I am currently in the process of ordering a aquarium measuring 120x72x30, and i am curious to hear some opinions on best ways to filter it. I have contacted several aquarium builders and have received many different options on filtering. some recommend using fluidized sand filters, where others say use traditional sump design, then a few recommend using all natural filtration with a refugium. All three designs obviously incorporate a large protein skimmer. the aquarium will house two brown banded bamboo sharks and hopefully if there is enough room a male grey smoothhound, and maybe a few naso tangs. So any opinions on sump design would be really appreciated. also what would be the best location for the overflows, corner, center of tanks, back of tank. The volume will be roughly 1100 gallons, not including sump. The last question i have is will a metal stand affect the sharks?
large shark tank filtration
- Thread starter cohl120
- Start date
Metal shouldn't affect the sharks, as long as there is a decent insulator between the stand and the tank in the event that there's a leak/spill. I'm using a fluidized bed filter, UV filter, the marine package from Tenecor as my sump, and a large skimmer.
Looks kind of like you might need to research your species selection a bit. Actually - While the bamboo sharks are tropcial species (72-84F), Smoothhounds are a cool to temperate water species (60-70F). So they don't do well in tanks that are kept at tropical water temps.
Also the tank you are describing isn't large enough for an adult Gray Smoothhound for it's entire life.
Also the tank you are describing isn't large enough for an adult Gray Smoothhound for it's entire life.
krj-1168;3382864; said:
I have been researching both species for several weeks and have read on shark and ray central that smoothhounds can handle the warmer temps as long as i keep the o2 levels up, krj i thought you previously stated that a smoothhound could be successfully housed with bamboo sharks. also do you think this set up would be too small for even a male smoothhound?
Whatever you decide to stock the tank with, i would try to utilize some form of denitrating filtration. Its something im working on now myself. Personally, if it will help me save money and keep the fish healthy, im willing to try it. Even if it saves me one 500 gallon waterchange a year, thats still a few hundred dollars worth of salt and buffer. Plus it allows me to feed heartily, without having to worry about water quality all the time.
To accomplish this you could use a refugium, deep sand bed, bio-denitrator, DIY Algae/turf scrubber, tons of live rock, even just plants and algae in the tank, etc etc.
Just my two cents.
To accomplish this you could use a refugium, deep sand bed, bio-denitrator, DIY Algae/turf scrubber, tons of live rock, even just plants and algae in the tank, etc etc.
Just my two cents.
capo larzo;3383035; said:
Thanks for the information, i am planning on using as much live rock as i can in the sump for sure and also in the display. it's just gonna take awhile to build up a sufficient amount for this tank size. anyway to save on water changes will be greatly appreciated. my plans right now are to have live rock with a refugium and some chaeto algae in it, along with all the necesarry mechanical filtration.
Zoodiver;3386364; said:
thanks for the information, is there any certain models you have worked with or would reccomend for the sand filter and biotower, also what would be your opinion on housing a smoothhound with bamboo sharks at a temp in the low 70s, is it even possible, i dont want to stress either species so if it's not possible i will jsut forget the smoothhound, its just i realy like their size and activity level of that shark. if there is another species that is similar thats more tropical and is suitable for my tank dimensions please let me know.