Fish Load

[Birdman]

My indoor QT tank is 4' wide by 8' long with about 32" of water in it. About 600 gal. I want to move some of my fish in it for the winter and heat the water for them. Any idea how many inches of fish I can winter in it? Water changes are no problem, I can do as many as needed.

[dick benbow]

the water changes part makes me nervous, I'm more of a 24/7 trickle in and out type...but build yourself in some protection...with water depth you'll want to keep smaller koi in there 8-10-12 inchers, no less than 2 no more 4.
anytime you bring fish in to grow and protect from the winter you'll need to be able to provide high levels of quality light ( natural or artificial full spectrum ) or you lose the pretty color of your lil' showa....

[Birdman]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow the water changes part makes me nervous, I'm more of a 24/7 trickle in and out type...but build yourself in some protection...with water depth you'll want to keep smaller koi in there 8-10-12 inchers, no less than 2 no more 4. anytime you bring fish in to grow and protect from the winter you'll need to be able to provide high levels of quality light ( natural or artificial full spectrum ) or you lose the pretty color of your lil' showa....

I was planing on 4 - 10 to 12 inch fish. I already have a pipe for water changes with an over flow so a small continous water change would be no problem.

[RayJordan]

Steve,
The size and type of filter will have a lot to do with the load cpacity of your system. I have a similar size Q-tank. I use a two cubic foot bubble bead filter and a 40 gallon barrel DIY Trickle Tower filter with six cubic feet of 1" bioballs for media. Water is circulated about every 40 minutes. I have sucessfully put about 15 lbs of koi through a 8 week quarantine with 25% biweekly water changes and very light feeding with this system.

[mojo]

here comes again the debate on how many fish in your pond. some people said 250 gallon per fish, some said 100 galon, some said 10 gallon per inch. then the answer to your question is Yes and No. But let face the reality. Most of us are overcrowded. My neighbor have a 13000 gallon pond he stack in at least 500 10-12 inch fish of his own breeding, (25 gallon per one 10 inch fish, 1 inch 2.5 gallon). It so crowded that one day the pump fail only 4 hours, he have too dump 2 large garbage can of fish ! the dealer in my town have 48 show quality fish all 20+inch fish in a 3000 gallon. Fish die because of parasite and bacteria. In your case then will have no parasite. Only bacteria. the only way to combat it is to change new water as much as you can or feed them as little as you can. Sure overcrow can weaken their inmune system. Sure it cannot grow large as in big pond. But with water change, you can do all fine. there is a member grows couple fish in 200 gallon to 20 inch! the secret is she change 100% water every week. This even a debate of how many gallon you change (% wise) or have to change all water (100%) per week.
Since this is a personal experience, for me their is no fix rule of how many inch per gallon, but it just the water quality, and how much work you are willing to put in it. But again, it's just my opinion.

[Birdman]

Right now my filter is about 60 gal fluid bed with about 5 cubic feet bio flo 9. Water flow is 950 GPH. My main objective is max feeding to grow out 3 of the 4 fish. I have thought about adding a DIY lava rock Bakki shower or a TT but am concerned about this cooling the water to much. My heating bill is something I have to watch.

[dizzyfish]

I don't think you have to worry about cooling the water much below room temperature. Humidity, condensation are greater issue IME.

Dick is the color loss associated with being kept in improper or deficient lighting reversable? Does it matter if they fade over winter and then are put back outside?
Mitch

[mojo]

Quote: Originally Posted by RayJordan Steve, The size and type of filter will have a lot to do with the load cpacity of your system. I have a similar size Q-tank. I use a two cubic foot bubble bead filter and a 40 gallon barrel DIY Trickle Tower filter with six cubic feet of 1" bioballs for media. Water is circulated about every 40 minutes. I have sucessfully put about 15 lbs of koi through a 8 week quarantine with 25% biweekly water changes and very light feeding with this system.

let put it this way, mr Jordan, If your filter system do not put out the required parameter with your existing fish load then start having a larger one and increase flow rate. A larger filter and a larger tower sure can do a lot of good to the water, but it also a heaven to unwanted bacteria along with good bacteria. We just have to have something just enough is better. Again, it just my thought.

[Steve Nguyen]

can't recall who did similar thing last year and ended up with much regrets. fish can stay outside pond under severe cold temp.

Steve

Quote: Originally Posted by Birdman My indoor QT tank is 4' wide by 8' long with about 32" of water in it. About 600 gal. I want to move some of my fish in it for the winter and heat the water for them. Any idea how many inches of fish I can winter in it? Water changes are no problem, I can do as many as needed.

[dizzyfish]

I believe he stated he wanted them to grow all winter. We overwinter a lot of koi inside in crowded conditions successfully, sort of like Ray. Holding them and getting good growth rates are two different stories.
Mitch