Outdoor Plant Tank

[Lakea]

My tank lights have greatly limited my abilities to grow plants, so I was thinking of setting up a small fish tank, 20 gallons or so, to grow plants, a little aquatic garden.

I want to keep it small so I will be able to move it inside if I have to. I don't plan to have any heaters or filter or any kind of equipment. I don't really know where to start though. I figure some native texas plants would be a good start.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this?

[TonyG]

I have something like that on my balcony. It is a large plastic tub that I had sitting around empty, along with an extra bag of top soil and no filter. I have various plants in it such as amazon swords, ambulia, java fern, chain sword, micro sword, and various others. I also have a pair of bettas in it to take care of any insects that decide it looks like a good breeding ground, and they always seem to have fat bellies so I very seldomly have feed them. I have had it setup for a couple of months and so far it is doing quite well, and when I get new plants for my tank a few clippings always go into the tub.

[fredtex]

how big is your tub? i seen one at the army navy store, it was a small watering troff for $20 was going to use it forthe same thing.

[TonyG]

The tub that I am using holds 28 gallons, though I usually keep it only about half full. Also, its measurements are approximately 30"x16"x15"(LxWxH).

A watering trough should work great, and it should hold up to the weather and UV damage better than most storage bins. I have heard of the cheaper/thinner storage bins cracking from the weather and UV damage within a few months. The storage bin I am using is a heavy duty one, and I believe that it came from either lowes or home depot.

[ElijahTurtle]

I've seen lots of ideas in the past using rubbermaid tubs from walmart to make balcony garden ponds & fountains. It will work in your case as well. Basically the idea is to take a cheap tub from walmart & trim a large hole in the platic lid so it will keep the tub from flexing outward when it's full of water. Then surround it with some rocks & or some potted plants to mask the tub.
Since your doing live plants it might be best to use a clear one if it is in a well shaded area. If not just use one of the grey ones. All you need aside from that is one of those little fountain pumps or some kind of aeration to provide circulation & keep the O2 up in the water for the fish.
I'll see if I can find some more links or pics.

I would leave a little mre around the edge than this pic.
1020

[AndrewH]

I have a "tub" in the backyard with plants.

Morning sun, afternoon shade (to help keep the temps down a bit - but wouldn't be too worried about it).

The "tub" I'm using is one of the Turtle shaped sand boxes (I think they're from Wally World/Toys-R-Us). It was left behind from the previous owner. Works great.

If you don't plan on keeping fish in the tank, then all you need is water and plants.

I'm currently replacing my evap water with untreated tap water. Supposedly the plants will break down the chlorine as food.

Originally I had a couple of gouramis in the tub, but that didn't work out so good when my daughter decided the tub was low on water while filling up their swimming pool and filled up the tab without treating the water first. Before that the tub was filled with rain water only and ran 2+ months without any problems.

[Lakea]

Well, I was on ebay and I set a bid on a pond, it is probably about 160 gallons, so hopefully I'll win it.

If not that tub idea my be my next choice, even though the turtle sand box sounds aweful cute :p:. Or maybe I'll set up both, hmm...

Thanks for the ideas guys!

[kewlkatdady]

Supposedly the plants will break down the chlorine as food.



the chlorine will naturally go away in a holding tank in about 24 hours...

never heard the plant/chlorine thing before (not saying that you are wrong, just saying I've never heard it)

[AndrewH]

Oops, meant chloramine (chlorine and ammonia).

Supposedly what happens is the chlorine and ammonia bond breaks down and the chlorine escapes to the air and ammonia goes through the nitrogen cycle (staying in the water).

From what I'm seeing in my tub, it takes chloramine about 7 days to break down without aeration.