Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 (edited) Ok so I was gifted a 4ftx15x18 and clearly can't just let it sit in the garage doing nothing, and I've run out of room inside the house so I've built it outside on the patio. At the moment it's just got some white quartzy type substrate in it and an old aqua clear HOB filter and a small air stone cyclin the water. I don't have any spare heaters so I was thinking of just leaving it as an unheated tank. However I live at the top of Rosewood and it gets pretty damn cold here in winter! So my question to all those wiser than I, what plants and fish will survive these sorts of temperatures? I want to keep it as low tech as possible and with just a filter and air stone. It gets fairly good natural light all day round so I don't want to put a light in there nor do I want to add co2 to this tank. I'd say the worst the temps get here are around 5 deg max in the worst part of winter. So any suggestions for plants and fish that could survive these conditions would be great!! Luke Edited April 21, 2014 by Sparky19862 Photo added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Well for starters......... I'd put a bunch of elodea in there. Everyone gives me stick about liking elodea, but I find it a good start to a new tank. After that there plenty of choices. if you want some colour though, some rosey barbs could do the job nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Ain't nothing wrong with elodea Donny, I'll rip some out of my tropical tank now and throw some in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daharkazangel Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Rainbows??@rainbowrunner White clouds, rosy bards, goldfish Plenty of options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Rainbows??@rainbowrunner White clouds, rosy bards, goldfish Plenty of options Daharazabgel, I want to avoid goldfish if i can! Got a few at the inlaws farm in a water trough if i ever want any though! I will admit ive never seen any white clouds at any LFS ive been to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJ Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Local natives or if your into ferals - platties, swords, goodieds, flag killies, bronze/pepper/albino cories. Only hassle is it's getting a little late in the season and anything that's a bit touchy not outdoors already might have a challenge adjusting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Local natives or if your into ferals - platties, swords, goodieds, flag killies, bronze/pepper/albino cories. Only hassle is it's getting a little late in the season and anything that's a bit touchy not outdoors already might have a challenge adjusting. Thats what I was worried about, and it would kill me to sit out here every arvo enjoying my beer looking at an empty tank!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Florida flag fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Florida flag fish? I'm assuming AOA can help me out with all these types?? I'll gladly make the drive to browns plains this weekend if so?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 We dont currently sell live fish mate. AOA is a bit of a pilgrimage mission for you! I know tutters was selling one back in 2009............. http://www.qldaf.com/forums/australia-wide-live-stock-shipping-avaliable-14/eoi-american-flag-fish-19325/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 All above suggestions are great, if you have the chance, jump into one your local creeks and see what you can find, there should be various shrimps, gudgeons and possibly rainbows that would suit your tank wonderfully. Otherwise various livebearers and white clouds would also suit. Plant wise, most should be able to survive throughout the winter, I only had troubles with the more sensitive stem plants such as various rotala species, everything else was just 'dormant' throughout the colder months and then once the warmer months kicked in, the plants thrived. Here's my old setup that I had running on nothing but an internal filter for a few years, the rainbows that I had would also become 'dormant' during the colder months & rarely eat; they also became quite skittish during the winter months so definitely keep the lids on. Initial experimental setup Outdoor Experimental Rainbow & Sailfin Molly Tank Final layout before it was decommissioned http://www.qldaf.com/forums/photography-video-lounge-23/rippling-creek-bed-3ft-outdoor-planted-tank-83774/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Initial experimental setup Outdoor Experimental Rainbow & Sailfin Molly Tank Final layout before it was decommissioned http://www.qldaf.com/forums/photography-video-lounge-23/rippling-creek-bed-3ft-outdoor-planted-tank-83774/ John, am I seeing rightly in your journals on this tank that you had bristle nose in there unheated?? No losses?? I had also been thinking shrimp too but I don't know how tough they are when it comes to climate. I have some RCS I bought around oxley, so far so good with the guppies. The whole concept of NOT heating a tank is what's really throwing me off!! I've always heated tanks, I've always kept then indoors.... It's time to step out of my comfort zone which I'm fine with doing , just a little apprehensive about stocking a tank to find the frozen solid in the morning because they can't take the temps!! I'd live to get down to the local rivers and see what's there but I've very limited time and my abilities when it comes to fish is not the best... Thanks for the advice and don't be surprised if I PM you to pick your brains some more on your old setup !! Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJ Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 If you felt like planning ahead ANGFA Qld is scheduled for an Ipswich area field trip in August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 ^perfect Anyhow yeah the bristlenoses were only temporary inhabitants, I had to bring those in during the colder months. The only permanent inhabitants were the rainbows, riffle shrimps and livebearers. If you're able to catch anything locally, that would be a bonus as they would have adapted and be able to handle the local temps. Not sure how the RCS will fare but glass shrimps and macrobrachiums are EZ PZY to catch using a net or bait trap in your creeks. Otherwise, hunt down some riffle shrimps (some shops stock them) which are well adapted to living in both icy cold & also warm waters. Plant wise, you should be alright, in fact from what I have read and experienced with some mosses and ferns, they prefer cooler temps. and as a result look more lush + grow faster. I over-wintered my rainbows but the lowest temp. would have been around 10C so not sure how they would fare for you in Rosewood, I guess just a matter of trial and error like what I did & see what works. & yeah not a problem mate, feel free to PM, glad to help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Cherrys would be fine surely? I have had them outside in small water features during dam cold winters, and at least some make it through. infact I have a theory thats how you produce the real monsters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netty_3164 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 That's what I've heard and seen too, occasionally people will shut down or give the pond a spring clean only to then suprisingly pull out some XL, blood red cherries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 (edited) I have yet to break the 5cm mark, but I have come dam close! An example of an overwintered outside IBC prawn. Edited April 21, 2014 by Donny@ageofaquariums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaholic99 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 The main trick with outdoor tanks is at the start and end of the cold season where you have hot sunny days and clear cold nights. On glass tanks or shallow ponds this can cause huge temperature fluctuations within a 24 hour period causing stress and stress related diseases like white spot even with true cold water species. I would overcome this with a heater until it became steadily cold or position tanks to shield and insulate to reduce daytime temp increases. Once the cold is constant, the fish will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky19862 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Ahh so much info, I thought it was going to be far simpler to have a colder tank!! Saving grace at the moment is ive still got to wait for the tank to cycle anyhow!! Wont be throwing anything into it for a few weeks so thatll give me time to look around and find some suitable inhabitants!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
