Can anyone help with instructions on overwintering my container pond critters indoors in a tank?

Question

The container we have now is approx 5-7 gallons, old planter, and I have 2 large goldfish and one tiny one, 10 snails, and now it seems 3 frogs have shown up. I'd like to keep these as well. We're looking for about a 20 gal tank for indoors. I know what to do with my plants, just need help with the critters. Thanks!

Answer 1

You don't say how "large" the two biggest fish are, and common goldfish can grow up to 23 inches in a pond (I'll hope they aren't that large yet). You'll need an even larger tank in years to come, so you might want to think about going as large as you'll eventually need now. You should plan on about 20 gallons for each fish as adults. If you don't want that large of an aquarium, look at a farm supply store at tubs/livestock tanks that you may be able to keep in a basement.

The biggest problem you'll face is the input of all the wastes these fish can produce. If you attempt to add all three to a container/tank that's new, the ammonia they can produce will most likely kill them without water changes on a daily/every other day basis. This is because the bacteria that convert their wates from toxic forms (ammonia, nitrite) into the less harmful nitrate haven't been established in the tank yet. You can establish this in a tank without fish, but the process takes 3-6 weeks, so this is something you may want to start on soon. See this link about "fishless cycling" to prepare your tank: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm When you add the fish, start before the water gets really cold (you don't want there to be too large of a temperature change for your fish), and only add the snails, or one fish at a time so the bacteria needed have a week or so to build up before you add the next one. Net them out of the pond and place them in a plastic bag or bucket, then bring them inside and acclimate them to the new water, just as you would do if you bought a new fish and brought it home from the pet store: http://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm

Answer 2

confident. Plan on allowing a drainage hollow. an common 'plug' is fill hollow with silicone & enable dry in basic terms formerly a water fill. In fall, pull the silicone out and it will at last drain. next spring create a sparkling silicone plug. it extremely is what I did for backside piece of my fountain. I additionally made powerful I had approximately 6" intensity for a %. the pass (bathroom %. the pass that does no longer have the ball) and suitable to an outdoors outdoors hose 'faucet'. this type the water element in no way have been given low adequate to break the pump.

Answer 3

you need at least 40 gallons long and the frogs need a tight fitting lid. if the gold fish are koi then 50 gallons each