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300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:59 pm
by Kansasslider
Ok I need a bigger tank and watched a video on you tube about a 300 gallon stock tank and I'm going for it. It will be in a basement in KS cold winters. Any ideas how to keep water temp good. How many heaters etc? Any suggestions really. Thanks.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:12 pm
by Diamondbacks4Life
How low do you think the temp will go your basement. IF it stays low enough and consistent hibernation will be very simple.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:47 pm
by Kansasslider
Part of my basement is heated I would say half of it is heated. Is that your tank on you tube? It shouldn't get below 60° or 65.I'm thinking 2 heaters?

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:28 pm
by steve
Do you want to hibernate? Can you fit a 300 gallon down there? They're pretty huge.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:22 am
by Kansasslider
Yea Steve its 69"x63"x25" . I have plenty of room and I would rather not hibernate. I really like the stock tank Idea. For $220 its a lot cheaper than a glass tank of the same size.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:03 am
by Kansasslider
Only one problem door was only 23" wide. Problem solved!

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:05 am
by Kansasslider
Oops picts are backwards .Just needs trim and stain.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:35 am
by steve
Yea, I would probably get 2 heaters. If your guys are old enough, having the temps in the low 70's shouldn't be a big deal.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:41 pm
by Kansasslider
Well my Slidy should have been named slidet. I have only one question. I have them in a 40 gal tank and only one fx5. What would be the best way to cycle the stock tank water?

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:57 pm
by steve
You're going to use the same filter? Do you mean circulation cycle or nitrogen cycle?

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:17 pm
by Kansasslider
Yes same filter not really sure what you call it when first setting up a new tank. But I had to cycle my 40 gallon before adding fish and turtles. Getting Ammonia etc in check.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:00 am
by ljapa
Kansasslider wrote:Yes same filter not really sure what you call it when first setting up a new tank. But I had to cycle my 40 gallon before adding fish and turtles. Getting Ammonia etc in check.


If you can elevate the stock tank enough that you can use the FX5 and even better, if you can add the substrate from your existing tank, you'll be in good shape. The biomedia in the filter and the substrate is coated with both kinds of bacteria to process ammonia -> nitrite and nitrite -> nitrate. You'll lose some because it's also growing on the glass and any other surface in the aquarium. But the important thing is the bacteria colony was already dealing with the bioload. As long as you don't kill it off with chlorine/chloramines, your cycle, if any, will last days.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:25 am
by Kansasslider
I just realized I worded my question wrong. What do I do with my turtles while the new tank cycles?

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:49 am
by Diamondbacks4Life
Kansasslider wrote:I just realized I worded my question wrong. What do I do with my turtles while the new tank cycles?

Turtles aren't like fish, its okay to throw them in. It wont hurt them.

Re: 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank

PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:25 am
by Kansasslider
Ok thanks