What to do with a 1000 Litre pond??

I am not too sure if this is a subtle sarcastic jab at my sincere attempt to get advice and/or suggestions with respect to what fish, (in the opinion of experienced TASA members) would be suitable for the set environment to multiply spontaneously in a natural way and was certainly not meant to entertain anyone or win a spot on a reel list of funnies…… I apologise if it came across as such, or if it is perceived to be a “public pollâ€â€¦.

I do however agree that this setup would not be suitable for Arowanas, so thank you for your contribution.

I previously had 12 x circular outside heated pools (2m diameter – over 2000l of water in each), where I had a number of Tropicals breeding spontaneously without any intervention apart from periodic water changes. For this specific project, I have now narrowed down to BN’s, Bumblebee gobies, Pink Kissers, or Black lace Angelfish….. Any further suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks also to all who have made positive suggestions already.

 

So, (if I read this corectly....) my advice on Odessa's and Ticto's meant nothing? ...lol --> Then I an gonna throw my ultimate breeding weapon @ you Cheetah.... Kuhli loaches...
Buy 20 or so,chuck 'em in a established pond and harvest in a years time or so....
Just remember to remove the 4 humans in the pic you posted when you started this thread(this is me being completely facetious and irevarent,not to mention WAY off topic,but....)
My oppinion: The Barbs I mentioned have aGR$EA resale value and breed WAY easily,without much human interferance...My 2 cents worth....

 

If you're breeding bumblebee gobies, being such small fish, how will you prevent them getting sucked into your filter system and manage to actually filter such a large volume of water at the same time? I can only think of covering your inlets with sponges, but surely that can't work on such a large setup?

The only thing I would really love to see bred locally would be Otocinclus and botine loaches

 

Otto's!! Now thats a idea if you can get it right, never ending market

 

If you could get SAE to breed in there, you would have a never ending line people at your front door with bucket asking for some, and the courier service at your back door permanently picking up packages to be send everywhere else in SA.

As far as I know (from my reading), it's almost impossible to get them to breed in captivity.

 

As it is, I cut the bottom off a plastic 2l bottle, re-inforce the surrounds of the bottle on the inside with wiremesh, (the suction is so strong, it actually implodes the bottle), make a hole in the plastic lid of the bottle to "tightfit" the inlet tubing through the lid... fill the bottle with pebbles and close off the open end at the bottom with silk stockings (courtesy of my wife) or old sun filter curtains.... The wider inlet then reduces the velocity of the water (at the inlet) and even the smallest fish swims away from the current. (I bred Blue gouramies this way in a pond, and even their tiny fry was not sucked in)

 

That's interesting, I wouldn't have thought of using pebbles. I suppose they would prevent yoiur inlet from imploding, and shouldn't clog up as easily as sponges

Has anyone got any idea how easy/difficult it is to breed Otos? I'd certainly love to get some more myself!

 

I think Otos are quite a bit easier to breed that SAE's

 

@Cheetah I'm not sure if you're actually interested in breeding otos, but there have been confirmed cases of it happening in tanks. They breed pretty much the same way as Corydoras, and most likely need lots of plants and algae and clean water to get it going.

http://www.otocinclus.com/breeding.html

 

Well!.... I've read your link and although I am extremely tempted, (and may even still succumb).... the event (of breeding Ottos in captivity) is still perceived (by me) to be pioneers work and currently at a stage where a positive breakthrough might even get a fish named after you (lol)....

Since I do not think with my unexposed experience I should attempt to move at those levels, I would rather opt for something (still challenging) but at a much simpler level..... However, I do have a world renowned contact that specialises in breeding Corydoras and will bounce the question off him.... maybe I can still be convinced to at least try them at some stage.

I know that (for instance) BN's are bred in large numbers in SA and around the world and is no longer considered to be an achievement, BUT, I have not personally accomplished that success yet, and it is these sort of challenges that I'm looking at for this project. Apart from this bid or buy "pond", I also have a brand new (still in the box) circular 2m diameter x 2ft deep kiddies pool (more than 2000l of water) stacked in the garage, and I'm thinking of Congo Tetras (for instance).... just not too sure if the fry will survive with the parents in the pond. (Australian Rainbows is another one which comes to mind)..... hence my reason for asking advice on this forum.

 

Righteo!!... It hath arrived, and I am busy filling it..... as it is with these deals.... the listed photo shows a 3 layer with 2 adults and 2 kids in it.... the pic of the item (on the box) I received, is a 2 layer with 2 kids in it.... but at least the measurements correspond.





The filter will be installed over the weekend, and now I still do not (really) know what I want to put in there.... Congo tetras, BN's, Boesemani's.... Maybe even Bumblebee Gobies?????........

Anything that will just continue to multiply with no more intervention than water changes..... (I have in the meantime met a fish importer (on this forum) and he said I should just draw up a wish list... more suggestions???

 

Cheetah - what is the expected life of this pool if you use it as a permanent container?

Later Ferdie

 

Why not some Celestial Pearl Danios or Micorasboras, both quite rare and expensive if sourced. Not to mention totally desirable.

 

Well.... In a years' time, I am moving (retiring) to Kimberley (Northen Cape) so if it'll last that long, I'll be happy and make an alternative plan before then.... My other (2m dia) kiddies pools were used for approximately 3 years before I moved house and chucked them away due to no available space at my house in Thabazimbi.... I now have a gicantic yard in Amandelbult....

 

Pool Party!!!

 

Don't get too stressed about it, I seem to remember that Kimberley has a potentially bigger pool you could use anyway..

 

Can you imagine:
[*] The filter you would need for that tank
[*] the type and cost of heating it
[*] the time is would take to just a simple 10% water change, let along how you going to syphon all the junk of the bottom.
[*] the type of lights you would need if you decided to go planted?

On the plus side, you would never has fish competing for space, (nor would you ever see them)

 

Yea, a far cry from your Nano, Ash
I presume there must be some fishy life there..any ideas before we go off topic completely ?

 

What I would like to see more of is pygmy corries (Corydors pygmaeus). The correct breeding conditions for them are quite easy to achieve. Neutral pH, 24° temp, mix of planted open swimming areas, undemanding food needs (just good granules and flakes) and a big school of the buggers and let them do the rest. Not sure about other areas but I've never seen pymgies here in PE and I know for a fact that corries are top sellers. About the only issue I can think of is that they like soft water but some peat in the filter can take care fo that.

 

Yeah pygmy corries and microrasbora briggitae would be cool.
You would sell them by the millions.