Long time lurker, first time poster....
Ive been away from the hobby for a little over 2 years now but getting back into it. I used to have a bunch of cichlids plecos and other types of freshwater fish but Ive always wanted to keep rays. Up until recently i never felt i had the stability or the $$ to properly house and care for a few of them but now am ready to give it a go. Currently I have a 75 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon saltwater quarantine/nano reef, both are doing great couldnt be happier with them.
Onto the rays and the master plan..... I have this 150 gallon tank with wet dry filter and all the pumps and fixins to make a great starter tank for a couple rays while i shop for a big boy. then once i find or make the right size tank im looking for Ill use the 150 for a few discus's and a quarantine tank for pups or sick rays.
couple questions for now...
Substrate or not? was thinking of going with sand, using diy undersand jets, with no decor.
Im mostly interested in keeping BD, leopoldi, galaxy, pearl. Are these rays that much more difficult to keep than a marble? Am I crazy for wanting to keep one of the first mentioned ones as my first rays? Im not saying price is no object but if this is an animal I could possibly have for 20 years I want it to be something im totally excited about. Or would it be a better idea to get a pair of marbles and learn the ropes with them, but with the intent of finding them a nice home one day and getting the rays i really want?
The Big Tank, For me and my space I think 6'x6'x24"ish would be ideal, (I dunno the exact gallons here but guessing it would be in the 500+ range). Is it better to have a longer rectangle or shorter square? If rectangle what would be minumum size for them to do circles and not have trouble as adults? If square is 24 inches high overkill could i get way with 18ish?
I have so many other questions but ill save them for now.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate solid advice.
Ive been away from the hobby for a little over 2 years now but getting back into it. I used to have a bunch of cichlids plecos and other types of freshwater fish but Ive always wanted to keep rays. Up until recently i never felt i had the stability or the $$ to properly house and care for a few of them but now am ready to give it a go. Currently I have a 75 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon saltwater quarantine/nano reef, both are doing great couldnt be happier with them.
Onto the rays and the master plan..... I have this 150 gallon tank with wet dry filter and all the pumps and fixins to make a great starter tank for a couple rays while i shop for a big boy. then once i find or make the right size tank im looking for Ill use the 150 for a few discus's and a quarantine tank for pups or sick rays.
couple questions for now...
Substrate or not? was thinking of going with sand, using diy undersand jets, with no decor.
Im mostly interested in keeping BD, leopoldi, galaxy, pearl. Are these rays that much more difficult to keep than a marble? Am I crazy for wanting to keep one of the first mentioned ones as my first rays? Im not saying price is no object but if this is an animal I could possibly have for 20 years I want it to be something im totally excited about. Or would it be a better idea to get a pair of marbles and learn the ropes with them, but with the intent of finding them a nice home one day and getting the rays i really want?
The Big Tank, For me and my space I think 6'x6'x24"ish would be ideal, (I dunno the exact gallons here but guessing it would be in the 500+ range). Is it better to have a longer rectangle or shorter square? If rectangle what would be minumum size for them to do circles and not have trouble as adults? If square is 24 inches high overkill could i get way with 18ish?
I have so many other questions but ill save them for now.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate solid advice.
