summer tubbin'

[Led]

Well, bought a 300G rubbermaid

tub to throw outside this summer to growout some fish. I am in the process of putting 50 Cyn.

"Jalo Reef" afra of various sizes into it. I have a big 4+" male on down to some

1.25" tail length fish. One of my friends had some Orangeback afra that just wouldn't

color up. He was about ready to sell them. He decided to throw them in his pond and BANG they

colored up and have a nice orange blaze to them. Hopefully, the sun will help some of the other

fish I plan on putting out there. I think I will add some Protomelas steveni "Taiwan

Reef" next. Not sure if anything else will go in or not. Two species is probably enough with

the number of Jalo Reef I have in there. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[bobrfish]

Great idea Led. Rich S. in

MN used to grow fish out in similar set up. Yellows developed beautifully.

Good Luck.

Get a bird net and something to keep wild land critters out too.

[Patrick Kelly]

What area of the country

are you doing this?
I am always afraid of temp fluctuations here in MD. I have been talking

about it for a couple of years and keep putting it off.

[Led]

I am in Sioux City, IA. I did

it two years ago, but with a 55G barrel. I didn't even filter or aerate it. Just changed

water and let it ride! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I turned them out too early that year and

lost a few to frost. This year I think is late enough. Should work great. I will keep posting

about it.
And, I am not too worried about animals. It is fairly deep and there are lots of

lace rock in it! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Plus, I have my Samoyed in

the backyard with it. She is old and cranky and won't let other animals back there if she

notices them! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Led]

Well, the 300G growout is working

great. I have a Magnum 350 hooked on it and run it each night for a while. The fish like the

water movement and it aerates the water well. The fish are enjoying it. Very active when I watch

them. I haven't seen them spawning yet. But, I haven't had a bunch of time to watch them

either. Maybe this weekend. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[bobrfish]

Keep the reports coming Led.

May want to give this a try some day.

[Led]

I also put 50 pounds of lace rock,

a few flower pots, and one medium sized chunk of Texas holey rock into the growout to give the LOTS

to territory. I love lace rock!!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I am sure this will work great this summer.

I was impressed with what I ended up with out of the 55G drum.

[Patrick Kelly]

Do you have this down

in the ground or just sitting on it?

[Led]

I just have it sitting on top

of the ground. I didn't want to put it in the ground. I want to move someday and don't

want to put a bunch of work into a pond. I would want to take it with me and wouldn't be able

to.
I threw 5 decent sized Protomelas steveni "Taiwan Reef" in with the Jalo Reef

today. They should work out fine. I will check on them tomorrow. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Led]

I have a lot of green water going

on. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif I thought I had the sunlight limited

enough...but, I guess not. The fish don't seem to mind. I haven't been doing as many

water changes as I would have liked though. Only two water changes of about 30% roughly each time.

I figured the spot I put it would only allow partial sunlight for a little part of the day and

direct for only about 2 hours I am guessing. Too much partial sunlight....guess it works

too!! Anyway, the fish seem to be doing well. They like the water quality otherwise. I

run the Magnum 350 for an hour or three each day. I started prefiltering with a big hydro sponge.

Hopefully that will help a bit. I squeeze that out once or twice a day. Green water oozes out of

it for a while. That might help in a few days. We will see. Fun so far. I know already that the

fish will blow my mind come end of summer!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif They are very active in there!

[bobrfish]

To my knowledge, green water

does not harm fish. See if you can find some daphnia. Daphnia will clean up green water in no

time.

Unless the fish eat the daphnia first http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[paracyprichromis]

Actually if you monitor

the pH, you will find that the algae changes the pH depending on the time of day and amount of

light. The greener the water the higher the pH. My green water is above 8.8 on the high pH test

solution I use. Which is a good think for old world cichlids.

Para.

[Rinko]

So how's it going now,

Led? http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif Any further developments in the colors or

growth of your fish?

[Led]

Well, I siphoned about 25% of the

water out last night. Filled some back up....filling the rest right now. We have such hard water

here.....the pH is over 9 easily so if pH plays a roll no wonder I have serious greenwater. Wow,

it is green. Kind of hard to see the fish this morning due to it. No floating bodies so I know

they are there. I do see them but I have to get directly over them and look down. Maybe after I

finish with the water refill it will dilute it a bit and I will be able to see the fish easier.

They seem to be doing fine though. I saw some of the Protomelas "Taiwan Reef" that I

threw in there...so they haven't been killed by the big male Jalo Reef. I think I will try to

net a few fish out this weekend and try to get some pics. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Led]

Well, I have had some serious

greenwater going in the growout. Was getting burnt out on it. I got tired of it this weekend and

did a 50% water change each day. I can actually see the fish again!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif They are doing well, a few smaller ones may

have become lunch. But, the fish have grown a lot and have some nice color going. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Glad I did the big water changes. I know

by the end of summer I will have some great looking fish. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Acei]

Best of luck with the 'Hot

Tubs.' I have a couple of 'tub fountains' on the deck around my swimming pool. I plan

on trying something similar next spring.

[Led]

Well, so far since the big water

changes the greenwater hasn't come back....knock on wood. It looks good. Except I have a

bunch of junk on the ponds floor. Not sure if I should vacuum that out or if it would remove some

of the bacteria that is helping keep the water clear. What does everyone think????

[bobrfish]

bacteria that are

helping convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate must live on a surface recieving a great

deal of oxygen. That surface maybe the suspension in water column and any biomaterial such as

sponge, bioballs, biowheels, etc. If there is not water saturated with oxygen passing the bottom

of pond then the stuff is gunk and the gunk is doing nothing to convert nitrogen waste to nitrate.

