Need idea for 55 project

[jlcoop277]

Ok, So i've had a 55g long sitting around for some time now and haven't been able to persuade the wife to let me have 2 tanks in the house, so i'm going to set it up in the garage. I need some ideas as to what to keep in it. I was thinking a native tank, but I know they prefer cooler waters, and i'm not buying a chiller, just using all the spare stuff for set up. I was thinking maybe a puffer tank or something like that. IDK.
Need ideas.
Thanks!

jlcoop277 added 20 Minutes and 46 Seconds later...

I'm leaning towards a predator tank. Maybe Peacock Bass or something like that. I know they would outgrow the tank within a year.

[pillguy]

Peacock bass you will need more like 455 gal. In Texas, you will need to have a plan for heat no matter what you keep in there.

[BBrianMo1]

with the heat we get, if you don't have a chiller on it - almost nothing will survive in there outside of mosquito larvae.

[greatwit]

You could probably bring the temp down a little bit with evaporative cooling and topping off with cooler tap water. Maybe you could build a small fish room in your garage and add an ac unit.

[robert1]

I doubt the misses will allow a section of the garage to be A/C'd for a tank, when she wont allow it in the house even. I would sell it. You can do a garage tank but I have heard alot of negative stuff about the challenges of doing that.

[jlcoop277]

Haha, actually the garage is my space as long as she can park in it she could care less. I'm thinking of doing a puffer tank with it. She thinks they are cute, so I'm gonna work that angle and set it up in the office. I think I can make that happen. Any major negatives with puffers?

[JMatthew]

with the heat we get, if you don't have a chiller on it - almost nothing will survive in there outside of mosquito larvae.

I kept african and ca Cichilids on back porch all summer long last year. Not a single death. A garage does not get the same veneration, though.

[Gumbie]

Jason,
What size tank were they in and how did you keep them cooled down? I’ve got a garden room that I wanted to put a tank in but thought it would be too hot.

[JMatthew]

Used 20 longs - kept about eight 3 inch Africans on each - just did water changes twice a week or green algae would run abundant. The third tank I hate a single 7 inch Veja in. I ran sponge filters in all three. I did nothing to cool them directly. They just sat on my porch and I tried to keep them out of the sun as much ad possible.

I also have a 30 breeder I ran with about 6 or 8 goldfish all through the summer AND winter. When we had the week of snow and freezing I finally had to drill holes in the ice and pull the tank in for 24 hours. Just been running a sponge filter on that also.

Frankly, people often overcomplicate our hobby ;)

[jlcoop277]

Talked the wife into the puffer tank in the office, downside is i had to clean the office for the go ahead. Thinking a Fahaka.

[Minnow]

That will be better for your swimmers. Texas garages get something hot...