Can fish live in a trashcan?

[orgetorix]

Here's my dilemma....My 300 gallon planted tank is an absolute mess....I have been thinking about how to fix it and the only real way would be to completely tear out all the plants/wood etc. and start from scratch. I cannot do this with my fish there. Would they be OK for a week or three in a new plastic trashcan? The can would be of sufficient volume and I would provide all the necessary requirments as to heat and so forth....but will the can leach anything into the water...I dont want to kill them and I dont want to have to return them to the store...i dont really ahve anything to delicate...a couple of angels, some harlequin rasboras and some cories....so what do you think? I dont want to purchase another aquarium for this project...thanks.

Mike

 

[TKOS]

It should be fine for s short period of time. You could also look into those really big rubber maid containers.

Since the garbage can has a low surface area you might wish to have increased agitation to make sure there is plenty of oxygen.

 

[Mako]

I've done stuff like that before. It can be done, for sure. Here are a few things I've learned the hard way.

1) Use tons of air- run an airstone or two all the way to the bottom of the can/container, gets more water turning over.

2) Shorter, wider containers- like the rubbermaid boxes TKOS mentioned, are much better than tall cans. More surface area.

3) Cover with a LOOSE fitting lid. Loose fitting = no stagnant air buildup, and the cover keeps the befuddled fish from leaping out. Bed sheets and towels work good so long as they don't sag into the water.

4) PUT YOUR HEATER IN A GLASS JAR!!!! It's never happened to me, but an lfs had a heater malfunction and melt through the plastic. Slide it in a glass jar and stand up on bottom, close to the air stone.

5) Keep the temperature at about 78-80, even if it seems warm. Better have a slightly warm, but constant temp than one that fluctuates from 72-78 throughout the day. Small containers change temp rapidly.

6) Don't feed if keeping them less than 3 days. If you do feed, feed as little as you can stand.

7) LOL, I did learn this one the hard way---- cats like cichlids.



Hope this helps,

Matt