Really want a stingray, what do i need?

[Jakob]

I have a tank that is 60x20x20. I have been wanting a ray for some time now. Only tankmates would be Polypterus Lapradei. (1 or 2). bottom is fine/smoothe gravel. Filteration is Juwel 400L filteration (sort of a sump) that is 1000L p/h. I also have Rena XP3 that filters 1350L p/h. I was wondering if that would be enaugh with 50% wc once a week?

I can order 3 kind of rays:
Potamotrygon Reticulata 4" for $140
Potamotrygon Motoro 12" for $390
Potamotrygon Castexi 10" for $585
And i think i would most likely go with the Reticulata.
How long could that pup live in my tank?
I will upgrade in 5 years or so.

What should the heat be and ph?
Is it ok to MOSTLY feed raw shrimps and pellets?

I have kept fish for 8 years but never rays so you can see why i am asking.

And just to have that clear i am not getting stingrays because they are cool (though they are). I have always been keeping the same amateur fish. Frontosa, and semi rare CA cichlids, polypterus. I thought i would try something else.

NOTE: I want clear and good answers from people who really know something about rays.

 

[Jakob]

any1?

 

[fastfreddy]

I would suggest you go with a Retic. Motoros and Castexi will out grow that tank within two years. Once you go with rays you will see there are no other fish like them. Good to see someone doing home work before purchasing. Good luck.

 

[Iffrat]

i have a 48 x 24 x 31 that im going to have 2 motoro's in .. getting both as pups and im going to have 2 Fx5's for filtration and some people say i would still need a sump and frequent water changes (weekly) to keep up with them.

one of the most demanding freshwater fish to keep. Keep in mind that there is a reason that not a whole ton of people keep them.

 

[Nic]

i kept 3 rays and a 14 other fish in a 220... 1 50 breeder sump media changed around and a true 1800gph pump for return (overflows were just able to keep up) and i was doing 2-3 50% a week and was fine... you got 2 fx5 you dont need a sump... unless your planning on an additional 8 fish in that tank...

 

[sharp tooth]

get rid of the juwel filter, there HUGE and only hold 4 square bits of foam. they take up space for no good reason. get a decent large external filter with 3 trays packed with media, this will be 1000x better bio filtration then the crappy juwel internal. ontop of the extrnal you already have.

change your water changes to 40% twice a week.

prawn, mussel, cockle, bloodworm, pellets, earthworms and even blackworms if your not in the uk. try to keep it varied as much as possible. its hard to get rays to eat eveything you want them to but its better for them in the long run.

temp wants to be 78-80, but ppl have sucess alittle higher or alittle lower.

make sure there is plenty of oxygen getting into the water, you could add an air pump. as well as haveing the filter inlets breaking the waters surface.

get a test kit just to keep an eye on things.

keep up the maintenance even if you dont think it needs it.

 

[Iffrat]

i kept 3 rays and a 14 other fish in a 220... 1 50 breeder sump media changed around and a true 1800gph pump for return (overflows were just able to keep up) and i was doing 2-3 50% a week and was fine... you got 2 fx5 you dont need a sump... unless your planning on an additional 8 fish in that tank...

like my siggy says .. 4 dats 4 pbass and 2 rays in the 150 for a grow out.. then to the 300 gal (i have a P3 and a Fx5 on the 150 right now that will move over to the 300 gal when they are ready)

 

[sharp tooth]

oh yer forgot to add,

start looking for a bigger tank. it will do fine for a while. i my self have my pearl pair (5" disc each) and my motoro (8" disc) in a juwel rio 400 which i take it you have?
but i have a 7x3x2 getting set up as we speak. ide happly keep them in the rio 400 for a while but in the end you want a bigger tank so you might as well start looking now.

 

[Nic]

like my siggy says .. 4 dats 4 pbass and 2 rays in the 150 for a grow out.. then to the 300 gal (i have a P3 and a Fx5 on the 150 right now that will move over to the 300 gal when they are ready)

10 large fish 2 stingrays 180 gallon 1 xp3 1 xp4 i weekly 50% maybe 2 water change tank was fine... add a sump if you want but it be a waste of money


that meant to say 18 more fish not 8

 

[Jakob]

Yes it is a Juwel 400.
So this would be ok:
Take out the Juwel box
2x Rena XP4 (more?)
Air pump
wc 50% once-twice a week
heater
temperature measurer
Test kit

What should the ph be?