Outside Tank in Florida

I am considering an outside tank for guppies. I live in Florida so the climate is mild. The tank would be in a covered area so it would not get a lot of direct sun, but it would get some in the afternoon. It would be a heated tank, but probably not a powerful enough heater for really cold snaps.

I would assume, the larger the tank, the more stable the temperature. I could double up on heaters to keep the temperature more stable. It would be up against the house which I think would stabilize the temperature to a degree. What temperatures are survivable for short periods of time? Are there long-term health consequences of short periods of below ideal temperature?

I wonder what other issues I would have to address. Other critters, infestations and toxins? Pesticides? Fertilizers? It is in a screened in area so the critter issue would be limited, but not eliminated?

Does anybody have any experience with this?

 

I don’t have a tank but I do have a 150G pond on my patio. I’m in Texas so I don’t use heaters outside. I do have a de-icer I place in during winter months. It only comes on to keep water above freezing so fish can get oxygen if it ices. I also keep a spitter going to keep water moving. You could use a bubbler or filter overflow. I also keep a net over mine which cost me $12 on EBay. It’s lasted over 1 1/2 years so far. It floats on the water. On the few nights that we do get below freezing, I placed a piece of insulated foam board over the pond, leaving a small gap for oxygen. You could cover your tank with a quilt leaving a small air hole.

 

Next summer I plan to get an Intex above ground pool off Amazon for my backyard and put it on gym flooring (to avoid holes). This would be for summer grow out. I can't afford my dream koi pond yet so no digging in the ground.
I figure get one that is 2 feet deep to keep herons/racoons away. Frogbit for cover. Some java moss on the bottom.

 

I live in the northeast and did my 29 outside over the summer from April till around the end of August . It was awesome I did organic soil capped with PFS started with 4 ramshorns then added 12 guppies I had a dual sponge filter on it bein run by a solar powered air pump I’ve since moved it in and added a SunSun 302 a Nicrew sky led and an hpg Finnex heater... here’s a couple pics of it both outside and inside.. also while it was outside it doubled as my little sparrow bird friends bird bath... always amazes me looking back at the transformation

 

Wow, that is really cool. Did you just let the temperature vary with the outside temperature?

 

Wow, that is really cool. Did you just let the temperature vary with the outside temperature?

Yes and Being outside WC’s were simple just get the siphon going and let it run down my yard... and refilled with garden hose water n I still have all 12 guppies a ton of ramshorn and I added 10 tiger barbs 5 albino Cory’s and an albino bristlenose pleco

 

Not an outdoor tank but, I am in California and I have an outdoor guppy pond. It's been going strong for three years now.

 

Resurrecting this thread from last fall. Did not get around to setting up an outside tank. Now thinking about it again. But with different issues now. Here in Orlando Florida, the summer gets pretty hot. In the shade, I would guess the tank would stay mostly in the mid to upper 80’s. Outside temp regularly gets up in the 90’s in the afternoon, but I would think not for long enough to get a tank in the shade above 90. Maybe upper 80’s.

Anyway, I am wondering if feeder guppies and ramshorn snails would survive in that. I have an extra filter. Don’t need a heater. Could pick up a 40 breeder for 40 bucks. Or upgrade my existing 40 breeder to a 55 and put my existing 40 breeder outside.

I could put some hornwort in there. Maybe some assassin snails too. Would it be cruel to put guppies in that kind of heat? Of course they would be culls that would otherwise go to the LFS feeder tank so, better than being eaten I suppose.

Thinking of putting in the screened in area, but could put it in the yard. But I would worry about pesticides getting in there in the yard. Maybe the garage. Gets pretty hot in there though. Not as much air flow as in the screened area. And no natural light.

Just thinking.

 

I live in the northeast and did my 29 outside over the summer from April till around the end of August . It was awesome I did organic soil capped with PFS started with 4 ramshorns then added 12 guppies I had a dual sponge filter on it bein run by a solar powered air pump I’ve since moved it in and added a SunSun 302 a Nicrew sky led and an hpg Finnex heater... here’s a couple pics of it both outside and inside.. also while it was outside it doubled as my little sparrow bird friends bird bath... always amazes me looking back at the transformation

Really nice