You've heard of BUNK BEDS !

[bobp9500]

What about BUNK tubs ?
This is my latest in FRUGAL fish keeping. Deriter suggested that I share photos of my project. The total cost so far is about twenty eight dollars. I raise fancy goldfish and koi and I will soon have water in it and it will house a good number of fry. I am in the process of building a wet/dry filter system (again frugally) to handle the load of a few thousand fish (which are rapidly getting to the point of needing more water volume.) I am happy to answer questions and openly welcome suggestions regarding my project.----boB

[CACAdmin]

Now that is a really cool idea... and definitely frugal. At that cost, I'm assuming you managed to find some bathtubs people were just happy for you to take off their hands (great idea when you consider what tanks or large tubs would cost).

[dymndgyrl]

Very interesting!
How many gallons does each tub hold?
Are you going to incorporate the bottom drains into your filtration somehow?
I can picture using the upper drain hole as overflows for a DIY flow through trickle water change system! The possibilities!

More pics, please, as you progress!

Thanks,
Ci

[blainep]

Interesting setup, I had thought about using bathtubs at one point, but never considered stacking them.

As dymndgyrl mentioned, some interesting possibilities there.

[Lisachromis]

How are you supporting the top tub? Just curious since once it's got water in it, it's going to be quite heavy.

[bobp9500]

I bought two tubs (one was brand new--but the porcelain had a chip in it) for 10 bucks each from the Habitat for Humanity Restore. I think they each hold about 90 gallons.
The bottom drains are plugged with a rubber stopper in the tub but the outside of them has a 1.5 inch PVC pipe plug on it so that I can drain the whole tub by putting a sump pump hose on it and pulling the inside plug.
The upper overflow drains to the bottom tub and the lower tub overflow drains to the filter which is pumped to the upper tub.
I was lucky enough to get a right and left hand tub----to allow for an overflow at each end.
I recall Blainep wondering in one of his posts if a bath tub might hold fish? I had the same idea but I wanted to save space by putting one on top of the other.
I am going to use them in pairs(side by side)to house my fish in the backyard this summer.
The top tub is supported by 4x4 spruce and 2x4 wood on each corner. It will weigh about 1000 lbs. when full.
The tubs are a great shape----the corners are rounded but the sides are perpendicular should be easy to clean. The new tubs are so light that I didn't have too much trouble getting one on top of the other.
Actually it's been fun! I have put one 4 foot fluorescent single tube fixture on each tub as shown in the pic.---boB

[Killiejoe]

That is an awesome project Bob. I remember too thinking about bathtubs and fish. My wife would probably have a fit.

[bobp9500]

The bathtub idea didn't bother her as much as my starting a worm farm in the clothes closet. I told her-- We were going to make a fortune. Actually it was when the summer temp rose and they all crawled out and dried up all over the walls! Now that ticked her off!
She still puts up with me.---Stud that I AM.---boB

[Pamelajo]

Like the new set up!

Worms in the clothes closet, now that is a little much. She must really love you!!

[bobp9500]

Hope you had a happy birthday Pam!

[Pamelajo]

Thanks Bob!!

[CACAdmin]

:secret: Pam, don't thank him yet, you never know, he may have sent you some worms for your closet. :wink: :eek: :laugh:

[Pamelajo]

EWWWWW!:BOLTS:

[Namor]

:laugh:

-Bob, wicked cool set-up.::D:

[thegrandpoohbah]

Very cool set-up. And if you ever get sick of fish, just drop a few heaters in there and some big powerheads and you've got yourself a hot tub!

[Soggybottom]

Looks like it is nicely built!

Your story reminds me of a guy who decided to culture fruit flies that were supposed to be wingless.
He maybe over-sized the culture a bit and when he opened the lid, the cloud that flew out was so thick he couldn't even see his wife waving the divorce papers :laugh:

[bobp9500]

I've done the fruit fly thing too.---She's still here.
As far as putting a heater in and using it for a hot tub----No way!! We'll probably fight over who has to get the top bunk----Then she'll probably leave.---boB
P.S.---Pam,-- worms are too expensive to send ---just so you can see if they actually stick to the walls. Take my word for it.---They do.

[Melody]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it.