Keeping fish in plastic bins

Not sure if this is in the right category, but would it be possible to keep my fish temporarily (a week maybe 2) in plastic tote bins? We are getting ready to move and I am wanting to redo the aquarium. I want to add shelves for plants and build rock caves, change out the sand, etc. I want to silicone plexiglass to the inside of the aquarium for the shelves but would need to let it cure for 7 days. I was thinking since i'm going to have to do an entire tear down to move, that this would be the perfect time to do the redo. I would maintain both filters in the bins to keep the beneficial bacteria alive and seeded. I don't think I would be able to use the lights though for fear the plastic bins would melt. Do you think I could still use the heater? Is this doable? Any advice or suggestions. I would probably use 5 gallon buckets for the move and then put the fish in bins once we get to the new house as carrying huge bins with water would be impossible. My fish are a blood parrot, 2 blue gouromis and a south american cichlid. Thanks.

 

How hot is the area your moving to? Totes would be fine temporarily but probably not the heaters. There are just to many things that could go wrong.

 

It's in Western MD so pretty cold. Cold enough to snow but I keep my house at 72 degrees. No heater then? Would that be ok for short term? My plan is to get the new sand, glass cut and ready to silicone, and new filter before we move that way I can do the siliconing right away, wait a week for it to cure, then clean and add sand, connect new filter, transfer filter media from old filters and add fish.

 

OK here is what I would suggest, add warmer water to the totes and float the fish to adjust. The temperature won't divert to cold immediately. It will take a few days before it gets cold. Test out putting the totes near a heating vent. Not too close though in case they get fried.

 

OK here is what I would suggest, add warmer water to the totes and float the fish to adjust. The temperature won't divert to cold immediately. It will take a few days before it gets cold. Test out putting the totes near a heating vent. Not too close though in case they get fried.

Thanks Now I can't decide if I am happier for my new house or new aquarium redo lol.

 

Aquarium

 

A thicker plastic tote will handle the heater, i've got a smaller one like this, my larger is a goldfish tub (until it gets warm again outside for them to go out into their pond). But I know of a few other members on here that have tubbed their fish and have used heaters, can't think of their names off top of my head - but food safe totes will work for fish!

 

A thicker plastic tote will handle the heater, i've got a smaller one like this, my larger is a goldfish tub (until it gets warm again outside for them to go out into their pond). But I know of a few other members on here that have tubbed their fish and have used heaters, can't think of their names off top of my head - but food safe totes will work for fish!

Awesome!!! Thanks so much!!! I will be ordering everything this weekend to have it all here for when we move next month. I have been wanting to redo their aquarium for quite sometime but put it off knowing we would be buying a house soon. No reason to disrupt and stress the fish more than once.

One last question, do either of you use canister filters? I have been using hob since I started in fish keeping 5 yrs ago but am switching over. I'm considering the sunsun 304b. Do you guys have any experience with this or what can you suggest? My aquarium is 75g. I have been looking at various canisters all day and am getting mixed reviews on all of them.

 

I agree that there should be no problem at all with a heater in a tote, unless it was making direct contact. But that's what the suction cups are for! I used a tote as a hospital tank once for a fish with ammonia poisoning. There were no problems in the three days he was in there, heater and all. I also wrapped the tote with insulation to keep the heater from working too hard, as it was late winter and I keep my house pretty cool.

Plastic #5 is food safe/aquarium safe, if you look at the markings on the bottom of the tub. There are other aquarium safe plastics as well, but 5 holds up the best over time. Be sure, of course, that no cleaners or chemicals have been used in it before.

Edit: I have a Fluval 406 that came with my 75 gallon and is currently running my 40g. I don't love it. I love what it does, and it does what it does well, but I've had to buy several replacement parts for it in the short time I've had it (due to the owner before me doing absolutely no preventative maintenance on it at all, I'll recon). I've had a leak from it. I have an air leak in it somewhere that causes the propeller to occasionally rattle like stones got into it, and I still haven't found the culprit. Occasionally the rattle stops the flow entirely, which is dangerous for my fish if I'm at work when it happens. I recently snapped the primer pump, too, so that's another part I'll have to replace soon. All in all, I would go back to HOB's and sponge filters in a heartbeat. That is my personal experience with canisters. They serve many people well. I just have rotten luck with mine.

 

I agree that there should be no problem at all with a heater in a tote, unless it was making direct contact. But that's what the suction cups are for! I used a tote as a hospital tank once for a fish with ammonia poisoning. There were no problems in the three days he was in there, heater and all. I also wrapped the tote with insulation to keep the heater from working too hard, as it was late winter and I keep my house pretty cool.

Plastic #5 is food safe/aquarium safe, if you look at the markings on the bottom of the tub. There are other aquarium safe plastics as well, but 5 holds up the best over time. Be sure, of course, that no cleaners or chemicals have been used in it before.

Edit: I have a Fluval 406 that came with my 75 gallon and is currently running my 40g. I don't love it. I love what it does, and it does what it does well, but I've had to buy several replacement parts for it in the short time I've had it (due to the owner before me doing absolutely no preventative maintenance on it at all, I'll recon). I've had a leak from it. I have an air leak in it somewhere that causes the propeller to occasionally rattle like stones got into it, and I still haven't found the culprit. Occasionally the rattle stops the flow entirely, which is dangerous for my fish if I'm at work when it happens. I recently snapped the primer pump, too, so that's another part I'll have to replace soon. All in all, I would go back to HOB's and sponge filters in a heartbeat. That is my personal experience with canisters. They serve many people well. I just have rotten luck with mine.

Those are the type of reviews I'm getting on all of them (fluval, eheim, sunsun) as far as negativity goes. Hmm I might just stick with the hob filters I have. I haven't had any problems other than they look awful IMHO.

 

You can try larger sponge filters? You can hide them in the back with plants?
I haven't gotten the hang of the cannister I have just yet so I can't give any reviews (it is rated for 175 gals though on a 45 gal tank, so it is super clean), I like my hob, for all the maintenance I have to do on them (it is easy maintenance though).

 

I can't do sponge filters on this tank as it also houses a red eared slider and they are filthy.

 

I can't do sponge filters on this tank as it also houses a red eared slider and they are filthy.

I know how that is, I definitely wouldn't do a canister with a turtle!

 

I know how that is, I definitely wouldn't do a canister with a turtle!

Ok I'll forget that thought then. I love my turtle but ya he is messy haha.