Outdoor tanks

I don't have room for new tanks in the house. I was thinking the weather is getting ready to break and I have several empty 20 gallon tanks ... what the heck. Does anyone set up outdoor tanks for the summer? If so I would like as many pointers as i can get. My plan is to put them on my back patio which in more or less east facing and grow out my apistogramma in them. Any advice or help would be appreciated.
thanks

Cisco... I've a friend (Vix) that used to use a pond liner to grow out 100's of angels in her backyard... She expressed that the growth rate was phenomenal.. Most likely due to the presence of natural live food... (a light hanging over the pond)... OR>.......Ya could host them in an empty 29G I've setting idle.. 2 of them in fact... Bill

I have 3 20g and a 15 just no room to set them up. The wife said I should have thought about that before I had all those kids. I was going to give the old outdoor thing a try. What the heck. If you would like some fry you are more than welcome. My new batch are 3 day free swimming so not to sure how they will do. its a new mom second spawn.

Keith... I can ALWAY's find a home for rearing fry... Or dox.. or Ira.. Now....Remember.. I was first in line to buy some of your apisto's!..LOL.. I'll be home all day tomorrow.. (My team in the NCAA got bumped).. so.. just doing yard work.. and hangin... Bill
BTW.. Please, oh Please don't let our wives ever meet.. She's of the same mindset as yours!.... I could smuggle in 100 fish and she'd not notice but setting up nothing more than a 5G and I'd be hearing about it!....LOL...Bill Still

Just make sure the fish species you choose can handle the summer hear. You'll have major problems with green water or hair algae if you don't keep the tanks shaded. Duckweed helps to remove nitrogen waste and cover the water to reduce green water from forming. But it can grow so thick that it prevents oxygen from mixing into the water column. Be sure to use a filter or at least an airstone to supply air and current. Keep a screen on the tank. Or your local herring might pay your tank a visit and get a free meal. A cover also helps prevent leaves and other debris from falling in. Keeping a small white light over the tank and keeping it on during the night will attract live food to fall in. Be sure to remove any bugs that don't get eaten or you'll have water quality issues. If using rainwater, be careful with pH crashes. May want to use a buffer if you can't do frequent water changes. I also suggest not placing the tanks on the ground. It's easier and quicker to do water changes when the tank is elevated a bit.

I've done it before in Missouri. Was great until we lost power for a week with temps in the triple digits. Everything died from lack of oxygen on the first day. Keeping the tank clean and using a remote filter unit, such as a canister filter or HOB filter, will reduce the chances of the fish dying as quickly as mine. I was using under gravel filters with an air pump located in a shed with power. Worked great but with so much biomass in the tank, the bacteria consumed the oxygen very quickly and cause the fish deaths. The warm water also holds much less oxygen to start with.

I'd suggest looking into an underground pond first. With a bird net over it.

Thanks. I think I am going to try three 20H, 15L and a 37 I have laying around the house. Why not? Bare bottom with a few potted plants in them. Probably grow some ivy out of the top so roots help filter the water and leaves shade the tanks some. Floating plants of some kind. Probably will use a harbor freight solar flood light for bug attraction. I plan on placing the tanks on the east side of my house so it should just get direct morning sun. Not sure what I will do for filter, Toying with Mat filter so I can just run air pumps.