So I Really Want A Ray...

[CaptainNegatory]

Hello All,
A few days ago I went to Shark Reef here at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and I literally spent hours just petting the Rays they had there. After spending some time around Google looking up about rays I found MFK. I'm not sure if the Rays they had at the aquarium were Salt or Freshwater, although I should find out if I'm planning on getting a job there, but I didn't bother to lick my hand after petting the Rays Anyways, I've decided I would really like to get a ray of my own. So I have some general questions about Rays that I've listed below and would appreciate if anybody could help me out. They must be Saltwater Rays as here in Nevada, Freshwater are Illegal.

1)Are Saltwater Rays safe to play with or pet? They are so fun to interact with!

2)Do you know of any good make/models of sumps that I can put Bio-balls into for less than $100? I heard of a BIO-Wheel but it sounds expensive and I'm unsure how good it works, I'm not a DIY type really.

3)What are the proper levels of Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite with pH? I've been told 0,0,8,5.5-7.5?

Now, I don't want anybody to think I'm completely unexperienced with Marine Life. My interest in this hobby (which I finally decided to go through with) started when I was 9 years old and hit up the local fish store. Since then, although I'm still a full-time student in Highschool all of my Science classes have been Biology, Marine Biology, Marine Biology II, and Physiology/Anatomy, so I do have some back-bone in this area.

Thanks Again,
C. Negatory

 

[gt1009]

I would probably start with a setup thats a bit easier than rays. They are really demanding fish, and I hate to say it but I'm a marine bio major in college and none of my classes really prepare me for aquarium keeping. Try some CA/SA cichlids or something for a while to get used to aquarium keeping then move on. Anyways, I would do freshwater rays which are a bit more common and easier to keep. Start with a 125 if you want to keep teacup rays, and anything bigger figure on something around a 180 or 225. For a cheap sump, use a used tank off craigslist and build one yourself, using bio-balls as media. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0, and nitrate should be at 20 or below, preferably below 10.

 

[Iffrat]

Hello All,
A few days ago I went to Shark Reef here at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and I literally spent hours just petting the Rays they had there. After spending some time around Google looking up about rays I found MFK. I'm not sure if the Rays they had at the aquarium were Salt or Freshwater, although I should find out if I'm planning on getting a job there, but I didn't bother to lick my hand after petting the Rays Anyways, I've decided I would really like to get a ray of my own. So I have some general questions about Rays that I've listed below and would appreciate if anybody could help me out. They must be Saltwater Rays as here in Nevada, Freshwater are Illegal.

1)Are Saltwater Rays safe to play with or pet? They are so fun to interact with!

2)Do you know of any good make/models of sumps that I can put Bio-balls into for less than $100? I heard of a BIO-Wheel but it sounds expensive and I'm unsure how good it works, I'm not a DIY type really.

3)What are the proper levels of Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite with pH? I've been told 0,0,8,5.5-7.5?

Now, I don't want anybody to think I'm completely unexperienced with Marine Life. My interest in this hobby (which I finally decided to go through with) started when I was 9 years old and hit up the local fish store. Since then, although I'm still a full-time student in Highschool all of my Science classes have been Biology, Marine Biology, Marine Biology II, and Physiology/Anatomy, so I do have some back-bone in this area.

Thanks Again,
C. Negatory

first of all ... nice post ..

second .. what size tank do you have right now ..
third .. do you or have you kept saltwater fish in the past?
forth.. if you plan on doing a sump even DIY sumps for salt water are going to run more then $100 total .. but i dont think it would be that much more .. you can build them for fairly cheep .. but some of the pumps and skimmers cost a little change ..

and having a knowledge of fish in there natural habitat is great because you have a true passion for the hobby .. it does not move over to keep them that well .. its better then nothing .. but keeping these fish can be much harder then understanding how they live in the wild ..

i do not keep saltwater fish .. but the more and more i see them .. the more and more i want to start a small tank .. but it does take a lot of work .. and the possibility for things to go wrong are 10x freshwater ..

i do hope that some saltwater guys are around to give you all the answers your looking for .. just keep an open mind .. and listen to what these guys have to tell you

 

[Iffrat]

