Outdoor aquarium

[RYO]

Our lfs has a huge tank outside their cafe, its full of ghost carp and fancy goldies. its about 3 ft deep and has a glass cover to stop all the muck dropping in. Not sure what they do about heating in winter but i could find out for you.

 

[annka5]

If you could get a large enough acryllic single-peice aquarium, that might help with the joints not breaking with temp fluctuations? I imagine you might have to win the lottery to pay for it though !!!

 

[Torrean]

yes acrylic may be the way to go with this idea. They are stronger and lighter than glass aquariums but they scratch easier. They also insulate the water better than glass aquariums. They are more expensive than glass aquariums but the larger tank you buy the smaller the gap between them comes. Or so I've heard.

 

[Undawada]

One issue I thought of is the filter getting wet. What kind of filter are you getting?

Most filters I can think of other than internals aren't designed to have water ON them. What about using a canister filter inside and running the hose out to it? Or how would you stop the hose from freezing in the winter?

 

[bunjiweb]

actually nearly all external filters can be submersed and still work... I guess there will be exceptions to the rules but i know that the eheim ones are completly waterproof.... This is to protect against leaks etc.

Ben

 

[scott67892002]

i would hope anything electrical that came in to contact with water would be water proof!!!!!

 

[Undawada]

External canisters are water proof on the inside, of course. The outside is a different matter. I don't know if I would leave my eheim 2217 out in the pouring rain.

 

[Torrean]

What if you built a shelter for it? would probably ruin the effect your looking for.

 

[Tetramad]

I am going to build the base from brick joined to the side of my house and there will be a big cupboard built underneath for the air pump and filter etc. plus the wiring will come through the wall and straight into the underneath of the base where the cupboard is so it can`t get wet. Don`t want to build a shelter over it, as you say Torrean I think it would ruin the pond/tank hybrid look! although if I have trouble with rain causing it to overflow etc. then a hood or canopy may be the only answer.

Mark.