Store fishes in a bucket?

[grey_fox]

I'm thinking of doing a major rescape and have planned out the things that I need, however, in addition to the re-scape, what I will be doing is to keep the fishes (primarily discus) but don't have an extra tank at the moment. I contemplated in getting a 2 footer but realised that once after the rescape (probably 4-5 days) the fishes will be transferred back to the main tank.

I do not just want to get an extra tank (be it FOC or purchased) just for this purpose and don't want an extra tank.

Can I store my fishes (discus, red nose, a trio of apistos, cories, cherry barbs, lampeyes, otos, saes & dwarf pencil fish) in a big bucket (those huge plastic buckets) using the water from the tank?

[kemp]

That was what i used to do. Should not be any problem. I even use those red buckets/pails which my mum used for washing clothing

[avant]

I think you can use those pails temporary as long as it is well oxygenated.
Try to refrain from using those pails that are being used for washing clothes as they might contain residues of the detergent.

[grey_fox]

Thanks. Yup the bucket was never used to do any washing whatsoever. Will drop an air stone in the middle of the bucket to facilitate the oxygen. No filter will be used and small amounts of food will be given throughout their stay there.

[celticfish]

your bioload sounds high so you might want to use more than one bucket.
also should put some foliage to prevent fighting, especially for the apistos...

[grey_fox]

My bioload is not that high.

The bucket is pretty huge, so it should be suffcient. Here's the head count. Bucket can store about 100+ litres of water, so its pretty huge.

6 x "teenager" discus
15 x red nose
4 x cories
3 x dwarf pencil
4 x oto
2 x sae
3 x cherries
3 x apistoes (2 x female, 1 x male)
5 x lampeyes
1 x hillstream loach

I have more fishes in the tank but will either donate them or sell them in the forum here, i.e. black widows, neons, congos, white mountain minnows, bleeding heart, black phantom tetras.

Oh yeah, will put in a driftwood in there for the shy ones to hide.

[|squee|]

I'd seperate the discus with the rest of the fauna.. that way, I'll introduce the rest of the fauna first to see if there are any immediate effects. You can save your discus this way from any possible harm.

[grey_fox]

Ditto on that! I'll seperate them out then.

[dc88]

Hi grey fox,

Why not use those common rectangular plastic storage tub ?



The photo here is my temporary setup at the balcany to host some excess plants and for fish quarantine. A small internal filter (Eden 304) keep the water circulate.
In fact the plants grow quite well, with few hours of morning sun each day.
The storage tub is really cool because I can easily wheel it to the bathroom for water change.

[grey_fox]

Hey dc88, how much is this tub?

[guan]

this tub can be found easily in those hardware shop, or those book stores also.
ranging from 12 -30 over dollars.

[grey_fox]

Thanks guan

Well, think i'll stick to me buckets for the time being, if I were to get 2 x tubs, then I might as well get a 2 footer tank.

[evolim83]

Since the fuana are going to be in there for days, maybe you would like too add a sponge filter? It can at the same time ensure oxygen supply!
You can consider Roka Boy from Gex.

[avant]

Perhaps you can lay a layer of gravel from your tank to act as a colonizing ground for the bacteria as well as opposed to having a filter. Try to do a fair amount of water changes every 2 days to ensure that the water quality is maintained.

[dc88]

Hey dc88, how much is this tub?

This one about $15, various sizes plenty in NTUC or any HDB tupperware shop. This is the type that people used for general storage (it came with a cover and has 4 little wheels under it).
BTW I didn't bought it for this purpose, just "borrow it from family member for the time being.

[grey_fox]

Since the fuana are going to be in there for days, maybe you would like too add a sponge filter? It can at the same time ensure oxygen supply!
You can consider Roka Boy from Gex.

Hey evolim83,

How much does this Roka Boy filter cost? Also, any indication on where to get it? Was thinking of having a sponge filter added also.

I don't think I want to have a line of gravel added into the bucket. I'll won't be washing my filters when I do my rescape, probably only after a week and the other filter the week after. So when I do my rescape, I'll be dropping an air stone into each of the canisters to help keep the BB alive.

The most the fauna will be in there will be in the buckets are about tops- a week.

[GaspingGurami]

No use running your filter without a bioload. The bacteria colony will reduce when there's not enough to feed on. Better to hook it up to the pail with fishes instead. Use a plain powerhead to circulate the water in the tank, and if you maintain the lighting duration, with your plants inside, whatever bacteria in the gravel will be OK as it has mulm to feed off

[grey_fox]

Hey Lawrence,

Thanks for the feedback. This is what I will do.

1. Store 2 x large buckets of water from the tank.
2. Fill up 2 x buckets for fauna. 1 for discus + apistos & 1 for the other fishes.
3. 2 x airstones for the canisters.
4. Clean up the tank.
5. Rescape.
6. Place back the aged water.
7. Place the fauna in except for the discus & apisto.
8. 3 - 4 days later, to add in the discus and apisto but of course, over the course to replace the water in the bucket with the tanks', slow introduction to acclimatize the discus and apisto to the 'new water'.

Feasible?

[valice]

grey_fox, you fauna will be most susceptible to fungus infection after the transfer of tanks due to stress. So keep a look out for any signs of infection or do preventive measures like putting stress medication.

I lost an entire tank of fishes the last round of tank change... Hope to hear from you again after the rescape...

[grey_fox]

Yeah.. that's what I am fearing as well... any good stress-coat that you can help recommend? Nutrafin's brand?