Fresh or Salt?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

earthstudent

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2010
390
1
31
Iowa
OK, I am planning a large ray tank. I have not decided if I am going to go FW or SW. I am experienced with both and am also experienced with large tanks. Thou, I have never kept rays at all. I have been doing quite a bit or reading and will continue to do so. This build will not be until this summer or fall.

I am planning on building a 8'x4'x2.5'. I would like 2 rays for possible breading and possibly another tank mate or 2 depending on SW or FW (I am open to suggestions please) . I plan on building everything and will have a massive filtering and bio system (I always do;)).

I have been reading that fresh water rays are easier to keep?

The only thing that is making me lean towards SW is that I am also going to have a (probably 125g or 180g) reef tank that I would make one large system with the ray tank (I assume that would be a good thing?). I obviously can not do that if I do FW rays.

For SW rays I am thinking [FONT=&quot]Urobatis maculates [FONT=&quot]“Cortez Ray”
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
For FW I am thinking [/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Potamotrygon Motoro [FONT=&quot]“Montoro” [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or [/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Potamotrygon Leopoldi [FONT=&quot]“Leo”

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Can I get some opinions from some of the experienced ray keepers. Hopefully someone experienced in both FW and SW rays. Also possibly a good source to buy quality captive born rays from. I would much prefer to buy captive born.
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]
I can not wait :headbang2

[/FONT]
 
I believe Cortez Rays like cooler temps (someone correct me if I'm wrong). So you wouldn't be able to tie it in to your reef tank. But they are one of the hardier species.
 
I like freshwater rays a little better cause I like the colors and patterns better. Right now I have two motoro rays and one hystrix ray. Both have been easy to keep and problem free. As far as leo's go I haven't kept one cause the are a little pricey. Salt water rays are cool to but don't really have too much experience with them so I can't help you there but there are lots of guy's here that can help you out.
 
I would choose fresh personally because what changes would be easier(assuming you don't have bulk saltwater tanks)
 
I've kept and bred all the rays you are looking at.

Couple of pointers. Don't put rays and coral together. Rays can handle more of a range in water quality - and they will shoot your water to crap when trying to keep coral alive.

Yellow rays, Round rays or Cortez would be good starter rays for marine set ups.
Motoro are far cheaper and hardier FW rays compared to leopoldi.
 
Thank you all for the comments and help. I truly appreciate it.

Zoodiver, can you help me with one more thing please? If it would be a bad idea to connect a SW ray tank with a coral reef tank than I am thinking of just doing a FW ray tank. Which would you say is easier, SW rays or FW rays? and what about good tank mates for either one? Or is it just better to keep rays by them selves? I was thinking, if I go FW, putting and arowana in. Not to sure about a SW set up yet?
Ok, maybe that was more than one thing, sorry.
 
Well I can help u with freshwater rays....I had 2 motoros and they were very very cool. The best tankmates in my opinion with motoro rays are silver dollars and geophaques...cant spell for my life. They are very hardy and get used to feeding quickly. Also you will need a powerful filter because they are very messy. If you need any help you came to the right site ;)

P.S. Arowanas are generally peaceful but some times conflicts occur...
 
RoastReef;3949998; said:
I believe Cortez Rays like cooler temps (someone correct me if I'm wrong). So you wouldn't be able to tie it in to your reef tank. But they are one of the hardier species.
Click to expand...
from what I have been told lately is that Cortez rays depending on where they are collected can be kept in 60's degree up to 80 degree temps from Mexico to Northern California. I personally like the California Round Rays and they like the cooler temps also and I think they will be easy also to keep provided you get some healthy specimans from the get go. Being that I only have 860 gallons I cant really have any large rays which is ok with me and it isnt breaking the bank (if I had one).:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom