Aquarium outside?

[BL1ND1ND3X]

Hello everyone,
I have a chance to get an aquarium but since there is no room in the house, maybe in the backyard?
I have a canopy that provides shade all day.
I live in California so there are no extreme temperatures.
Do you know if this is the best idea?
If you think it is okay is there any precautions that I need to take?
It is a 120 gallon so if there is any way I can put this in my backyard I want to do it.
But of course if it can't work then I won't do it.
Thank you everyone for your help!!

 

[tnfinfan]

I think it would be tricky given that all of the equipment is meant for indoor use. If you had it in a sturdy shelter on a concrete pad (to keep it level), that would be one thing. But on the ground and with just a sun shade? Nope. I'd suggest a pond.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I wouldn't. The temps will still move more then then they should. And the chance of other animals maybe getting at it, and the electrical. I wouldn't do it.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I think it would be tricky given that all of the equipment is meant for indoor use. If you had it in a sturdy shelter on a concrete pad (to keep it level), that would be one thing. But on the ground and with just a sun shade? Nope. I'd suggest a pond.

It's gonna be on concrete, and I might be able to build some sort of shed since we're getting rid of some decking we have.

 

[Mebbid]

I think it's perfectly acceptable to do. You just need to keep a chiller and heater running to keep it at the right temp. I would probably suggest that you triple the heater capacity and run an overpowered chiller just to keep the temp from moving. Aside from that it should be fine.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I think it's perfectly acceptable to do. You just need to keep a chiller and heater running to keep it at the right temp. I would probably suggest that you triple the heater capacity and run an overpowered chiller just to keep the temp from moving. Aside from that it should be fine.

Hello Mebbid,
I searched online about chillers and saw that I would need a 1/4 hp chiller which is $500.
Is that absolutely necessary or will a daily supply of ice cubes be sufficient?

 

[Toad]

I would just treat it as you would a pond, but with a few twists ( like the electrical equipment). I'm not familiar with pond needs for that part f the country though.

 

[jetajockey]

I agree with Mebbid, it's perfectly fine to do. I wouldn't worry about a chiller, just get a heater if you are keeping tropicals. The concept is not all that different from an above ground pond.

I've done this with some tanks but have since switched to emersed growth plants primarily.

Your big problem will be algae, so getting some decent shading will keep both algae growth and water temperature down. My tanks seemed to do pretty well in partial sun, about sunup to noon, with the afternoon being shaded completely by the house. If you are keeping no plants, or only simple plants, you can probably get away with shading it all day, it's just something you have to play with.

You can also run into issues with mosquitoes and other insects, but if you have fish in there they usually wipe them out quickly.

Also check to see if/when they are spraying in your area for mosquitoes and cover the tank during that time frame.

 

[Mebbid]

I would seriously hesitate to try keeping a tank down to temp using just ice cubes. I had to do it to a few 55g tanks over the summer and it was a nightmare.

However you can manage to keep the temperature from going too much over 80 degrees would work though. Sun shade, chilling fans, ice, chiller, or whatever you can drum up.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I agree with Mebbid, it's perfectly fine to do. I wouldn't worry about a chiller, just get a heater if you are keeping tropicals. The concept is not all that different from an above ground pond.

I've done this with some tanks but have since switched to emersed growth plants primarily.

Your big problem will be algae, so getting some decent shading will keep both algae growth and water temperature down. My tanks seemed to do pretty well in partial sun, about sunup to noon, with the afternoon being shaded completely by the house. If you are keeping no plants, or only simple plants, you can probably get away with shading it all day, it's just something you have to play with.

You can also run into issues with mosquitoes and other insects, but if you have fish in there they usually wipe them out quickly.

Also check to see if/when they are spraying in your area for mosquitoes and cover the tank during that time frame.

Like I said before I am willing to build a shed so algae shouldn't be an issue.
Thanks for the advice!
The tank is being given to me from a friend and it has a solid oak stank with a thick oak lid so I hope bugs won't get in.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I would seriously hesitate to try keeping a tank down to temp using just ice cubes. I had to do it to a few 55g tanks over the summer and it was a nightmare.

However you can manage to keep the temperature from going too much over 80 degrees would work though. Sun shade, chilling fans, ice, chiller, or whatever you can drum up.

You know more about this than me obviously since you have done it before but 120 gallons of water is a lot of water to be affected too fast right? Am I wrong? If I build a shed and put insulation on the walls and buy a fan and put a solid ice chunk in front of the fan would that work as a makeshift air conditioning?
Thanks for the help!

