I have my 11 comets in a 100 gal stock tank in my garden. I am going to be moving them about 20 miles away late this weekend.

I have three choices...

1) Buy a larger stock tank and just move them into it This would be best for them because it will become over crouded as the fish mature.

2) fill a bunch of 18 gal rubermaid tubs with their water, the fish the plants and filter. this would take about what 8 tubs? then pull their empty tub and relocate it

3) or use just enough tubs to keep the fish and plants and filter in and get fresh water there.

Then this fall I was trying to decide if this tank would be able to stay outside or would i need to bring the whole thing into the garage. Having the second stock tank would work out best here because i can just have an inside tank and an outside tank.

They would be in Portland Oregon but not sure if a 100 gal stock tank would freeze around the edges if it is above ground

I could look into a emersion heater and keep them outside but what would i do if we were going to have a hard freeze like we do at least for 4 days each winter.

final option. There is a water feature where I am moving to. It has a cascading water fall and a lower pond. How do you determine how much water is in the pond?

It looks sorta shallow to me. There were fish in this pond and either a racoon or a herron got them so I would need to put a cover of some sort on it. I have a heavy plastic mesh cover on them now on the rubermid tub, because where there are there are racoons. but would a bird netting mesh be enough? It would need to be something that wouldnt change the look and would be flexable to go around rocks.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time

Demi

Hi Demi,
As the crow fly's, not to far from me,lol! Actually the double tank thing is a workable solution. You can also wrap the tank with rolled insulation and then cover that with stacked rock to hide the insulation, effectivly insulating it and making it a above ground pond! Also running a large air pump & stone will keep the water turned over and keep the ice from closeing in, or use the water pump just below surface to keep a area free.

I wouldn't use the bird netting if you can, get the heavier net. A coon would just walk right through the flimsy stuff! Herons are pretty weighty also and that cheap black plastic stuff I can rip with my bare hands, not good!

The pond needs to be 3 1/2 feet deep in ground and still need some air or water agitating a area of surface to keep a open spot. A cattle water trough heater will work to keep it open also!

You won't get the amount of snow I'm subject too, but the freezes are are a worry, so long as what you decide to do has a open area for that and the water can gas off, it should be fine.

I live just the other (Bend side) side of Detroit lake. I have a nice 750 gl stock tank I use for a QT tank, I think it makes a good pond personally!

You can alway's expand the pond too where your moving too. The stock tanks are versatile and give you heaps of options.

Thanks for the info Tamianth

I am sure glad to hear from you about the lighter netting. I wouldnt want to have my babies eaten.

The insulation is a wonderful idea!

Wow where you live its more extreem weather. How do you deal with the hotter temperatures?

I am going to leave them where they are for a week or more I believe while i look into other options.

Thanks again for responding 8)

Demi

Actually the summer generally stay's fairly decent. I live along the river and at the edge of town, lots of tree's and a nice breeze most day's. Its the weather in winter thats the pits, though it was a mild one for the most part this year, we do get snow and have seen it at the 5' mark.

Yes, I have one of those cheapy nets and tore the edge about 6 inch's in the other day. Luckily the stock tank is next to the sliding door, sensor light and dogs (3), if anything trips the light, they will go off . I have two new shushui in QT, few more weeks yet before they see the pond thats just the other side of it,lol!