Newbie shark fancier

[Rasputint]

Greetings all. Sure this probably gets asked alot on here but im interested in finding out more about owning a small shark such as a bamboo or marble and aside from finding out tank dimensions, set ups etc im just curious about a few things.

Having never kept salt water before are they much harder to keep than say a predatory tank full of arawana's and eels as I have kept one of these before very sucessfully?

I have a 6ft by 3ft by 3ft tank available to me now obviously this is going to be blinking heavy would/is it suitable to have these tanks in flats as I am soon to move to a new apartment which is on the top floor and the last thing I would want is it to fall through the ceiling probably a stupid question but never hurts to know more.

Also with regards to running costs in what region can these be expected to be as I cant seem to find any info on this im based in the UK also for anyone who may be UK based.

Regards

Ras

 

[Zoodiver]

I'd suggest a year or more of just saltwater keeping prior to getting into sharks. There is a lot to figure out with water chemistry prior to adding a shark and all those factors into the mix.

Most of your cost will be start up - buying the tank, filters and animals. Food and water changes will be the next big chunk of change.

 

[Rasputint]

Yeah money isnt really an issue tbh its more the weight and floor space really. Also experience wise I take your point of keeping salties for a year. Would it be prudent to keep the same tank but effectively understock it so come 18 months down the line I can introduce the shark. If this were the case would i not potentially end up prblems introducing a small shark with larger fish?

Cheers

ps just a note I wont be setting anything up till Jan so planning every to the last detail atm

 

[alprazo]

3*6 is a nice footprint to disperse the weight. I would set it against a bearing wall and hopefully it can run across the floor joists and not parallel with them. Then it should be fine.

 

[krj-1168]

I agree with Zoodiver, here.

Just because Bamboo and Epaulette sharks are listed as "Beginner Sharks" doesn't mean that they are good beginner SW fishes. In fact - all sharks are quite sensitive to water chemistry & temperature changes - much more so than most beginner SW fishes.

 

[mrbondatut]

A 6x3x3ft tank is 404 gallons. With the water alone that is 3353 pounds. Add the weight of the tank, stand, and any equipment id say you're prolly close to 4353 pounds. You would essentially be parking a Quad Cab 4 wheel drive pickup truck with a bed full of 200 kittens in a 6ftx 3ft space. I think this is a larger issue for you than just being new to saltwater.

 

[Pazzoman]

A 6x3x3ft tank is 404 gallons. With the water alone that is 3353 pounds. Add the weight of the tank, stand, and any equipment id say you're prolly close to 4353 pounds. You would essentially be parking a Quad Cab 4 wheel drive pickup truck with a bed full of 200 kittens in a 6ftx 3ft space. I think this is a larger issue for you than just being new to saltwater.

Lmfao! 200 kittens

 

[FLESHY]

Lmfao! 200 kittens

+1 for the mental image!

 

[polachecksaquatics]

I agree with everyone. I've had a salt tank for about two yrs before I started with a shark. Made some mistakes along the way, but glad to have my Bamboo though.

 

[Conner]

A 6x3x3ft tank is 404 gallons. With the water alone that is 3353 pounds. Add the weight of the tank, stand, and any equipment id say you're prolly close to 4353 pounds. You would essentially be parking a Quad Cab 4 wheel drive pickup truck with a bed full of 200 kittens in a 6ftx 3ft space. I think this is a larger issue for you than just being new to saltwater.

And yet, assuming 4,353 pounds, that is still only 1.67 pounds per square inch (psi). Just about any type of newer construction is very well capable of handling that kind of pressure. So that's not likely to be an issue.

The only issue here is getting some quality sw experience under your belt before diving into keeping something like a shark.