Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

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PBbeacher
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Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by PBbeacher »

As title suggests liking for tips to keep fish bowl clean. It's the Thai style type that's like a large plant pot with guppies in it. I just changed the water and removed the dead lotus plant, now it only has small white pebbles at the bottom (added today for first time) and a small clay plant plot in it. Usually water stays clear just a few days before becoming green. Looking for plants i can obtain to keep the water cleaner and oxygenate it. Haven't had any luck in garden or fish shops.

Sorry if wrong forum, not sure where to post.
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buksida
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by buksida »

Keep it well away from any sunlight, the microscopic algae in the water will feed off it and grow (hence the green).

To keep it oxygenated use one of those small pumps with an air brick to keep the water moving and yes, a plant in there would also help. There used to be an aquarium shop along the railway road about halfway between soi 88 and the station. No idea if it is still there after recent junta purges.
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404cameljockey
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by 404cameljockey »

buksida wrote: Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:26 pm Keep it well away from any sunlight, the microscopic algae in the water will feed off it and grow (hence the green).

To keep it oxygenated use one of those small pumps with an air brick to keep the water moving and yes, a plant in there would also help. There used to be an aquarium shop along the railway road about halfway between soi 88 and the station. No idea if it is still there after recent junta purges.
It's still there. Bit strong to talk about purges anyway. :/
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Vital Spark
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by Vital Spark »

I have a largish ceramic bowl outside my house with a nice lily in it and lots of little fish. The water is crystal clear - apart from when I pull out some of the weedy stuff at the bottom and stir up a bit of dirt (just to give the fish more room to swim). I never feed the fish as they seem to get enough of whatever they need from the plants. I don't have a pump in it either. The water hasn't been changed in the bowl since I moved here (7 yrs ago), and it gets topped up with the rain or a hose. It's half in the shade, so perhaps that's why it doesn't suffer from that horrible green algae. Be careful about using cleaning products in the bowl - I think fish like a bit of dirt and grime.

VS

P.S. The fish like to hide under the lily leaves, and the flowers are beautiful when they come out.
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

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Vital Spark wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:16 am I have a largish ceramic bowl outside my house with a nice lily in it and lots of little fish. The water is crystal clear - apart from when I pull out some of the weedy stuff at the bottom and stir up a bit of dirt (just to give the fish more room to swim). I never feed the fish as they seem to get enough of whatever they need from the plants. I don't have a pump in it either. The water hasn't been changed in the bowl since I moved here (7 yrs ago), and it gets topped up with the rain or a hose. It's half in the shade, so perhaps that's why it doesn't suffer from that horrible green algae. Be careful about using cleaning products in the bowl - I think fish like a bit of dirt and grime.

VS

P.S. The fish like to hide under the lily leaves, and the flowers are beautiful when they come out.


Hahaha. VS, we had these "fish bowls" in our garden for years and the water stays crystal clear with absolutely no input from us at all. Like you, we never even feed the fish. Our pots are in the shade for part of the day and in full sun for the rest of the day. Having said that, the surface of the water is usually almost entirely covered by a plant that looks similar to a lettuce. These grow and spread like crazy so every other week we just remove about half of the plants. I've never seen the plants for sale but any Thai who has some in a pond or bowl will gladly give you some.

:cheers:
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by Takiap »

PBbeacher wrote: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:19 pm As title suggests liking for tips to keep fish bowl clean. It's the Thai style type that's like a large plant pot with guppies in it. I just changed the water and removed the dead lotus plant, now it only has small white pebbles at the bottom (added today for first time) and a small clay plant plot in it. Usually water stays clear just a few days before becoming green. Looking for plants i can obtain to keep the water cleaner and oxygenate it. Haven't had any luck in garden or fish shops.

Sorry if wrong forum, not sure where to post.

If you are ever in the area around soi 6, let me know and I'll gladly give you some plants which will keep your water crystal clear, even in full sun. No need for pumps, filters, or even fish food mate.

:cheers:
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by PeteC »

Takiap wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 am If you are ever in the area around soi 6, let me know and I'll gladly give you some plants which will keep your water crystal clear, even in full sun. No need for pumps, filters, or even fish food mate :cheers:
Care to give us a hint as to what those magic plants are? :D Pete :cheers:
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PBbeacher
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

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Thanks all, yesterday I bought a pleco fish and liberated a few plants from local pond...yeah one of them looks like a floating lettuce! If i change the water I'll move it to a shadier spot, no way i can lift it when it's full. Maybe try and ween them off food too. Thanks again guys
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by magnum »

I think the plant is a water hyacinth, I found it excellent keeping pot clean but it does grow fast but easy to thin out as it grows in individual like plants. I tend to feed fish regular prevents them eating the young .
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

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PeteC wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:34 am
Takiap wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 am If you are ever in the area around soi 6, let me know and I'll gladly give you some plants which will keep your water crystal clear, even in full sun. No need for pumps, filters, or even fish food mate :cheers:
Care to give us a hint as to what those magic plants are? :D Pete :cheers:

I just Googled it :D The answer is Pistia, also referred to as water lettuce, water cabbage, and etc.


:cheers:
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

Post by PeteC »

Yes, thanks, I know that one. As you say it's good with guppies but not so good with anything larger. I've had it in my small pond with koi and gold fish and they eat the dangling roots and you end up with a lot of dead plants.

Magnum's idea about the water hyacinth is interesting. That's the plant that almost chokes most rivers here every year, including the Chao Phraya. I've never seen them for sale though as Thais probably think crazy that anyone would buy them. :D I guess it's self collection if you want to try some in your pond. Pete :cheers:

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PBbeacher
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Re: Keeping small outdoor fish bowl clean

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By the way, sorry to have to say it but pleco fish become suicidal when placed in these conditions. RIP...
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