Stingray Pond questions and thoughts.

[yagesz]

Ever since my prior lady informed me that you could keep stingrays at home about 2 years ago I have been obsessed and fascinated by having some. I Spend hours here and there getting ideas for what I want to do. So I finally decided to go all in when I return from the desert.

Plan:
10' x 5' x 2' will be my indoor pond specs. Roughly 750g of water with a 200G sump. Tank will include a water fall at one end to get max O2 with outlets for the return from the sump. What is the max water flow I could run with 2 or 3 rays in the tank. I want to generate enough flow that all the fish waste will lift off the ground enough to get sucked up by overflow at the other end. I want to generate a river more or less. I want to set this all to run from a single pump.

Thoughts on my plan?

 

[JohnG]

My personal preference would be to run 2 pumps in this setup, 1 in your sump to return water via the waterfall, and a second pump in the pond that would just fuel a PVC spray bar setup to push waste to your overflow.

For the spray bar pump I would use one of these 3000gph pumps:

http://www.amazon.com/Monsoon-MS300...A04U/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1319227337&sr=8-7

For the sump either another one of these or if you think your overflow can handle it maybe one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Monsoon-MS520...AAXC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319227337&sr=8-1

Rays can handle alot of current, it doesn't really bother them. I run one of the 3000 models for circulation in my 7'x12' pond, and I also have 2 more pumps running in the 3000 gph range providing additional current after going through pressure fiters. In my 10'x14' pond I have about 11,000 GPH coming out of one wall from bulkheads for current, the rays like to surf in it.

 

[yagesz]

I intend to set up the system to be able to push a Large amount of waterflow. Thanks for the input. Also I forgot to mention i plan to cover the base with some sand. Any opinion on this?

 

[JohnG]

You will want a large grain sand, especially if your doing allot of flow, I would recommend Torpedo Beach From Caribsea. Those pumps I linked to above do come in up to 10,000 GPH.

 

[yagesz]

Alright thanks. Just planning away making sure I get all my funds and pieces ready to go for my return. I looked at both your builds to get more ideas. Thanks John

 

[dhjr0915]

I would make it 2.5 on the height cuz rays love to swim up a lot...

 

[Inglorious]

Good luck using a sand base if you're going with a river theme, I think it would be hard to keep it in place with a current like that. Have you thought about using sand colored tiles instead? I also agree with thinking about going taller, once you own a 30"+ tank you won't be able to go shorter...the just seem...inadequate. It would also open up what other species you can keep with your rays.

 

[yagesz]

Yeah. I know I said 2 foot but after more and more thought I decided I would go about 30-32 inches. As you 2 both said more upper area and I can put a couple other fish in the tank. I also am not going to put much stock in the tank. I will only keep maybe 2,3 rays at most. I don't want tiles. I saw a couple tanks with them but it just did not appeal to me. I like having the sand cause I like watching the rays cover themselves and such. Just intrigues me.

I don't know that I will go for the full 10,000 as John stated above. I may go with a slightly smaller pump and then ball valves so I can dial back some.

 

[yagesz]

2 New thoughts have occured to me for this build.

1: RO/DI Auto Water Changer

I know people have auto water changers for there setup but is it possible to use a RO/DI to get more pure water for there stingrays? Is this a bad idea?

2: Refugium (100 Gallon Heavily Planted)

If you Setup a Refugium that is heavily planted would it benefit the water quality for the Stingrays? I have experience with planted aquariums but if it was setup to go say 1000+ g/hr and use water from the ray tank would it benefit much? Maybe reduce needed water changes? I would build the pond and have this setup above it kinda as a Backboard.

All Opinions welcome.

Also I have read through some filter threads but does anyone use Carbon? Is it bad? Good?

 

[Just Toby]

You don't want or need ro for rays...keep it simple and use tap water....look at devotedly discus products for water treatment for removing chlorine and chloramine.

With a pond in Germany you will need to control the water loss due to evaporation or your Walls will be running with water, black slime will grow and it will smell. Either have a cover or a good dehumidifier plumbed to waste.