How cold is too cold?

[Chiclid addict]

I want it set up and outdoor tub but I don’t have anywhere for the fish to go  during the winter so what is the coldest that fish could live outside in the tub I have is 150 I could also use heaters but I don’t know how much they can handle also what type of fish 

[Kirsten]

Some fish, typically pond fish like koi or some native cold weather species like sticklebacks and minnows can hibernate under the ice in winter. But you'll need a pretty deep pond (sounds like 3 to 5 feet deep) to give them space below the ice.

Here's an article for how to prepare koi for winter in cold climates, in case that helps give you an idea what they'll need:

https://www.kodamakoifarm.com/winter-koi-pond-preparation-survival/

[Dwayne Brown]

What area do you live in? If you live in maine you cant really keep anything outside in the winter vs florida where almost anything would work. Yes i know these are the extreme but proves a point

[Brian]

What type of fish?  Climate? How deep will the water be?  Above ground or below ground?

 

I live in northeastern Pa.  Near Pittsburgh, Pa.  I have left feeder goldfish outside in a pond only 18-20 inches deep.  Make sure to have a strong current so water doesn’t freeze solid.   I would stop feeding mid August (if I fed at all) and increase the size of the water pump.  
 

[Chiclid addict]

2 hours ago, Dwayne Brown said:

What area do you live in? If you live in maine you cant really keep anything outside in the winter vs florida where almost anything would work. Yes i know these are the extreme but proves a point

I live on west coast my winter low all winter is probably in the high 20s at its lowest and I would say late in winter probably 60s ad the high 

[Chiclid addict]

2 hours ago, Brian said:

What type of fish?  Climate? How deep will the water be?  Above ground or below ground?

 

I live in northeastern Pa.  Near Pittsburgh, Pa.  I have left feeder goldfish outside in a pond only 18-20 inches deep.  Make sure to have a strong current so water doesn’t freeze solid.   I would stop feeding mid August (if I fed at all) and increase the size of the water pump.  
 

I want koi but I don’t know if I could do that in a 150g  above ground 

 

[Dwayne Brown]

I would put the tub about 1-2 feet in the ground to help with heat in the summer and ice in the winter. You could probably do goldfish. Rice fish are really cool to.

[Chiclid addict]

1 hour ago, Dwayne Brown said:

I would put the tub about 1-2 feet in the ground to help with heat in the summer and ice in the winter. You could probably do goldfish. Rice fish are really cool to.

Does putting it in the ground help form Ice or not form it?

Edited April 2, 2021 by Angelfishlover

[Brian]

Well, you said Koi and 150 gallons.   A couple options 

first do you have some place you could bring them in? Maybe some large containers in a garage?

Or explain to pet shop that you want to keep koi.  But in the fall you would be returning them.  Work out a deal, those fish are going to out grow 150 gallons....   so maybe every spring start over?  

[Dwayne Brown]

10 hours ago, Angelfishlover said:

Does putting it in the ground help form Ice or not form it?

Putting it in the ground helps the bottom half of the tub no freeze. It helps insulate the bottom half in the ground versus no insulation above ground. 

[Dwayne Brown]

Putting it in the ground will also help disperse heat during the summer

[Dwayne Brown]

I live in washington state and have never had to much of a problem with ice but I live in the temperate area.

[GardenStateGoldfish]

13 hours ago, Angelfishlover said:

I want koi but I don’t know if I could do that in a 150g  above ground 

 

You could do goldfish instead of koi, they would be fine in a 150 gallon however in the winter if your going to keep it above ground you will need to run air and a deicer. If your able to dig into the ground if the 150 was at least 2 feet deep I think you would be okay without a heater if the lows are only in the mid 20's. 

[Tanked]

Here in SW Ohio feeder goldfish and Koigoldfish. seem to do well even in a small buried tub with a water pump.  The surface will ice over, but only if the temperatures stay in the low 20s or lower for several days.