Even if water saturated with oxygen is passing over the gunk, only the top layer is actually

helping convert nitrogen.

[Led]

It is a loamy floating bunch

of mud looking stuff. Stuff like found in a pond of course!!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif The pond looks so nice I didn't want to

mess with this balance. But, I will siphon the gunk out then! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[sheriberry]

Hi! Your project sounds

cool & like alot of fun! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif I've been considering doing the same

thing with a 1200gal 32inch tall above ground swimming pool, or something smaller... Where did you

find a 300gal rubbermaid container? I haven't seen any that big anywhere. Is it holding up

well to the pressure of the weight in it? Also, what will you do with your fish when it starts

getting too cold? I guess bring them inside,hu? I had 4 goldfish in a 20gal bucket outside and it

got too hot, even in the shade, 2 died and I brought the other two inside. Do you have to do

anything to keep your cichlids from getting too hot? I thought this might be a potential problem

for me here in Mississippi. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif

[Led]

I got the Rubbermaid at TSC

(Tractor Supply Center). I am sure you can get them at any place they have supplies for Horses.


They are doing fine. I am getting some green water back again. But, it is due for a big

water change tomorrow. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
And, I will be taking

the fish to auction come fall. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif It have been fairly fun so far. I took the

Magnum 350 off and put a giant pond sponge in it. Seems to be doing okay. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif I will update later after my big water

change tomorrow! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[sheriberry]

Wow, a fish auction? That

sounds like fun,too! Where will that be? I'll keep watching your progress with your tubbing

project! I want to try it next summer! Yeah, I've seen those big plastic type horse

watering troughs and thought they'd be perfect for fish...Thanks!

[bobrfish]

Per rumor, in Iowa or

Missouri somewhere, Rubbermaid sells seconds for less than $100. Anyone know specifics about

this Rubbermaid plant, where it is located, etc.

[Led]

Well, I haven't heard about

that Bob. I wish I knew. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif That would be a nice place to visit.

Might have to surf the net a bit. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

And, as far as a fish auction.

Not sure of the date. But, you can check out http://midwestcichlid.com/ and visit the forum. They will be releasing a date

sometime in the near future I think.

[riftlaker]

There is a Rubbermaid plant

in Centerville, Iowa but I do not kinow whether they make these tubs.

[Led]

I checked out Rubbermaid's

website, it doesn't look like it to me. But, I could be wrong. Did some water changes this

weekend. The fish are looking pretty good. I got a few free pond plants this weekend from a

friend. Threw them in the pond. It is weird....all the walls of the tub are green. If I take a

bucket of water out it is crystal clear. I need to get a few plecos. I think they would solve the

greenish look for me. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[bobrfish]

Here is a typical post.

Someone told me it was a Rubbermaid plant in Iowa or Missouri. Guess not.

This grow

out tank is made from a plastic horse water tank that holds 350 gallons. We purchased these tanks

for only $70.00 each. Call the factory and ask for seconds. These tanks have defects that will

not make them leak.

My system will consist of eight four foot square by 30" tall

plastic fork lift boxes. These boxes are molded out of food grade plastic and they have double

walls with a 3" air space between them. We purchased these tanks for only $50.00 each

because they are seconds. These tanks are used to move produce into storage. I saw some like them

last month on the coast that were used for moving fish at the dock.

[Led]

My aunt & uncle live down by

Centerville, IA. I don't talk to her a lot, but next time I will ask her if she knows for sure

about Rubbermaid down there. I do know there are a lot of mountain lions down there!!

They have bagged 2 on farms next to their farm and one on their farm!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Wish I was closer I would love to stuff

one!!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[malawione]

Hi LED,whats up,how are

the outdoor fish doing!I bet they are going to be some nicely colored fish by the time you pull

them out of there!I have a 55 gallon plastic barrel that was used for cooking oil,I cleaned it

out and I am going to throw it out back and put some fry in it.I will heat it and throw a huge

sponge filter in it with some lace rock for cover,kinda like what you did only much smaller.I just

don't have enough tanks around here.When it gets colder out I will just move it inside.I

recently got some Multis. from Bobr,he got some Demasoni,I am growing some smaller ones for you as

I type,well they didn't grow much when I typed this but you know what I mean!? LATER M1

http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[Led]

Yep, I think the fish outside

look good. I can't believe how many dom Jalo Reef males I have in the pond. http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif M1 I was going to email you sometime to try

to pick up some demasoni. Maybe next month when I hit DM! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Patrick Kelly]

How is the

"tubbin" doing? It's been a month. Are the temps getting too low in your area?

[Led]

Well, I had to take the fish out.

Or, I decided to after I found a few dead fish one morning. I just did a large water change and I

don't think the sun had enough time to warm the water before night fell. If it had I

wouldn't have lost any fish. But, it got me paranoid so I pulled the fish. I probably could

have extended it a while had I the time to put a tarp over the Rubbermaid container each night.
The fish ended up looking fantastic. I had a male Protomelas Taiwan Reef that had more yellow in

it than any other fish I have ever seen. All a result of sunlight I am sure. His father

didn't even look that good. The female Jalo Reef looked as good as the subdom males. All of

them had very colorful fins. The only way I could tell the difference between females and subdom

males when pulling them was sometimes females spit eggs.
It was a really fun experience and

I will be doing another pond....or two next summer!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif