Freshwater Florida Stingray/Atlantic Stingray

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charles-n-charge

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 28, 2010
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Livingston Tx
I've got a 200 gallon tank (7-2-2) freshwater setup and am wanting to get a freshwater Atlantic stingray because they are the only species of freshwater stingray that are legal here in Texas. I know they are suppose to be more brackish water to salt water fish but can do well in freshwater if the tank is big enough and the filtration is good. My question is, is my tank big enough to keep one in freshwater? I also do weekly filter cleanings, bi-weekly tank cleanings, and a 25% water change every week or so (give or take a couple days).
 
I doubt it, They release more ammonia than the south American freshwater rays when in freshwater. From what I have read a tank above 1000 gallons would d be needed to keep the ammonia diluted in the water enough, so that it won't kill the ray before the bacteria convert it, and to help accomplish that a lot of flow and a continuous water changer would probably also be needed. But if what I have read is wrong others will say so.
 
They have been kept with limited success in smaller tanks but A huge tank would be needed to have a good success rate.

It could probably be done in a 200 but it would be risky and you would have to change out a lot more water than you are now. maybe 50% every other day
 
charles-n-charge;4943293; said:
I use aquarium salt in all my tanks, would this possibly help becuase it comes from evaporated sea water?

No.

If you want to keep the fish, why not just give it a saltwater aquarium? Your tank would likely be revolving around it anyways.
 
Because there are already freshwater fish that live in there and saltwater is much more expensive than freshwater. What if I were to add a drip system to the tank to constantly take out and replace water? I think it gets rid of a gallon of old water and adds a gallon of new every two hours or so
 
Even though the salt your using is made from evaporated sea water it won't due in making marine sea water for marine fish, It isn't the right type of slat probably not enough or to many electrons and also not enough minerals.
 
Alright so what steps would it take for me to successfully keep one in freshwater in my 200 with other fish that are normally suitable tankmates for stingrays
 
an insane amount of filtration and water changes, i want one too :/

the produce an extremely large amount of urea to keep themselves alive in fresh

IF i were going to do it, and i have absolutely no experience with them or any rays for that matter.

i would

1. double my current filtration
2. make a very large sump, fill it with matrix, purigen, and a pot filled with lucky "bamboo"
3. set up a constant drip system, a gallon every two hours isn't even close to enough. 25% wc are nothing, go 50% or go home
if i were setting up a constant drip i would have it doing 1-2 gph
 
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