I would probably start with a setup thats a bit easier than rays. They are really demanding fish, and I hate to say it but I'm a marine bio major in college and none of my classes really prepare me for aquarium keeping. Try some CA/SA cichlids or something for a while to get used to aquarium keeping then move on. Anyways, I would do freshwater rays which are a bit more common and easier to keep. Start with a 125 if you want to keep teacup rays, and anything bigger figure on something around a 180 or 225. For a cheap sump, use a used tank off craigslist and build one yourself, using bio-balls as media. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0, and nitrate should be at 20 or below, preferably below 10.

like he says in his post .. FW rays are illegal so he cannot get them .. also tea cup ray means nothing .. thats not a real ray .. most people call reticulated rays tea cups .. but there is no such thing as a tea cup ray .. also a 125 is not big enough for one for life anyways ..

 

[Iffrat]

another thing to add .. i dont know if i would skip to FW right away .. you should be able to do SW as long as you understand that its not cheep .. and needs to have daily attention .. but like i said .. you have a passion for fish .. which makes me thing you would a good person to spend time on with advice and our knowledge ..

but it might be a good idea to start with a easy SW set up first .. with some common fish ... and work your way up ..

but i would like to know what you have right now as far as tank and filters and such ..

 

[CaptainNegatory]

first of all ... nice post ..

second .. what size tank do you have right now ..
third .. do you or have you kept saltwater fish in the past?
forth.. if you plan on doing a sump even DIY sumps for salt water are going to run more then $100 total .. but i dont think it would be that much more .. you can build them for fairly cheep .. but some of the pumps and skimmers cost a little change ..

and having a knowledge of fish in there natural habitat is great because you have a true passion for the hobby .. it does not move over to keep them that well .. its better then nothing .. but keeping these fish can be much harder then understanding how they live in the wild ..

i do not keep saltwater fish .. but the more and more i see them .. the more and more i want to start a small tank .. but it does take a lot of work .. and the possibility for things to go wrong are 10x freshwater ..

i do hope that some saltwater guys are around to give you all the answers your looking for .. just keep an open mind .. and listen to what these guys have to tell you

No, I've never kept Saltwater before we have always had Freshwater and they were Petsmart type fish, die after 15 days just after your warranty is up type ideal. Anyways, I have virtually nothing right now except the 10 gallon tank I'm looking to put something in, you can view that post <a href="http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=3936276">HERE</a>. My budget for the whole tank setup is going to be about $500-$600 total, not counting the ray but counting the Ray "If Possible". I do know that with Salt cleaning will be required do to the fact that the Sodium Chloride build-up DOES get excessive. If somehow I could use a 125 for a tea-cup or as a grow out tank until it's full sized that would be nice. Grow-out tank means they do all their growing in one tank, right? Let me know if you have any more questions, Thanks!

 

[CaptainNegatory]

No, I've never kept Saltwater before we have always had Freshwater and they were Petsmart type fish, die after 15 days just after your warranty is up type ideal. Anyways, I have virtually nothing right now except the 10 gallon tank I'm looking to put something in, you can view that post <a href="http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=3936276">HERE</a>. My budget for the whole tank setup is going to be about $500-$600 total, not counting the ray but counting the Ray "If Possible". I do know that with Salt cleaning will be required do to the fact that the Sodium Chloride build-up DOES get excessive. If somehow I could use a 125 for a tea-cup or as a grow out tank until it's full sized that would be nice. Grow-out tank means they do all their growing in one tank, right? Let me know if you have any more questions, Thanks!

Continuing from what I said before, I literally have nothing trying to get an idea of what I need to save and what kind of preparations I must make around the house.

 

[Iffrat]

the tea cup is not a real ray .. its a common name for a FW sting ray commonly its a reticulated ray ..

and grow out tank is a tank where you put a small fish and let it start growing knowing that it will out grow the tank and will have to be moved into a larger tank ..

 

[Iffrat]

Continuing from what I said before, I literally have nothing trying to get an idea of what I need to save and what kind of preparations I must make around the house.

i would start watching craigslist for deals .. every day just do a search for fish in your area and watch for tanks to come and go to get an idea on any deals on used tanks you can get ...

 

[Iffrat]

i am seeing some nice 125 set ups for like 700 .. which is kinda high .. so i bet that the prices are going to be a little high .. but if you keep you eyes open .. and ears .. you might find a good deal at some point .. and check with the other vegas members and maybe they have something for sale ...