Black tip reef shark tank size question

[Zoodiver]

Just saw you only have 300 gallons to work with (via another post). Not big enough for these guys. Only a few species of smaller catshark will be able to live in something that size.

If you want to move to bonnets and black tips, think more of something the size of a small inground pool. A 21' diameter round pool would be a starting point.

 

[bettadaze]

An inground pool next to the ocean would be the thing. Filtered and sterilized sea water is how alot of the public aquariums keep big sharks.

 

[xgame2k]

Wouldn't a 300 gallon with a few good powerheads work for a while?

 

[Zoodiver]

Not even close. Even the pups need a LOT of swimming space. Something like an 18' or 21' round pool would work for a few months, but even that size it will out grow.

 

[~ocean]

YOU NEED A 1500 GALLON FOR 1 BLACKTIP SHARK - 3000 GALLONS FOR MORE THAN 1 - TERRITORIAL MATTERS.

 

[~ocean]

Wouldn't a 300 gallon with a few good powerheads work for a while?

NOT EVEN CLOSE MAN -WAY WAY OFF - YOU ARE GOING TO KILL THEM IN A 300 g!!!!

 

[capo larzo]

Youd be nearing death in a 1500 gallon tank as well. Considering a tank that size is usually tall, 3 or 4 feet, most of the gallonage is vertical, instead of swimming distance. a 1500 gallon pool is still only in the 12 foot diameter range. Still not big enough.

That much water also does not offset the ammonia production of such an active animal. So some super filtration would be necessary to even attempt such an inhumane set up.

 

[krj-1168]

I agree that 300-500 gallons - isn't completely insane, and inhumane for even a neonate.

In planning to keep any active ORV shark species - the aquarist should at bare minimum start with a suitable size tank/pool that can keep the shark until it at least reachs maturity. For a Blacktip Reef that would be about 18-21 ft in diameter - in order to keep the Blacktip Reef until it's 3-3.5 ft long.

For Life, all ORV(Obligated Ram Ventilators) need a tank/pool/lagoon that is at least 5-6 times their maximum potential size in order to keep them for life. So a Blacktip Reef needs a tank/pool/lagoon that is at least 30-36 ft in diameter. A Bonnethead needs a tank/pool/lagoon that is at least 25-30ft in diameter.

Anything less is really too small for long term.

 

[Jabba954]

What would you suggest in terms of length of body multiplier for slow growing, non-ORV swimming shark? Smoothies or zebra shark, for example? Just as a rule of thumb - curious what'd you suggest.

Oh, and my tank has FINALLY ARRIVED! It's getting installed on the stand this weekend, then filled with the water that's been cycling for the last two months. Rays should be here in ~3 weeks.

 

[Zoodiver]

Smaller speices, twice the adult length for the shortest side of the tank, and five or six times the that measurement for the long side.

Bigger animals need more for the long side just because they need the area to swim in order to keep the muscles developing and functioning correctly.