Fish for a 45 Gal. barrel
- Thread starter Matak
- Start date
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Last summer, in my whiskey barrel ponds I placed guppies in mine, had no problem with any larva. Since you live well up north. I dont think having mosquito fish in your barrels to be a major problem. But another fish to try would be either the paradise fish or Bettas. I think these guys would do well for the summer and would devour any mosquito larva would have. Just make sure that you have your pathways closed off. Don't want any fighting to go on.
Also, here is a creative idea for you. Try putting in some aquatic plants into these barrels too. If you get enough sunlight, you might get some nice growth and it may be some nice decoration for your yard.
jim
Also, here is a creative idea for you. Try putting in some aquatic plants into these barrels too. If you get enough sunlight, you might get some nice growth and it may be some nice decoration for your yard.
jim
Summers get quite hot up here. We had temps in the 90's frequently last summer. Bettas might be best, but I would have to keep them separate through the winter.
Sunfish aren't that common in my neck of the woods, at least not within a 1/2 hour drive. Besides, I really don't wan't to get into the fish transporting kerfluffle. Good idea though
Well as far as the Gambusia affinis eating other species, they will be the only inhabitants in their environ. I would feed them flake food sparingly and infrequently to encourage them to eat larvae.
I like the idea of the planted barrels. I will be keeping the barrels in the shade all day to keep the temps and algae down, so I might look into some floating plants that do well in the shade. I am shure that outdoor ambient light is at least equivilent to the amount of light you would recieve with normal flourescents at 1 - 2 watts per gallon.
Hmm, maybe some local floating plants.
BTW, could I buffer the pH with something in the bottom of the barrels?
Sunfish aren't that common in my neck of the woods, at least not within a 1/2 hour drive. Besides, I really don't wan't to get into the fish transporting kerfluffle. Good idea though
Well as far as the Gambusia affinis eating other species, they will be the only inhabitants in their environ. I would feed them flake food sparingly and infrequently to encourage them to eat larvae.
I like the idea of the planted barrels. I will be keeping the barrels in the shade all day to keep the temps and algae down, so I might look into some floating plants that do well in the shade. I am shure that outdoor ambient light is at least equivilent to the amount of light you would recieve with normal flourescents at 1 - 2 watts per gallon.
Hmm, maybe some local floating plants.
BTW, could I buffer the pH with something in the bottom of the barrels?
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Barrel
I live in Northern New York (just a few hours from Toronto) and I have an outdoor barrel, too.
I've had good luck with guppies, platies, and the American flagfish (they're a type of killifish and have been mentioned already, as well). The livebearers breed like nuts. (I only had female flags.) I don't have any problems with mosquito larvae.
This summer I think I'm going to try swordtails and possibly some of the 3-4" barbs. Some barbs are really neat, they look kind of like goldfish because they're related, but stay a lot smaller.
I plant my barrel, too.
To buffer the pH you could try a coral substrate on the bottom of the barrel, like they use in African cichlid and saltwater tanks.
Good luck, have fun! I love my barrel.
I live in Northern New York (just a few hours from Toronto) and I have an outdoor barrel, too.
I've had good luck with guppies, platies, and the American flagfish (they're a type of killifish and have been mentioned already, as well). The livebearers breed like nuts. (I only had female flags.) I don't have any problems with mosquito larvae.
This summer I think I'm going to try swordtails and possibly some of the 3-4" barbs. Some barbs are really neat, they look kind of like goldfish because they're related, but stay a lot smaller.
I plant my barrel, too.
To buffer the pH you could try a coral substrate on the bottom of the barrel, like they use in African cichlid and saltwater tanks.
Good luck, have fun! I love my barrel.
In an unrelated thread at the plants forum, Mr Wetman said that a local water company probably used slaked lime in their water supply. Is this something I could use as a cheap buffer to stabalize pH in the rain barrels?
BTW, got the Gambusia Affinis on order at my LFS, but the barrels are with water and the siphon tubes are built and primed. With all the rain we've been having, I've had to limit the amount of water going into them. Hope the fish arrive soon!
BTW, got the Gambusia Affinis on order at my LFS, but the barrels are with water and the siphon tubes are built and primed. With all the rain we've been having, I've had to limit the amount of water going into them. Hope the fish arrive soon!
did somebody say cichlid? yeah, i know i'm gonna get flamed for this, but i throw a pair of parrotfish in my outdoor pond each year for mosquito control...the main reason: voracious appetite...they'll eat ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING that attempts to live in there, & they're extremely hardy. good luck!
Awsome, I love it! thanx BFD.Originally posted by BigFishDude
Good Luck Matak!!
I hope you have lots of this Action! this summer!!
It would have been cuter if I could actually get the picture on the post, but you get the idea
Again, In an unrelated thread at the plants forum, Mr Wetman said that a local water company probably used slaked lime in their water supply. Is this something I could use as a cheap buffer to stabalize pH in the rain barrels?
