Can storage totes be used instead of an aquarium?

[OliveFish05]

Engineer here

Depending on the design of the tote (wall thickness, reinforcements), you may need to put a stringer (or cross bar) across the top in the middle to ensure that the tote does not bow out and potentially crack/fail.

I plan to go see these specific totes in store and see how durable they are. We double stacked some flimsy ones and bungeed them and they held up, obviously I don’t want to have to double stack though.

 

[Oblio]

I plan to go see these specific totes in store and see how durable they are. We double stacked some flimsy ones and bungeed them and they held up, obviously I don’t want to have to double stack though.

I thought about adding the use of a rope (or bungee) to my reply , but the possibilities are nearly endless. I didn't think of double stack, though that might get expensive. You could also just cram a bunch in a confined space to alleviate any spreading.

 

[OliveFish05]

I thought about adding the use of a rope (or bungee) to my reply , but the possibilities are nearly endless. I didn't thing of double stack, though that might get expensive. You could also just cram a bunch in a confined space to alleviate any spreading.

I am thinking about maybe digging holes for them to rest in and packing sand to fill the sides so they cannot spread at all. It would be a lot of work, but it would be like any 50 gallons pond...

 

[itiwhetu]

I'm old fashioned, Nice clean glass tanks. Make tanks that suit your needs. I hate the idea of plastic anything.

 

[GaryE]

I used the 20 gallon totes, exactly that model, to culture daphnia outdoors in. I drilled holes a few inches from the top for rainfall overflow purposes. I had good fishfood all summer long for a number of years with them. I've moved and recycled them before I left, but I'll buy more and restart the system.
They expand along the sides, rather like my hips if I get into the beer. They stay stable though.
For the semi-transparent ones I use for fry, the best ones are from IKEA. The price is right and the plastic is strong. I have a stack of them, as breeding my fish is my great pleasure in the hobby.

There is a symbol on plastics that tells you how safe they are, if you look it up.

 

[OliveFish05]

I'm old fashioned, Nice clean glass tanks. Make tanks that suit your needs. I hate the idea of plastic anything.

Ah, how I wish I could do that! Glass tanks are heavy, and making some myself is a bit outside my comfort zone for now. I am watching my local Craigslist and Facebook marketplace for cheap tanks, not finding many though. My mom totally caught a bad case of mts and is thinking about buying a second used 75. She says she only wants the Fx4, the stand, the lids, and the light. The tank has a brown rim so she says I can have it for $35-$50!

 

[OliveFish05]

I used the 20 gallon totes, exactly that model, to culture daphnia outdoors in. I drilled holes a few inches from the top for rainfall overflow purposes. I had good fishfood all summer long for a number of years with them. I've moved and recycled them before I left, but I'll buy more and restart the system.
They expand along the sides, rather like my hips if I get into the beer. They stay stable though.
For the semi-transparent ones I use for fry, the best ones are from IKEA. The price is right and the plastic is strong. I have a stack of them, as breeding my fish is my great pleasure in the hobby.

There is a symbol on plastics that tells you how safe they are, if you look it up.

Oooo ok. And they held up? I had some cheap 55 gallon totes once and they bowed sooooo bad, almost cracked.

 

[Sgooosh]

The plan is to have sand substrate (I have a ton of black diamond blasting sand leftover fromwhen I put it in my axie tank, then hated it, so I will likely use that to start. I am hoping to have a 50 gallon tote with Pygmy sunfish, a 50 gallon tote with putple dragon guppies, a 50 gallon tote with a pair of fancy goldfish, and a 40 gallon stock tank with another type of guppy. Each will have different plants and I will note which plants are in which tank for easy Id. Then I will have a couple of those cheap summer wading pools to grow floating plants. I plan to have

velvet salvinia
frogbit
water hyacinth
water lilies
water lotuses
water lettuce
maybe red root floaters

and then a huge variety of stem plants. I want a different type of Ludwigia in each one

i will buy some salvinia, frogbit, and red roots
from one tote to another!
you sure are lucky your parents let you do this kind of stuff... it took a year of convincing to set up the old 15g that already had everything for a betta...
do you think i could keep one goldfish in a 27g? would it get lonely

Engineer here

Depending on the design of the tote (wall thickness, reinforcements), you may need to put a stringer (or cross bar) across the top in the middle to ensure that the tote does not bow out and potentially crack/fail.

yeah i think the 50 gallons might be a little dangerous

 

[OliveFish05]

i will buy some salvinia, frogbit, and red roots
from one tote to another!
you sure are lucky your parents let you do this kind of stuff... it took a year of convincing to set up the old 15g that already had everything for a betta...

I am very fortunate. We have a large, unused space behind our garage. It’s never been used, so my mom said I can have the space to make it my very own garden! I am going to grow aquaponic strawberries And raspberries! Building a run for the rabbits back there too.

 

[Sgooosh]

I am very fortunate. We have a large, unused space behind our garage. It’s never been used, so my mom said I can have the space to make it my very own garden! I am going to grow aquaponic strawberries And raspberries! Building a run for the rabbits back there too.

you are so lucky!!!
to be perfectly honest, i don't recommend doing aquaponics for fruit. i recommend just planting berries in a big pot or in the ground. the fruit will be small...
but lettuce is good

 

[OliveFish05]

you are so lucky!!!
to be perfectly honest, i don't recommend doing aquaponics for fruit. i recommend just planting berries in a big pot or in the ground. the fruit will be small...
but lettuce is good

I’ve actually heard that strawberries do EXTREMELY well with aqua phonics, I will look more into the raspberries though. I want to do herbs too! And kale and spinach

 

[Oblio]

I’ve actually heard that strawberries do EXTREMELY well with aqua phonics, I will look more into the raspberries though. I want to do herbs too! And kale and spinach

I've got our subwoofer next to the tank, seems to stimulate both my Pothos and BGA.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

I saw some of these totes/tanks that are made by fiberglass.
They are stronger than the normal plastic though I have never used them before.
They are good as fish ponds for fish like Guppies, Koi, Goldfish, etc..

