Cheapskate breeder/growout sump system

[blainep]

I've decided now that sump systems are simply the way to go if you are going to have multiple tanks.
With a good cleanup crew of snails, plants and other scavengers and a single pump in a sump makes maintenance a breeze.

Proper quarantine goes along way to keeping a disease free environment.

The downside is cost. So far, I've been lucky enough to find most of my equipment used and with some elbow grease and a little construction knowledge, I've put together my fishroom waaaayyyyy cheaper than if I'd simply bought everything.

Eventually luck runs out. I see used drilled tanks for sale, but all different sizes. Buying a set of tanks (10 or 15) and having them drilled for use on a common sump is painful to even think about.
$35.00ish per tank, $25.00 per hole a my LFS, up front. :nah:

So a thought comes to my head :FishOnDaHead: , what about using ' ye olde Rubbermaid container ' for tanks ? We've all used them as temporary fish homes with decent results.
Fairly cheap to buy, I can drill the drains myself, fittings sealed with silicone should seal as well as they do with glass.

If I built a shelf/rack to hold them, similar to 'Phase 2'

http://calgarycommodore.com/tanks/5/1.JPG

Then just replace the tanks with the Rubbermaid tubs. I'd still use a glass tank for the sump. It would hold the pump and heater better than a plastic container.

Certainly not as pretty as glass tanks, but realisticly priced and should do the job.
Kinda like mixing Summer tubbing with a Winter fishroom.

The only questions I can think of are :

Will the plastic leech contaminates into the water ?
Will the tubs hold their shape when filled with water over a longer period of time ?

Anyone else have any thoughts, good or bad ?

[thegrandpoohbah]

Those rubbermaid bins kinda bulge out funny when filled with water. I've used them to hold water while moving tanks around the apartment but I wouldn't want to use them to hold water long term...

[Melody]

The high quality containers like Rubbermaid should both hold their shape to a reasonable degree and not leach. Leaching is really only a problem when you've kept something nasty in the container before. Otherwise the chemicals that would harm the fish will be rinsed off when you first get them and clean them (they're responsible for the 'new' smell, etc). I think plastics have to be stable these days by law, but of course, what is safe for humans isn't necessarily safe for fish.

I don't have any of that in documented form, its more what I've gathered over the years. No guarantees, no refunds, no lawsuits...lol.

Good frugal thinking! They would make wonderful fry grow-out tanks. I do get tired of not being able to see them though, but that's more because I like taking pictures.

Edit: Sorry Mr. GP, I didn't see your reply before I hit 'Reply'. The post isn't meant to address or argue your experiences.:D The more experiences we hear the better after all.

[blainep]

Those rubbermaid bins kinda bulge out funny when filled with water. I've used them to hold water while moving tanks around the apartment but I wouldn't want to use them to hold water long term...

They tend to bulge when I use them also, I was thinking of a 1x6 frame around them might help them keep their shape better. The added support might prevent future leaks as well.

[Melody]

Is this the actual Rubbermaid brand? I've never noticed that when I've used them. Maybe I didn't fill them as full.... actually that could very well be it because I didn't have them covered so I kept the waterline low.

Regardless, I agree, if they're bulging a lot then they could eventually crack. I think plastic hardens as it ages, does it not? While its flexible it shouldn't be any more of a risk than plastic tanks, but if it hardens it may pose a problem. The lack of seams should keep it secure at the corners anyway.

That said, I am notoriously mechanically challenged, so take it at face value...lol. Definitly keep us up on your progress - the idea appears to have potential.

[blainep]

The bulging seems to be more severe with larger containers.
I know when I was cleaning tanks for the Condo, I found the 10 gallon containers barley had any bulge while the 20s held fine but the sides tended to bulge out quite a bit.
They held, outside, fine for a few weeks, even froze solid once. Once they thawed they were flexible again and still held water.

That's why I was thinking if a support frame was built around the tubs, all they have to do then is hold water, whether they hold their shape or not.

Also, replacement tanks should be easy to come by.

[Melody]

I suppose you could build a trough type affair. Makes sense to me anyway. Worth a shot at the very least, but don't put any of your irreplaceable fishies into them in the first year...that's just BEGGING the fates.:no:

[blainep]

Me ? Tempt fate ? Pfffft, I never tempt fate. :rolleyes:

[Melody]

I bet that's a picture of your wife rolling her eyes...lol.

[Pamelajo]

There are some containers out there that are made of a harder plastic and are kinda see through. Check the Canadian Tire Store, I saw them there.

[blainep]

There are some containers out there that are made of a harder plastic and are kinda see through. Check the Canadian Tire Store, I saw them there.

I'll take a look, if I could find something that was translucent, it would probably look a little better.

[madattiver]

I actually have had corys living and spawning in these type of containers.. whch were supposed to only be temperary tanks.. :rolleyes: they are the harder plastic kind.. the base is 12"x12" and tapers up.. they actually have bee living in these tanks for over 2 years. orriginally bought to be fry grow-outs that eventually became a part of my fishroom. ;)

[blainep]

I actually have had corys living and spawning in these type of containers.. whch were supposed to only be temperary tanks.. :rolleyes: they are the harder plastic kind.. the base is 12"x12" and tapers up.. they actually have bee living in these tanks for over 2 years. orriginally bought to be fry grow-outs that eventually became a part of my fishroom. ;)

Have you got a picture of these ?

[madattiver]

these pics were taken quite some time back.. but gives you an idea of what i am talking about.. also.. this is just a small portion of my fishroom as it is kind of spread through several rooms at the moment.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/madattiver/fishroom/tanks02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/madattiver/fishroom/tanks01.jpg

[blainep]

After searching around a few of the larger chain stores, I decided to go with a Sterilite clearview container.
An example here http://www.sterilite.com/Category.html?Section=Storage&ProductCategory=38#

They measure nearly identical to my 15 gallon tanks in the condo, there were taller containers but I thought maybe keeping the height down would reduce the bulging.

Now to find some bulkheads and figure out how to frame this .