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Aquarist Forums => Equipment / DIY => Topic started by: presto on May 30, 2008, 03:42:42 PM

Title: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: presto on May 30, 2008, 03:42:42 PM
I met this guy who uses an old freezer to keep his fishing bait outside.
There are 100's of minnows kept in there all summer.

Anyone try to turn a freezer into an outdoor tropical tank?
Since it is insulated, a heater plugged in might keep the water from freezing over winter.

I have an old freezer in my shed right now and I am thinking of building a pond. My hope is to store the fish in the freezer over the winter.




Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: sdivell on May 30, 2008, 03:47:26 PM
I'm not sure how well that insulation would work during the colder months in Canada.  The Freezer insulation is usually fighting a temp difference of roughly 84 degrees (76 indoor to -8 inside freezer). In the colder months you'll be looking at closer to 110 degree difference... you might have trouble keeping the heat in the tank.

Not to mention you'll have to go out in the snow and feed your fish everyday
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: Vizerdrix on May 30, 2008, 05:06:15 PM
What's the interior like?  Some of those old ones had metal interiors that tend to rust, I wouldn't want to put my fishies in there. :)
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: Sue on May 30, 2008, 05:38:01 PM
Quote from: sdivell link=topic=28269.msg186717#msg186717

Not to mention you'll have to go out in the snow and feed your fish everyday
/quote]

You don't feed fish once the water gets cold.
Wouldn't the seal on the lid prevent them from getting enough oxygen?
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: dan2x38 on May 30, 2008, 09:22:00 PM
The liner is not water tight. I'd be concerned about what bacertia might have leached into the liner & insulation. Besides the things mentioned a cool idea for a basement maybe to winter your fish.
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: jimskoi on May 31, 2008, 11:07:11 AM
Freezers work great.I used to have 2 of them that I had plumed together to my Koi in for the winter time.Aslong as the water is moving it dosent freeze.I you dont need to feed them when its cold.
I drilled them and put it bulkheads and both of them run into a sump.I had it in a garage for the winter(non heated)
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: beowulf on June 02, 2008, 08:21:19 AM
Interesting.
Title: Re: thought on freezer tropical tank
Post by: presto on June 02, 2008, 01:43:47 PM
Thanks for the input everyone.
Once the pond is built I'll be giving it a try.