If I'm not wrong, some of these fiber glass tanks are now being used even in the bathrooms.

Some fiber glass tanks even have a window but will be more expensive.

Keep some fast growing plants to absorb any toxic(if there is) but I'm not sure how effective.

Some info about fiber glass tanks:

Top 8 Advantages of Fiberglass Tanks for Storing Fish

Are you searching for tanks to store fish for a longer period of time? Know about Fiberglass Tanks and it's advantages for storing fish.

www.gsctanks.com

Fiberglass Fish Tanks & Aquariums: Read This BEFORE Buying

Learn everything that you need to know about Fiberglass fish tank aquariums. Titan Aquatic Exhibits has over 50 years in fiberglass aquariums!

www.titanaquaticexhibits.com

How Long Do FRP Water Tanks Last? Belding Tank Technologies Inc.

What is FRP tank and what are the different factors to keep in mind when assessing the potential lifespan of your underground fiberglass water storage tanks?

www.beldingtank.com

There are many sizes from 39 gallons to 500 gallons.

Fiberglass Tanks

These tanks are used all over Southeast Asia in hatcheries and farms raising tilapia, shrimp, tropical fish, etc.

pentairaes.com

From other country. Just for your information.

Fiberglass Aquarium Fish Tank: Limitless Design Shape Colour - N30 Tank

N30 Tank customises fiberglass aquarium fish tanks of different shape, size, colours. Fiberglass is strong, durable, and makes for beautiful fish tank designs.

www.n30.com.sg

Fiberglass Tanks with Window

These models are gelcoated and have thick sidewalls. Raise tilapia, shrimp, tropical fish, etc. Rigid, 5-mm fiberglass is easy to clean. The tanks are sturdy and nestable for economical shipping. Add a filtration module to instantly turn the tank into a quarantine, holding or growout system...

pentairaes.com

Fiberglass Larval Tanks

These rugged, circular fiberglass tanks are ideal for Artemia/rotifer culture, hatcheries and small holding system larval growout. Made of reinforced fiberglass with a smooth, gel-coated interior. Flat bottom with vertical sides and a center drain port. PVC couplers are molded into the base of...

pentairaes.com

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubbermaid-structural-foam-stock-tanks-150-gal-capacity

By the way, don't forget your studies...LOL

 

[itiwhetu]

The main problem with plastic is that if exposed to sunlight they will break down very quickly. You need to be careful. I would only ever use glass.

 

[OliveFish05]

I saw some of these totes/tanks that are made by fiberglass.
They are stronger than the normal plastic though I have never used them before.
They are good as fish ponds for fish like Guppies, Koi, Goldfish, etc..

If I'm not wrong, some of these fiber glass tanks are now being used even in the bathrooms.

Some fiber glass tanks even have a window but will be more expensive.

Keep some fast growing plants to absorb any toxic(if there is) but I'm not sure how effective.

Some info about fiber glass tanks:

Top 8 Advantages of Fiberglass Tanks for Storing Fish

Are you searching for tanks to store fish for a longer period of time? Know about Fiberglass Tanks and it's advantages for storing fish.

www.gsctanks.com

Fiberglass Fish Tanks & Aquariums: Read This BEFORE Buying

Learn everything that you need to know about Fiberglass fish tank aquariums. Titan Aquatic Exhibits has over 50 years in fiberglass aquariums!

www.titanaquaticexhibits.com

How Long Do FRP Water Tanks Last? Belding Tank Technologies Inc.

What is FRP tank and what are the different factors to keep in mind when assessing the potential lifespan of your underground fiberglass water storage tanks?

www.beldingtank.com

There are many sizes from 39 gallons to 500 gallons.

Fiberglass Tanks

These tanks are used all over Southeast Asia in hatcheries and farms raising tilapia, shrimp, tropical fish, etc.

pentairaes.com

From other country. Just for your information.

Fiberglass Aquarium Fish Tank: Limitless Design Shape Colour - N30 Tank

N30 Tank customises fiberglass aquarium fish tanks of different shape, size, colours. Fiberglass is strong, durable, and makes for beautiful fish tank designs.

www.n30.com.sg

Fiberglass Tanks with Window

These models are gelcoated and have thick sidewalls. Raise tilapia, shrimp, tropical fish, etc. Rigid, 5-mm fiberglass is easy to clean. The tanks are sturdy and nestable for economical shipping. Add a filtration module to instantly turn the tank into a quarantine, holding or growout system...

pentairaes.com

Fiberglass Larval Tanks

These rugged, circular fiberglass tanks are ideal for Artemia/rotifer culture, hatcheries and small holding system larval growout. Made of reinforced fiberglass with a smooth, gel-coated interior. Flat bottom with vertical sides and a center drain port. PVC couplers are molded into the base of...

pentairaes.com

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubbermaid-structural-foam-stock-tanks-150-gal-capacity

By the way, don't forget your studies...LOL

Oooooooo very nice. I will look into those!

The main problem with plastic is that if exposed to sunlight they will break down very quickly. You need to be careful. I would only ever use glass.

Hmm ok… so I would be better off choosing something that is made to hold up to regular sunlight or glass?


I am looking for anything 40 gallons or more. What would be a good price to pay for a used 75 gallon tank? Tank only, holds water. Minor scuffs that only detract from the appearance.