Hi guys im new to this forum and new to saltwater setups, i have had 1 4 foot sw tank before but i didnt know what i was doing and put a bunch of fish in 4 weeks later the tank went through its cycles and all the fish died. i now keep a few cichlid and tropical tanks, i have always wanted to keep a port jackson shark though, was thinking of an 8ftx2x2 tank with a 4ft sump or something, i basically want to know how i should setup the tank, any live rock? or just sand? im a total newbie to sw so i really need to know exactly what to do before i think about buying the tank.
Starting a 8ft sw tank
- Thread starter saaro
- Start date
A tank that size would be better suited for a Bamboo Shark. You will some sort of biomedia, and a large sump/refugium. Live rock is good for a start, but I would keep it out of the dislay because a shark will end up hitting it with it's tail, or nose possibly breaking the aquarium. Also, corners aren't good for sharks, you are better off with a round one. And your aquarium should be as deep as the shark is long for the shark to turn around. A relly good tank for a 48" Bamboo would be 8x4x2 (96"x48"x24") But a 2'-3' deep pool that is 10' diameter would be best......
Oh and being fairly new to SW, go for something a little easier then a shark. We don't want you leaving the hobby frustrated, or losing a shark needlessly.
Oh and being fairly new to SW, go for something a little easier then a shark. We don't want you leaving the hobby frustrated, or losing a shark needlessly.
The tank you mentioned is way to small for a Port Jackson Shark. This species can grow up to 5'. They need atleast 1000 Gallons I would say to house one comfertable. The size of your tank that you are planning on getting sounds like a good tank for a Brown Banded Bamboo shark, they only get to about 3' give or take a couple inches. As mentioned above corners dont work well with sharks, if you cant offer a Double Bull Nose system, maybe try a Black Back Hexagon. This atleast gives the tank a more rounded feel to it. I would have the length of the tank atleast 7' and have it atleast 30" wide, perferable 36". I would highly reccomend you read Scott Micheals " Aquarium Sharks and Rays" before you go out and purchase a shark.
As for live rock, live rock is great to add to any tank as it helps with filteration and it doesnt look bad. If your going to be housing a shark that tends to dwell around the bottome, make sure you have very soft substrate. And place the rocks in the middle of the tank to make a sort of cave like feature, make sure the sharks still have plenty of room to swim.
The footprint of the aquarium is more important then the gallonage!
Goodluck.
As for live rock, live rock is great to add to any tank as it helps with filteration and it doesnt look bad. If your going to be housing a shark that tends to dwell around the bottome, make sure you have very soft substrate. And place the rocks in the middle of the tank to make a sort of cave like feature, make sure the sharks still have plenty of room to swim.
The footprint of the aquarium is more important then the gallonage!
Goodluck.
I highly discourage you to keep any shark!!! They are not for beginners. 
Get at least one year under your belt first with common marine life such as clowns, tangs, hermit crabs, shrimp, etc... Then you might have success with a shark if you do lots of studying during that time period.
The 8' tank will be very nice to work with though and you will be able to keep lots of different kinds of fish and large tangs.
Get at least one year under your belt first with common marine life such as clowns, tangs, hermit crabs, shrimp, etc... Then you might have success with a shark if you do lots of studying during that time period.
The 8' tank will be very nice to work with though and you will be able to keep lots of different kinds of fish and large tangs.
I got to agree with Justin James - here.
No sharks - until you get some experience with a saltwater set.
A 8x2x2 is a good tank for a FO/FOWLR(no sharks or rays) system or even a reef system.
A cool and popular FO type is system is an aggressive tank - with triggers, angels, eels, lions, puffers or groupers(not all together - of course).
Also an 8x2x2(standard 240 gallon) is poorly designed for most "aquarium friendly" shark species.
Bamboos(even smaller species -like Arabians or Grays) can be kept in a tank that size for a year or so - but not as adults.
As for Port Jackson's - like the bamboos - the tank may work for a year or so - but not long term.
The only shark species that may be able to be kept in that tank is a Coral catshark(A. marmoratus) or the Marbled catshark(A. macleayi) for their normal life span. And that's only because of their slim eel-like shape.
But seriously - you need some experience with standard SW tanks before ever attempting a Shark tank.
No sharks - until you get some experience with a saltwater set.
A 8x2x2 is a good tank for a FO/FOWLR(no sharks or rays) system or even a reef system.
A cool and popular FO type is system is an aggressive tank - with triggers, angels, eels, lions, puffers or groupers(not all together - of course).
Also an 8x2x2(standard 240 gallon) is poorly designed for most "aquarium friendly" shark species.
Bamboos(even smaller species -like Arabians or Grays) can be kept in a tank that size for a year or so - but not as adults.
As for Port Jackson's - like the bamboos - the tank may work for a year or so - but not long term.
The only shark species that may be able to be kept in that tank is a Coral catshark(A. marmoratus) or the Marbled catshark(A. macleayi) for their normal life span. And that's only because of their slim eel-like shape.
But seriously - you need some experience with standard SW tanks before ever attempting a Shark tank.
thanks for all the feedback so quick, yeh i thought the portjackson would be ok for a year or so because the ones at my LFS are only about 10 inches, the problem with the roundtank thing is , im 19 and im not exactly raking in the money so anything like that is way out of my price range, i guess im gonna have to leave it a bit longer till i decide wether i will try marine or not, i may buy a 6x2x2 for now and try my luck at keeping tangs and clowns etc again, what about rays, my lfs has some little rays and eels, or are they more for experienced people aswell?
IF your seriously considering ever keeping a shark or ray - I would highly recommend that you first pick up a copy "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Michael, it's basically Elasmobranch(sharks & rays) Husbandary 101.
If your very serious about keeping a small shark or a ray.
Then the best set up is a small round pool - like a poly pool. These are cheaper(in price than a glass/acrylic aquarium(especially if you include the stand price) - and give your shark or ray better swimming areas.
Poly pools(short for polyethylene) generally come in diameters ranging between 6-9', and are about 2-2.5' deep(ranging from about 350-1000 gallons).
But if you go with the 6' x2' x2'(180 gallon) tank set up. Then it should be big enough for a small species of eel or two, and maybe a small species of grouper.
If your very serious about keeping a small shark or a ray.
Then the best set up is a small round pool - like a poly pool. These are cheaper(in price than a glass/acrylic aquarium(especially if you include the stand price) - and give your shark or ray better swimming areas.
Poly pools(short for polyethylene) generally come in diameters ranging between 6-9', and are about 2-2.5' deep(ranging from about 350-1000 gallons).
But if you go with the 6' x2' x2'(180 gallon) tank set up. Then it should be big enough for a small species of eel or two, and maybe a small species of grouper.