 

[Mebbid]

You know more about this than me obviously since you have done it before but 120 gallons of water is a lot of water to be affected too fast right? Am I wrong? If I build a shed and put insulation on the walls and buy a fan and put a solid ice chunk in front of the fan would that work as a makeshift air conditioning?
Thanks for the help!

I am going to have to defer to Jeta for handling tanks outside. My big worry about using ice is what happens if something happens and you aren't able to replace the ice when needed. It took me 8 frozen 2 liters to keep my indoor tanks at 86 degrees here in michigan.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I am going to have to defer to Jeta for handling tanks outside. My big worry about using ice is what happens if something happens and you aren't able to replace the ice when needed. It took me 8 frozen 2 liters to keep my indoor tanks at 86 degrees here in michigan.

Ok I guess a chiller would best then.
It's just $500 is a lot of money maybe I'll look on Craigslist or something.
Thanks again.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I'd look into getting a used chiller, or maybe some native fish. Of course, you don't want the water to get too hot, but native fish, I would think, would be better off. Plus they are super awesome

 

[Andy Sager]

I'm in a mobile home in central, FL and ALL my tanks are outside and subject to the weather. On the front porch, back porch, side porch and 1 on block in the yard. We just went through 2 freezing nights and my fish all lived fine. I wrapped them up in styrofoam sheets. The key is to oversize things for the weather. I use heaters rated for 20 gal tanks in my 10 gals for example and keep them in the tank at all times. Make sure you have more than enough aeration to compensate for heat during the summer. Since you are building a shed, algae shouldn't be a problem but you want to make sure that the electrical is well protected from the elements. Depending on what you are going to keep in the tank, you may be able to plumb the filter system away from the tank to a more protected area. At one warehouse I was in, I had the filtering system in one building and the tanks in another. I'm using submersible heaters and sponge filters in any tank that is in the open. On my enclosed porches I can use other filters. (I'm currently using all my tanks for Angelfish and Angelfish Fry to grow out so I only use sponge filters anyway.)

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Hope this helps

 

[jetajockey]

Like Andy said, the temp shouldn't be a big deal, especially in that volume of water. You may however have issues keeping it warm on the cold days. If the weather there is anything like it is here, then you only have a few really cold days a year. On those days I would either move the fish inside or wrap the tank with blankets/insulation and keep a heater on in it.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I'd look into getting a used chiller, or maybe some native fish. Of course, you don't want the water to get too hot, but native fish, I would think, would be better off. Plus they are super awesome

Ok thanks I'll look at some native fish.

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

I'm in a mobile home in central, FL and ALL my tanks are outside and subject to the weather. On the front porch, back porch, side porch and 1 on block in the yard. We just went through 2 freezing nights and my fish all lived fine. I wrapped them up in styrofoam sheets. The key is to oversize things for the weather. I use heaters rated for 20 gal tanks in my 10 gals for example and keep them in the tank at all times. Make sure you have more than enough aeration to compensate for heat during the summer. Since you are building a shed, algae shouldn't be a problem but you want to make sure that the electrical is well protected from the elements. Depending on what you are going to keep in the tank, you may be able to plumb the filter system away from the tank to a more protected area. At one warehouse I was in, I had the filtering system in one building and the tanks in another. I'm using submersible heaters and sponge filters in any tank that is in the open. On my enclosed porches I can use other filters. (I'm currently using all my tanks for Angelfish and Angelfish Fry to grow out so I only use sponge filters anyway.)

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Hope this helps

Okay thanks I will probably need your help!

 

[BL1ND1ND3X]

Like Andy said, the temp shouldn't be a big deal, especially in that volume of water. You may however have issues keeping it warm on the cold days. If the weather there is anything like it is here, then you only have a few really cold days a year. On those days I would either move the fish inside or wrap the tank with blankets/insulation and keep a heater on in it.

The temperature here is (just an average temperature) winter nights it hits 35 degrees F at the coldest and in summer days it hits 105 degrees F at the hottest.
I will be buying a couple extra heaters to have on hand if I need them.

 

[Andy Sager]

The temperature here is (just an average temperature) winter nights it hits 35 degrees F at the coldest and in summer days it hits 105 degrees F at the hottest.
I will be buying a couple extra heaters to have on hand if I need them.

We get an average summer temp of high 90s and I just crank up the air a bit more. Besides it adding more oxygenation, the bubbles also help cool off the water. You still may want to have a chiller tho if that 105 temp is a sustained temp .