Need some shark nuts advice here

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julsy

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 23, 2009
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indiana
Im currently in the middle of my 225 reef tank, once i finish that im looking to start getting the necessary items to build a 1500-2500 gal saltwater shark tank, im thinking in the neighborhood of 10x5x5 or so of a tank. Give me some idea of filtration, light, bedding, decor, and what is a fairly active shark that will be good with rays also. I want to do this right so im asking the advice way in advance. :popcorn:

thanks,
Julsy
 
Most of the bamboo sharks (white spotted, brown banded, epps etc..) or catsharks (marble cats, coral cats etc...) that are in the pet trade will work for size. You'll want a LOT of mechanical and bio filtration going. Fine sand works best for substrate. Use good natural lighting, but make sure to have both bright nad dark spots in the tank.
 
awesome, still seeking as much info, this will be one of my first shark tanks, so i want to make sure i do it properly
 
Ultimately you will need to decide on which species you want to keep.

But there are many things that consistant with shark or ray tanks.

First - being filtration - it's a must to have a system that can remove 100% of the nitrogen. All elasmobranches are very intolerate of nitrates/Nitrites & Ammonia.

Specific equipment that will help.

- Sand Filters
- Protein Skimmers
- Sumps
- Refugiums

Also Biological filtration is very help - which includes Cured Live Rock (in tank & sump), Live sand/Aragonite (in tank), marine plants (in tank & refugium), & live mud/Miracle Mud (in refugium)

Filtration rate for smaller systems(under 1,000 gallons) should be at least 5 times the tank's volume.

But the actual habitat settings will vary depending on the species.
 
Great info again, much appreciated, so can i keep sharks and rays in the same tank, i really like the blue spotted rays, and im leaning towards the bamboo sharks. how many do you think i can keep happy in a 1500gal tank, and what else can i put in with these guys that wont suffer a timely death
 
when you say, not as hardy, what are they sensative to, and do you think 2 bamboos and 2 spotteds could live in a 10x5x5
 
when you say, not as hardy, what are they sensative to, and do you think 2 bamboos and 2 spotteds could live in a 10x5x5
Click to expand...

When I say blue spotted rays - are not as Hardy - I mean that they are more difficult to keep alive than the round rays(genus Urobatis). But ultimately it depends on which species of Blue Spotted ray. The Blue Spotted Ribbontail (Taeniura lymma) is extremely difficult to keep alive. While the Bluespotted or Masked Stingray (Dasyatis kuhlii) is actually a very hardy species.

As for tank/pond size - to have a water depth of 5' would only make it more difficult for you to clean - and it doesn't nothing for the bamboo sharks or rays. Bamboo sharks & small rays usually will be fine with a water depth of 2-3 ft. Anything more will just mean more surface that you have to clean, and make it harder to reach the sharks or rays.

A 10' long x 5' wide pond would be okay for small bamboos (such as Grays or Arabians) & a pair for Cortez stingrays. But for larger species suzh as Whitespotted Bamboos would do better with a pond that is at least 12' x 6' wide. For Brown Banded Bamboos - a pond that's at least 14' long x 7' wide would be suggested.
 
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