Twelve feet deep is almost like too deep. Think about maintenance on something tall and skinny. And you'll need tremendous metal halide ballasts and bulbs to get the illumination you'll want. If you can afford it, I think a tall reef would be pretty cool given the dimensions you have availAble. But again the lighting will cost an arm and a leg
Need help!
- Thread starter SilasX93
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We were ready for this to be a sub-$30,000 project. I really would like the sharks and rays, but I guess I'm pretty flexible. My original plan was black tip reef sharks, but we would supposedly need an olympic swimming pool to accommodate those big guys!
Again, I can say I've heard excellent things about epaulettes, leopard sharks, banded sharks, hound sharks, and even wobbegongs and nurse sharks. The only aquarium rays I've found in my research are blue spotted rays.
I did find this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8y8D4JcZbk
Which seems to be a beautiful setup IMO and I was hoping to replicate that on a much larger scale. A tank is a must; I cannot do a pond, and dimensions are flexible at best. Whatever it would take I would be willing to rearrange a couple things. A 20 ft. diameter is not preferred but it is possible. Thank you.
Again, I can say I've heard excellent things about epaulettes, leopard sharks, banded sharks, hound sharks, and even wobbegongs and nurse sharks. The only aquarium rays I've found in my research are blue spotted rays.
I did find this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8y8D4JcZbk
Which seems to be a beautiful setup IMO and I was hoping to replicate that on a much larger scale. A tank is a must; I cannot do a pond, and dimensions are flexible at best. Whatever it would take I would be willing to rearrange a couple things. A 20 ft. diameter is not preferred but it is possible. Thank you.
That tank is woefully undersized for even a young leopard. And nurse sharks - fair warning, people on shark forums will eat you alive for even mentioning nurse sharks. They get over 10' long - up to 14'. Think 2x what you need for a blacktip.
If the only rays you've found are blue spotted rays, I suggest more research - there are dozens of regularly available species, of which the blue spotted ray is one of the least hardy.
What kind of experience do you have in keeping saltwater fish?
If the only rays you've found are blue spotted rays, I suggest more research - there are dozens of regularly available species, of which the blue spotted ray is one of the least hardy.
What kind of experience do you have in keeping saltwater fish?
Ok - just checking. Figured that'd be important to clarify sooner rather than later.
So like I asked before - what's your goal with this tank? What kind of ambience are you trying to create with it? It's fine if it's just to look really cool, but then what kind of style do you want in there?
So like I asked before - what's your goal with this tank? What kind of ambience are you trying to create with it? It's fine if it's just to look really cool, but then what kind of style do you want in there?
Well, I'd like it to have clear blue water, and be almost cylindrical but not quite, to have a pillar in the middle with coral and such on it, and in the pillar to have openings for an eel to live, and to have open sand on the bottom for the rays and small sharks. If possible I'd like the tank to be taller than it is wide, but some of these folks are saying that's not good for sharks.
When you're talking about leopard Sharks, Smoothhounds, Epaulettes, Bamboo Sharks, Catsharks, Nurse sharks & various species of rays - you need to realize that most of these species require different water temperature (some are cool water, & some others are warm water species).
Given the footprint of 8-10' in diameter that you've been stating so far - I would suggest sticking with the small bottom-dwelling sharks - like Coral Catsharks, Bamboos, or Epaulettes. And the Round rays for your rays.
Also with any species you need to consider the nature of the species in question, such as is it a Bottom-dwelling or an active Swimming species. Is it a Non-ORV or ORV (Obligated Ram Ventilator)? Also you need to consider the maximum size of the shark and what kind of space does it need so that it can be kept for life.
Given the footprint of 8-10' in diameter that you've been stating so far - I would suggest sticking with the small bottom-dwelling sharks - like Coral Catsharks, Bamboos, or Epaulettes. And the Round rays for your rays.
Also with any species you need to consider the nature of the species in question, such as is it a Bottom-dwelling or an active Swimming species. Is it a Non-ORV or ORV (Obligated Ram Ventilator)? Also you need to consider the maximum size of the shark and what kind of space does it need so that it can be kept for life.
x2 to what Ken said.
Stick to carpet sharks (but not nurse sharks).
Tall is going to be a pain when it comes to feeding sharks. Also, all that water volume is wasted since most sharks won't swim up and down. If you have the space, increase your footprint instead of making it so tall - and go oval instead of circle. You'll have better results when/if you add sharks that need to swim.
I thinking large sandfilter and a large pt. skimmer and bio-tower. Possibly ozone or UV to keep your clarity up.
As for fish stock in the mix, it really depends on what kinds of sharks you go with.
Stick to carpet sharks (but not nurse sharks).
Tall is going to be a pain when it comes to feeding sharks. Also, all that water volume is wasted since most sharks won't swim up and down. If you have the space, increase your footprint instead of making it so tall - and go oval instead of circle. You'll have better results when/if you add sharks that need to swim.
I thinking large sandfilter and a large pt. skimmer and bio-tower. Possibly ozone or UV to keep your clarity up.
As for fish stock in the mix, it really depends on what kinds of sharks you go with.
perhaps you can do this a different way make a very large foot print tank and have tables on top of acrylic looking down on it. you would have to go diving to clean it but it would be cool. or perhaps have a tank that circles the restuarant more or less
or perhaps you could set up some deal with a commercial aquaria in your area if you really want larger species of sharks. you keep them until they grow to large then give them to the aquarium.
or perhaps you could set up some deal with a commercial aquaria in your area if you really want larger species of sharks. you keep them until they grow to large then give them to the aquarium.
Whether you are using glass or acrylic the height of you aquarium is what adds cost. Reason being that you would have to use a thicker material to construct a taller tank. You can get a much larger shark tank with less height and larger footprint than a tall tank that wouldn’t be the right habitat for a shark. Not to mention overall maintenance will be easier especially because a tall tank of the size you want you may have to get into to clean. If you are housing sharks spend your money on length and depth of your aquarium. Plus if somehow you managed to have corals in your tank with sharks (not recommending) the lighting will be much more affordable on a shallower tank.
