Footprint large enough?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Right. So ive worked out the volume.

It kind of surprised me.

It works out to be 110 gallons with a 12'' height. I know the footprint is more important than the total volume but would 110 be enough?
 
Ok. Why is that?
 
jeffers;4603974; said:
to add water volume and it gives them more room to swim and climb the walls.
Click to expand...

Totally agree, the more volume the better plus you do not want a 20 inch disk on the ray and it not being able to leave the bottom of the tank whn climbing the sides.

If you go much deeper (top to bottom) than 2ft glass plus the added glass for the lid, bracing, lights and cover glass it does become very hard to reach the back for maintenance.

Mine is 32 inches total top to bottom and I have trouble reaching the strainers to clean them and I have to use long planting utensils to rake out the sand and clean the algae on the rear glass - I also have to use steps.

That said, I would consider a 48 inch top to bottom if the tank was to sit on the floor - almost as a pond, that way you get tremendous volume which leads to stable water conditions.
 
Alright. The only thing thats worrying me is where we're going to put it. It is a space thats built into the wall, and its had about 350lbs on it. But not as much as this tank would weigh. So I have to think about that as well as the extra cost of the thicker glass for the added height? If I made the height 30 inches lets say, how thick would the glass be?
 
Prob 12 mm

Do not restrict the height to suit budget or your needs, this needs to be about the health of the fish.

Ge the tank right and you will be a good guardian to them.
 
toby is correct if you cant house properly dont try. maybe you should look at putting the tank somewhere else so you can have a better experience.
 
I just have to say there are to things (imo) that make the experience of keeping rays the most rewarding. One is hand feeding, I hand feed mine every day and LOVE the experience, I put my hand with a nightcrawler on the bottom and they come to me and suck them up like a piece of spaghetti. If the tank was too tall you wouldnt be able to do this. The second thing is watching them climb the walls, I dont know what it is but there is something about watching them stick to the walls and watch there little mouths pucker that can entertain for hours lol. Point being if the tank walls are too high, hand feeding and maintanence will be difficult, if the walls are too short they wont be able to climb the walls. My tank is 24" high and for now its perfect but my rays are small. They wont be small for long and I'll have to move them to a bigger tank but I think 30" will be my max.
 
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