34 replies to this topic

[finding newo]

Has anyone put their fry outside in a pond yet?
I assume the water is probably warm enough now being the end of October.
I just threw in 10 Red emps at 4cm to "test the waters".
Poor little guys... but someone has to be brave enough to spend all night in the water... and it ain't going to be me. Theres enough shrinkage as it is already :oops:

[anchar]

Too cold Owen...be careful! Mine won't be going outside for a few weeks yet. Once we've had a few days of mid 20's strung together it should be fine.

Andrea

[swarvegorilla]

My import goldys didn't hack...... ah well food for the platy hordes.
Gonna give it another week at least. I wanna try a peacock species this season. Recon they would make pretty pond fish.

[finding newo]

Well they survived over night...
not to say that they wont freeze to death in the coming weeks.
But looking happy and eating well this afternoon anyways

[swarvegorilla]

I just chucked some hybrid interruptus/pindani fry into a 75L round bucket outside. Well established with plants and mozzies. See how it goes.
Anyone have any data on what africans can handle low temps the best? All I can offer is that fullebornes, empress, flamebacks and zebras survived outside for me well past the date I gave up trying to rescue the sneaky things last winter.
Iv'e only ever had cheap fish out side. :twisted: Now though I am thinking how nice it would be to see a nice fat pack of spilo rounding up platys. Theres a pond I'd be proud to show the Smiths next door. :twisted:

It would mean I would go onto a war footing with the local fishkiller s though. You guys facing burra's, egrets, storks, cats, (ticktreated) dogs, kids, water dragons, canetoads, foxes, herons and ibis too?

By kids I meant..... ummm... goats of course. Dam goats and their filling ponds with rocks.

[Barramundi]

Cats & herons are our big ones here. I'm about to turn the heater off in probably another week or too for the pond. Water temp is still around 19 degrees unheated. But nearly there. Owen, what size pond have you got yours in?

[finding newo]

The size is about 5500 litres.
One metre deep.

Anyways, its been a week now.
They are still eating well and seem to have grown quite a bit larger already!

Have not lost a single fish.
I can easily count them when they are swimming on the bottom because my pond is clearer than my tanks. "BY THE POWER OF OASE!!!" (he-man reference).

Thinking I will put in some more today.
Might check the weeks forcast but I can't see it being a problem.

[finding newo]

Looks like its going to be alright

FORECAST:
Fine this afternoon and during the day tomorrow. A shower or two developing
Monday evening.
Light to moderate NW/SW'ly winds.


TODAY'S TEMPERATURE: Maximum: 23
TOMORROW'S TEMPERATURES: Minimum: 8 Maximum: 22
TODAY'S UV INDEX: 10 [VERY HIGH]

TODAY'S FIRE DANGER: Coastal Plain: MODERATE
Hills: MODERATE

The overnight minimum was 6.2 at 0504 hours

Today will be fine and mild.
Monday will be fine for most of the day but there may be a late shower or two.
Fine conditions will return for Tuesday. A morning shower or two is expected on
Wednesday, but becoming fine by the afternoon, with fine conditions continuing
on Thursday.


MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST FOR PERTH FOR:
Tuesday : Fine. Min: 10 Max: 20
Wednesday : Morning shower then fine. Min: 9 Max: 21
Thursday : Fine. Min: 9 Max: 24

TREND FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY:
Fine. Maximum temperatures: Mid 20s.

[Dan]

sweet!!!!!

do u think the maingano would survive outside?

[finding newo]

maingano are a hard to fish kill.

[Dan]

K thanks

think I'll give it a go then.

[swarvegorilla]

maingano are a hard to fish kill.........

IME they are usually murdered by other maingano if anything....

[keleherr]

couldnt agree mor swarv

[thefreodockers]

Im looking to set up an outdoor pond for either cichlids or barramundi/saratoga/murray cod (cats beware). What do i need to know such as heating through winter, sizes, cost etc? I think i want the pond to be about 1m x 2.5m x 1m. The heating is my main query as im clued in enough on filtration etc.

[keleherr]

heating something that size in winter would have huge cost,your power bill would increase dramaticaly.murry cod,bream ect would be fine though and wouldnt need heat in winter.
hth james

[thefreodockers]

What about saltwater? what species are there that dont require heating? also by cost, what am I looking at for heating more specifically ie 200~300 bucks?

[finding newo]

shame Murry cod are one the noxious list.
Think you get a 10K fine if you are caught with one.

[Barramundi]

Also a pond of that depth requires council approval & a pool fence (applies to anything of 60cm deep). & to keep a Murray cod happily it's a bit shallow, IMO. But bream can handle temp's down to 8 degrees C b4 fishkills occur... altho weaker fish will keel over b4 then. & extended periods at 8-12 degrees C will lead to illnesses & deaths. But my pond doesn't drop below 18 degrees in winter (with basic 300watt heaters & an increase in the power bill by a couple of hundred dollars over the winter quarter). IMO you'd be wise to investigate solar power or getting one of those "smart meters" from Western Power as the heaviest time the heater is needed is at night. HTH's amigo.

[thefreodockers]

Ive found murray cod being sold in aquarium shops, actually in quite a few. Veba's had one the other day im pretty sure and theres a shop up noth of the river on wanaroo road that seems to always have them... its a marine aquarium specialising store but had freshies too. Not too sure bout the legalities though, not my speciality...

I inquired at Marine West about setting up an outdoor pond. They seem to think that setting up a saltwater one will put me back around $15000!!! even if i do the brickwork/building. The guy told me it was because the marine tanks need cooling in stead of heating and the cooling units are through the roof. Anyways thats way above my limit specially because of uni and all...

Is there anyone who has an outdoor pond with cichlids or anything but koi that i can come see because i would love to find out more about how to go about doing something like this.

Thanks.

[swarvegorilla]

Dude build the bloody thing, work out how to fill it with saltwater and then go fishing.
Not all fish need chillers and stuff.
:-) I have set up 2 foot salt water tanks at under $100 before. Not sure what species you have there but are you close to the beach?

If you don't have any cats I'd go with puffers. They rock hey and you can just throw cracked garden snails into feed them.
But there are lots of fish that can handle a swing in temp, just don't overstock and you'll be right!!!