My dream tank. Criticism? Suggestions? Am I crazy? :)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ive been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, matter of fact I can just about see it right now out my office window. But have not been back since the Aussie exhibit went in.

I think your thinking of the Amazon Exhibit in the DC National Zoo, yes? It rocks. The PIMA's are the ticket.

Now for your questions.

The Zebra is MUCH more Passive than a Dragon so that would work except they are shrimp eaters..so eventually bye bye Mantis.

Sharks and Rays are bottoms by nature but ask anyone who has kept rays and they will tell you, They go all over. I have owned 3. Up the sides and slide down, across the middle...they are fairly active at feeding time.

The Sharks wouldn't eat the rays the way you think....they would bite at the edges of the disc causing bacterial infections.

Lion would not go after anyone, but he will not get out of the way either. And during feeding time Rays and Eels get pretty active.....it's just a risk.

If I were doing what you wanted I'd do a shark tank with some real active mid water larger fish..ie Large Tangs (Sohal, Naso, Unicorn), Porkfish, or the like. Then in another tank I'd have several Large Lions with a large eel in the rock pile.

I've found in planning all my tanks that with SW it takes a LOT more planning the stocklist and order than with FW. One wrong move can destroy a tank.

I've heard several stories of a 100 clown trigger "Deciding" to kill all his friends and costing 1000's in dead livestock.
 
Did you see Jeff Corwins seminar at the Aquarium? He was about 3 feet away from me, I almost died! Lol

I didn't want any mobile inverts besides a mantis. But leaving it out is not a problem in the least. A 30 gallon or something that size (acrylic?) would'nt be too difficult. I'm just mainly dying(whining) about the shark, ray, lion, and eel. Again, I decided to just completely screw the triggerfish and puffer. That would just ditch all hopes of even a single coral polyp... I didn't really want inverts a mantis would bother (unless they mess with flame scallops and crocea clams??) I don't really want that much in the way of inverts, just a few really pretty ones.

Soft sand? You mean like round-grained? I've heard of infections from abrasions from rough sand. Not fish related, but one of my dumbest novice mistakes when I first got my beardie 5 years ago was the ground walnut shell crap. It was so abrasive, my dragon got sores on his feet. The scales, when healed, grew back smooth, I can't imagine how much that must have hurt him...

I wouldnt think an epaulette or even a coral cat would bother biting a stingray... They seem so passive!

I know stingrays and eppies will go all over, I was just saying they would spend most of the time at the bottom. What 3 sharks/rays have you kept by the way? Any pics?

Whats a center overflow? A cylindrical tank sounds cool! That would actually be preferable over a rectangular tank if I could pull it off. This tank is like a peice of furniture. A lot of people here keep their monster fish in boring tanks in a fish room. I just want a work of art with my favorite fish, and leave it at that. So its all or nothing. Well, hopefully all. I can compromise. :)

"I think your thinking of the Amazon Exhibit in the DC National Zoo, yes? It rocks. The PIMA's are the ticket."

:confused: :confused:

But thanks a lot guys, I'm glad someone was brave enough to come answer a newbies stupid question! hahaha But yeah, SW rocks! :headbang2
 
Sorry, I have a few more questions I just thought of... Does the order matter in which the fish are introduced? And how long would tank 'cycling' take for something like this? What exactly is cycling? And can someone explain what a protein skimmer does?

Thanks!
 
Loconorc I suggest buying Sharks and Rays by Scott W. Michael ... it will answer any question you will have.
 
Yeah I was considering that for Christmas... I was looking on amazon.com the other day and under related books for Sharks and Rays it had a moray book and a book about 'dream tanks'. You think I should get those too? If you need I can give you the titles, but all 3 books got 4-5 star ratings.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll ask the folks. I'm not spending any money of my own until my ackies are bought and set up, which should be late next summer.

Hey varanio, whats your varanus.net name? And have you kept ackies, kimberlies or other dwarf monitors? Thanks for the suggestions btw.

Questions are still up for discussion, a book cant solve everything. ;)
 
loco well talk about that in reptiles bring the question up in there or in pm.....
 
Well I asked it here alrready, you mind just repyling via PM? It doesn't matter where we do it, your call.

Any more tank input from you though?...
 
The book is a good base.... actually a great base because its literature worth reading unlike some of the reptile literature out there this is up to date with technology in aquaria.

I am on the waitlist for Kimberlies and I have 1.3 reds and 1.3 yellows also waiting for Tristis Tristis would like to get some caudos and gilleni, but I am waiting to see if I can get my hands on Lacies. No interest in pils or tristis orientalis. And I also keep jobis and indicus
 
Oh wow youre really into it! When you get kims, post pics! I'll be all into it lol. Absolutely my faves..... Any pics of the peachies or mangroves?
 
No other criticisms from anyone? Please? *puppy eyes*
 
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