Iowa to Philly and they worked great! I hadn't thought of using them as grow-outs, but I may now!

[pogi2009]

Just curious, how did u "insulate" your garage? I planned to set up a 220 g in the garage and just worried how cold it will be during Winter. I even considered putting some type of insulation on the 3 side of the tank.

[emartin]

The two house sides of the walls on the garage are insulated and I think the other wall facing the outside is too. And the garage doors are only a few years old and are insulated so in the winter when it is below freezing outside the garage sits at mid to upper 50s fahrenheit and in the summer the garage is only like 80-82F.

[bovsbaitboxes]

Ed if you are still interested Water World in farmingdale has big tubs (100 250 ect) go check them out they are right off of I95 I can also get a discount there because I use them for all my pond installations I due for my company lmk John

[emartin]

Agway in New Egypt sells the same rubbermaid tubs for MUCH MUCH cheaper than water world John.

Doesn't change that water world is still a great business, great koi selection and probably the only Aqua Ultraviolet distributor/retailer in New Jersey. I just personally wouldn't buy rubbermaid stock tanks from them even if you got me a discount because it would still likely be overpriced..

Thanks for the offer though John!