Unusual behavior? (+ vid of new tank)

[Mount_Prion]

[video=youtube_share;QnspfzSzcsI]http://youtu.be/QnspfzSzcsI[/video]

So this is the first vid of my new mini-ray tank. Sorry for poor quality and forgetting to turn off lights in background tank.

Anyway, at about 37 seconds in, you'll see my female ray do this crazy "flying" thing she likes to do where she charges right at the head where the water pumps out and floats in the current. Is this unusual? She spends a LOT of her time doing it and is rarely just on the bottom of the tank being a ray. In fact, both of the rays in here are generally crazy hyperactive. I don't think it's just food begging because I hear them splashing around on top of the water current at night.

There's a lot of flow and water bubbles being pumped in, as it was my understanding rays really dig this. Sort of a noob ray keeper here, could use any advice.

 

[DIDYSIS]

Rays love to play in the water jets and flow. Some more than others. That does look like some crazy flow there you have in that spot.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[spotfin]

Are these from TUIC? How much flow is there? And what is the substrate?

 

[KNH]

As long as your water is good I wouldn't be worried. Rays don't always stay at the bottom. Maybe it's just the angle but your tank does seem a little small. What size is it?

 

[Mount_Prion]

Are these from TUIC? How much flow is there? And what is the substrate?

TUIC? Don't know what it is but assume not.

I'd say flow is 900-1k GPH.

Substrate is crushed garnet sand.

 

[Mount_Prion]

As long as your water is good I wouldn't be worried. Rays don't always stay at the bottom. Maybe it's just the angle but your tank does seem a little small. What size is it?

It's just a 4x2' frag (1' high) for 2 of Rapps' minis, they max out at 12''.

 

[spotfin]

TUIC= Tangled up in Cichlids.
Flow seems a little excessive for that size tank. Is the sand smooth when you rub it between your fingers?

 

[Mount_Prion]

TUIC= Tangled up in Cichlids.
Flow seems a little excessive for that size tank. Is the sand smooth when you rub it between your fingers?

No, the sand isn't that smooth. That's a concern also. I figure it's possible it's too coarse for the rays (I asked for input here on this and got a few responses saying it'd be OK) and that they're just trying to not spend much time on it. I'm worried that maybe they're getting scraped up and I just don't know. Or that maybe it's sort of sticking to them in a way they don't like and that's why they swim into the water flow. I should note that I've got a 40g sump on this thing so that increases the overall water capacity but not the flow in the main tank.

If the rays were being irritated by the sand, what physical symptoms should I look for? Their undersides seem fine to me but I'm noticing a lighter color around the edge of their discs and less smooth of a shape than I remembered. I'm not sure if this is actually a change or just me noticing things and associating them with paranoid potential problems I'm dreaming up.

Oh, and yes, I suppose these are from TUIC then. I sometimes forget that's the name of Rapps site, and hadn't seen the acronym before.

 

[Just Toby]

Simple way to test te substrate is to take it out (most of it) and see what happens, try shoving a load up one end and see if they settle on the bare area. I would suspects red disc if truly irritating them. Also test the water for nitrate ammonia nitrite and ph for a start....don't use dip strips and do use new kits.

4x2 is prob quite small for 2 12 inch rays just from a bio load point of view, especially if very active.

They look healthy and the substrate looks ok, what happens if you turn off the pumps, do they settle?

 

[UnstoppableJayD]

Hi Ben
the current surfing isnt a concern. my black ray bubble surfs all the time and even taught my marble to do it.He also does this back flip thing where he swims up the back of the tank flips upside down and comes down the front! Supposedly very intelligent for a fish so theyentertain themselves.

the current does look a little extreme but they are rover rays so im sure they are used to current but I would probably turn it down.

as far as the substrate are there bellies pink and irritated? it may be the current does not allow for them to settle bacause tey have to continually swim or be blown away..lower it and see

as long as the water params are good and teu are feeding fine dont be to concerned.

now make some pups so Ican buy them!