Stingray filtration- share your experience

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Energy

Bronze Tier VIP
MFK Member
Dec 4, 2005
517
73
561
Tropical Minnesota
I think it would help Noobs and experienced ray keepers alike if we all share our experiences with how and why we have our filtration systems set up.

First let's get a format:

1. Size of display tank.

2. Number and size of rays.

3. Overall filtration set-up. Discuss different components and why you have them.

4.Water change regime: Include RO-VS Tap, % changed and how often.

5.Pictures, pictures pictures!
 
I'll start, even though I'm a newb when it comes to rays. I just picked up my motoro, which is about 10" in diameter (way bigger than I expected and even wanted). It's in a 72x18x28 150. The filtration on this tank is (2) Rena xp4's; every bin jammed full of bio media, and (1) Fx5 strictly for water polishing. The ray's next tank will be my 8x2x2 240g. It is filtered by an Amaricle 400 wet/dry and Reeflo Dart 3600gph pump. I currently do 2 50% water changes weekly.
 
Here is mine:

1. Size of tank is 1700 gallons-water section is about 400-500 in main display with a another connected tank about 250 gallons.

2. Main tank- 5 rays -connected tank- 2 rays.

3.Filtration components:
a.3 fluval 405's-general filtration and settling chambers.
b.2 large drip walls filled with plants -add biological filtration-help keep nitrates and ammonia in check.
c.One large overflow that holds about a 5 gallon pail of fine floss for extra mechanical filtration.

4.Water changes- 100 gallons daily of RO water at 4 ppm. This equals about 15-20% of the total water volume. Set-up to go automatically irregardless if I am there or not. To me this is the most important part of my system.

Overall tank shot- older but you get the idea.
8-14-201011.jpg
[/IMG]

Filtration Room: Undergone quite a few changes since this picture.
1-23.jpg
[/IMG]

1-23-4.jpg
[/IMG]

The water from the main display is pumped into another 250 gallon tank where it is heated and processed by the fluval 405's. It then goes into a large overflow packed with filter floss for one last mechanical round of filtration. It is returned into the main display through 2 drip walls that are 33 inches tall and about 15 inches wide each. These are nothing but stacks of rocks that are heavily planted. This adds a neat aesthetic appearance but more importantly adds natural biological filtration. Because the drip walls plants are grown emmersed,i.e exposed to air, they are not carbon limited like in a regular aquarium- therefore the limiting factor to their growth is only nutrients.

Furthermore the roots of the vivarium plants in the land section reach down into the water column and take up excess nutrients.

Your turn! :)
 
I have 4- 6" to 7" Motoros and a 5 inch Retic in a 180G.(6x2x2)

I filter it with a wet/dry 1200gph pump and added a 12'x12' ammonia tower in the empty side of the wet/dry which is run by a 300 gph powerhead. I had to use that wasted space. I then run the water through an Ocean Clear filter. I also have 2 Magnum 350's with bio wheels and an Emperor 400. I use 2 powerheads for extra circulation too. Inside of the Magnum carbon canisters I use ceramic rings. I then line the outside of that with the white filter felt and put the blue bonded pad over that. They work so much better that way.

I change about 1/3 of the water weekly with well water.

Stingraysnew 004.jpg

Stingraysnew 011.jpg

Stingraysnew 017.jpg

Stingraysnew 034.jpg

Stingraysnew 037.jpg
 
120g with 2x8" motoros. filter is an fx5 and a cascade 1000. total 1000gph+/- weekly water changes of 30-50% resulting in nitrates under 5.0ppm
 
I have 2 180g tanks.

1: 5x Rays, 1 motoro 10", 3 sp.peru 6-10" and 1 yepezi 8". On this i run 2xfx5 and internal fluval4+ for polish.

2: 3x rays, 3 motoro 8-11", and 6x Geophagus altifrons. On this i run eheim 2080 and background filter that is approximatley 50-60l, (alot of bluemath behind the background, with a powerhead of 1000l\h), and fluval 4+ internal for polish.

I change 50-60% water every 4-5 days on both of them. Ph 7, Nitrates 12,5-50, nitrit and ammonia 0.
 
How does this sound? I have an
Xp4, marineland 350 canister, marineland emp 400, 2xaquaclear 110 and what ever sump comes with my 240. 8x2x2 tank mates will be a common wolffish and the ray. Thoughts?
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com