Huge blue rubbermaid container! It's pretty big, bigger than my tank I think. I was wondering, how do I tell how many gallons of water it can hold? Thanks. And also, will such a containter be sufficient for fish life? Like, maybe another goldfish if I can get a filter? Can they live their whole life in something like that?

There are a few types of plastic that are not suggested for use with foods or water, and a few that cannot take the UV of sunlight for any length of time (years), but by and large, the big tubs are excellent homes for fish. If it is a Rubbermaid brand one, then you are fine.

Yes - fish can happily live in a tub all their lives. In many countries, a fish will live in a large (50-200 gallon) tub on the patio of an apartment. I have visited apartment where there are 10 stories of patios - each with a tub of fish on them! Most HOB filters can fit over the side of a tub, and a cannister or homemade filter is also easy to adapt to use.

My favorite fish for in a tub (viewed from above) are the ranchu, celestial, bubbleeye - for they look sooooo cool from above. A nice butterfly demekin is also impressive from above.

The easiest way to determine volume of a tub is simply to take an old milk gallon jug and fill the tub with a gallon of water at a time and count them. Or - if it is really big, you can use a 5 gallon bucket and count the buckets. I have a 5 gallon bucket I measured and marked in gallons with an indelible marker. I can measure water quantities very easily that way.

Enjoy your tub!

Thanks. Unfortunately I can't use it untill I get another filter, hopefully an emperor 280. I think a sarassa comet would look very cool viewed from above in a midnight blue container!

Oh durh! I just read the label. It's a 20 gallon sterilite conatiner. Is this ok to use? If so, it will save me money in buying a tank. Is it big enough for one comet?

Sterilite is also a good brand - it is cheaper and not as forgiving for sheer forces, but will not deteriorate with water use for years and years and years.

That should be wonderful home for a comet! He will grow great and beautiful in that tub!

Really? Well, that's cheaper than buying a new tank! Cool, all I need now is a 30$ penguin 280. Oh, but I don't have money.

That's ok, the comet I have now won't need more room for at least another 2 months, so I have time to get the filter.


Should I clean it or something? It was used for storing stuff in untill I found it. And it's got some white streaks on the bottom, presumably from where something scraped against it. I'm not worried though.

It is a good idea to clean it well. A good rinse and a wash with a 10:1 water:bleach solution so it stays wet for about 10 minutes should do the trick. IF you do not have bleach, a good wash with clear water and then a good sunning will do wonders. The natural UV of the sun will sterilize most things.

The plastic coloration will make lighter streaks when the plastic is bent or stressed, or even when scraped. This generally means very little. If you think it has been significantly bent and stressed, you may have a weak spot in the plastic, but, unless you are planning on moving this tub while full of water, there is little to be concerned about. It is difficult to sheer a tub full of water. Little scrapes and scratchs can hold bacteria and other nasties, but, since this tub has never been used for underwater creatures, and you are going to give it a wash, you have nothing to fear here.

Great!

Alright. I'll look at wallmart, if they're cheap I'll just get a 25-30 gallon one, so it's the same size as my tank. I'll get a filter and air pump and stuffs in a bit when I have the money.

Is it ok to cut out a piece for the filter to fit, and then drill holes in the top for gas exchange? I have cats, and when I'm not home I won't have them getting into it. I understand goldfish need 8hrs of light, so could I just put it near a window? I don't care about algae, I'll still be able to see the fish from the top.

The bigger one is fine, but the one you have - 20 - should be fine, too, if there is enough volume to please you and your fish. YOu should be able to clean it well.

It is very easy to cut the top out for the filter. I did the same thing to prevent my cats from bothering the fish. I cut 2 inch holes in the top. Another thing I have done to prevent the cats and small children from getting into trouble with a water filled tub is to bend chicken wire (I actually used hardware cloth -) over the top and tape it down. It is easy to feed the fish through it, see them,a dn the filter can easily fit in a cutout. I have used the bird netting that is sold for vegetables, too, but it would not stop a cat who jumped onto the tub netting -p they would fall in. My cats right now would not bother a fish, but I have had a few in the past that would have worked until they solved the "fish puzzle game" I left for them!

A window is splendid! That is how many people around the world care for their fish and observe them. A ranchu is touted to be best observed from above, as are many other breeds. Enjoy!

!!! HAHAHAH YES! im going to look into buying a rubbermaid container. That would be better for my budget. heh.