Possible new ray tank...

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Conner

Conner

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2008
4,461
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Kentucky
So I'm probably buying this weird tank this weekend. I posted a pic of it in a thread in the DIY section ("Possible Cool Tank...").

It's an acrylic cylinder, 45" in diameter and 35" tall, according to the current owner. Assuming I were to get it, get it set up and ready, would it make an ok ray tank? At least for retics, or at least for a few years until I get a bigger pond made?

What do you think?

Here's the pic(the stand will mysteriously disappear as soon as I get it home:D):
 
Yah, its got a decent footprint, and if I can build a good stand for it and get it cleaned/polished up, then I should have some awesome 360* viewing of whatever I decide to put in it.:headbang2:D

Buying a bottom plate, building the stand, and making a custom sump won't be cheap tho.

What thickness of acrylic would I have to go with for a bottom plate for this thing? 1/2"? 3/4"? I can get it out of a 48"x48" piece of acrylic, so at least I won't have to buy a full 4x8 sheet....
 
be good for awhile.... why not make a bottom out of plywood and fiberglass??? be alot cheaper... as far as sump cheap container from walmart
 
What kind of issues would I have attaching an acrylic cylinder to a plywood and fiberglass/epoxied bottom? I will look into it, but either way its going to be a while before this gets set up, I think.

I'm still not even sure how I'm going to build a circular base for this thing. That's something I haven't had to do before. I'm really good at getting things square and level, but circular?:nilly:

And does anybody have a suggestion for acrylic thickness if I do use acrylic as the bottom panel?

Edit: I think these are questions best asked in the DIY section, so don't worry about it. But this will make a pretty cool ray tank for young/small rays, right?
 
be a nice tank for small rays... if you went for the acyrlic bottom 1/2" be fine..if the plywood was sealed via fiberglass first then it would just be wrapping the bottom in fiberglass to finish it off...
 
Would Retic's or Hystrix be good in this for life? Or just for several years?

I'm calling around tomorrow to get some pricing on 4'x4' acrylic sheets, as well as a cut-to-order 45" diameter piece. Then I'll look into the fiberglass. I think it'd be easier to just weld an acrylic base onto it, don't you think? maybe not though...
 
the acrylic be alot easier... i would pay the little extra for the cut to order piece... same you alot of time and a possible headache.. hystrix might be good for life.... if not many years
 
Yah, I figure if I'm going to do this tank, I want it to be a real show piece, so I should do it right. Building the stand to fit, and to hide a sump-style filter will be an interesting endeavor as well. Should make for a couple of interesting threads at the very least :)

With the trouble I've had with Retic's, I'm thinking my next rays will be either Motoro or Hystrix (or both). Obviously I would only get the Motoro's if i can buy/build a larger tank or pond in the future, but I think a couple of Hystrix would do well in this tank for a long time. And would look damn fine in there as well.
 
So as of this afternoon, the guy is holding the tank for me to pick up. I've also priced acrylic, and I can get a cut-to-fit sheet 45" in diameter, 1/2" thick, for $220. Actually cheaper than I expected.

How long would Motoro's be good for in a tank this size? I would rather get Hystrix, I think, but whichever is more available when I'm ready for a new ray is probably the one I'll get. Also, the recent string of Hystrix deaths is making me wary of them as well, unless they are captive bred or have been in captivity for a while.
 
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