Kat_Rigel Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Hi all! I was recently watching Cory's videos on outdoor tub ponds and felt inspired! So I set up a little something on the balcony (perfect because my one bedroom apartment doesn't have a lot of space for tanks 🙃) Now I am at the point where I need to stock it, but I'm afraid! The temperatures seem so drastic! For example, I have my happy, established tank that sits at like 78/79*F all day and night. My outdoor temps right now are 85* high and low of 56*. I have been monitoring the temp today and it has risen from 58* this morning to 66* (which is less of a change than I expected- I thought it would get hotter.) It seems like such a temperature swing! How can I put fish in there?! Cory's video also said he was thinking of adding mystery snails- but it seems too cold! I am located in Northern California, and usually it is a bit hotter right now. Should I avoid the livebearers I was planning on and go with cloud minnows? But what if it heats up? Am I too late in the season to start? Oh my. Such uncertainty with outdoor ponds! Lol Advice appreciated, especially if you've had any experience with outdoor ponds. Pond is a 20gal tub with sponge filter and airstone, hornwort, a dying something or other plant, and rotala. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat_Rigel Posted July 27, 2020 Author Share Posted July 27, 2020 ...bump 😢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shkote Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 I think if these are still your current temperatures, it may be a bit cold for mystery snails. White clouds are pretty adaptable. I don't know what your highs are in the summertime, but mine reach over 100 degrees sometimes for weeks at a time, and my minnows have handled the hot summer months fine, just stopped breeding temporarily. It has been storming and has gotten cool out again for the last week and I have seen tiny fry in the tub again. I have never tried Guppies or Platies in high 50s to low 60s but it seems a bit cold for them. Minnows would love those temperatures though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 It will very likely be just fine to put them out in those temps. And even if it's a little outside their natural range Cory has often said fish can handle one water parameter being off if the rest are good. What kind of live bearers? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RovingGinger Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 I put small heaters in my tanks to get them just a little hotter (MN summer) and more consistent. Seems to have worked well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Perry Posted July 27, 2020 Share Posted July 27, 2020 On 7/21/2020 at 4:10 PM, Kat_Rigel said: Hi all! I was recently watching Cory's videos on outdoor tub ponds and felt inspired! So I set up a little something on the balcony (perfect because my one bedroom apartment doesn't have a lot of space for tanks 🙃) Now I am at the point where I need to stock it, but I'm afraid! The temperatures seem so drastic! For example, I have my happy, established tank that sits at like 78/79*F all day and night. My outdoor temps right now are 85* high and low of 56*. I have been monitoring the temp today and it has risen from 58* this morning to 66* (which is less of a change than I expected- I thought it would get hotter.) It seems like such a temperature swing! How can I put fish in there?! Cory's video also said he was thinking of adding mystery snails- but it seems too cold! I am located in Northern California, and usually it is a bit hotter right now. Should I avoid the livebearers I was planning on and go with cloud minnows? But what if it heats up? Am I too late in the season to start? Oh my. Such uncertainty with outdoor ponds! Lol Advice appreciated, especially if you've had any experience with outdoor ponds. Pond is a 20gal tub with sponge filter and airstone, hornwort, a dying something or other plant, and rotala. Whitclouds would be perfect. You want to monitor your water temp not your air Temps. Water changes temp much slower. You could do Japanese trapdoor snails instead of mystery snails for cold water. You don't want to arrate your tote if you are having large temp swings. I have 4 300g Ibc totes and no filtration or arration. Only plants and fish and I don't feed much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat_Rigel Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Awesome, thanks for the advice, all! Was able to find this informative video from Cory too:Â Â Initially I had wanted to go with plates but it seems like white clouds is the way to go. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmarian Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 You could consider shading (patio umbrella?)Â and/or insulating with bricks or an outer layer, to try for a more consistent temperature/narrower range. And when monitoring the water temp, you might check what the bottom temperature is compared to top. Looking forward to hearing updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now