I have a decent sized metal cattle stock tank (aprrox. 5' x 2' x 2.5'); I think it's made of either stainless or galvanized metal, most likely galvanized. Is it usable for keeping fish?
Is a metal stock tank usable for keeping fish?
- Thread starter Wiggles92
- Start date
i'm not sure if its safe, but i bet you could coat it with something similar to what is used in plywood builds to seal it
A galvanized tank, especially a brand new one, will leech toxic levels of zinc into the fish's water. The zinc affects neurological processes that will cause symptoms of imbalance, ramming, gasping, aggressiveness, listlessness, etc.
An aged tank will still leech out chemicals until they're expended. Then the warm tropical temps will accellerate rusting of the steel base.
Better to line the tank with pond material or epoxy seal the entire tank inside and out.
An aged tank will still leech out chemicals until they're expended. Then the warm tropical temps will accellerate rusting of the steel base.
Better to line the tank with pond material or epoxy seal the entire tank inside and out.
Oddball;3261529; said:
I'm not challenging, just asking...
Would this hold true for tanks meant to be used as a watering tank for cattle?
My thought would be that a tank meant for cattle to drink out of would be made following "potable" methods, making it perfectly safe to be used for fish. But maybe I'm giving more credit to the cattle industry than they deserve...
Ok, so I'll see about putting a liner in it; I'm pretty sure I have some spare liner around the house.
Cattle don't get all of their water from drinking. I've tried finding any study on the neurological complications of using galvanized steel in stock watering tanks but have yet to find anything. I would assuage that cattle do feel some effect. However, the effect is lower than would be felt by fish exposed to the zinc leech 24/7.