Yukonblizzard's Shark and Ray Reef Lagoon

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by PghFishNerd

That's so cool. I was wondering how they would react to moonlights.

I was a little worried that he would not be very active, but so far he seems to have a good balance between activity and rest. Although I think I might put the moon lights on a timer, they seem to be a little too bright.

Any thoughts on wether moonlights have any negative affects on fish?

[yukonblizzard]

Building quarantine tank...

I will use a 10 gallon tank for the sump where I will put the protein skimmer, live rock, and mangroves. For flow I will use 3x Koralia 600 gph, and for lights I will use a fluorescent shop light.




The bulkhead

[jbird69]

Your gonna get some serious deflection on that thin acrylic

I have my moon lights on a timer. They only run til 1am. I have noticed my LPS really extend their feeders much more in total darkness. Not sure of any effect on my fish.

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by jbird69

Your gonna get some serious deflection on that thin acrylic

Haha, I hope not

I have my moon lights on a timer. They only run til 1am. I have noticed my LPS really extend their feeders much more in total darkness. Not sure of any effect on my fish.

I think I will do a timer like you and just have it on when I am up so I can see.

[PghFishNerd]

Originally Posted by yukonblizzard

I think I will do a timer like you and just have it on when I am up so I can see.

That's a good idea. Unless you have night vision goggles, I don't know how else you'd be able to observe his night behavior. That would suck to miss out on cause its so freakin cool. I'm ridiculously jealous of you lol. You may have to take some night vids for us ( pleaseeee)

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by PghFishNerd

That's a good idea. Unless you have night vision goggles, I don't know how else you'd be able to observe his night behavior. That would suck to miss out on cause its so freakin cool. I'm ridiculously jealous of you lol. You may have to take some night vids for us ( pleaseeee)

Thanks man I will definitely try to get a night vid(Hopefully the camera will be able to see)

[tgreene]

Having had Sharks for a couple of years (sadly both are now deceased), I wanted to make you aware of something that I'm afraid you're not at all aware of...

Sharks and Rays are incredibly sensitive to electrical stimuli. It will quite literally destroy their immune systems and kill them. I say this because your internal skimmer pump and the Koralias inside the display will be a huge soucre for eventual stray current, and for constant electro-magnetic fields from the moment they are turned on.

I kept a pair of Marbled Cat Sharks in a 300g round Rubbermaid livestock trough, and used strictly external pumps for circulation and skimmer supply to prevent any problems. I'm currently in the process of building a new 730g in-wall with a total volume right around 1100g, and am contemplating adding Sharks to the system since it will be 100% sealed and shielded from any electrical current.

Again, I hate to be a "buzzkill", but my concern is for the livestock that has special needs that *most* people do not know about. Aside from that little issue, the system looks great and would more that suffice for just about any other inhabitants.

-Tim

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by tgreene

Having had Sharks for a couple of years (sadly both are now deceased), I wanted to make you aware of something that I'm afraid you're not at all aware of...

Sharks and Rays are incredibly sensitive to electrical stimuli. It will quite literally destroy their immune systems and kill them. I say this because your internal skimmer pump and the Koralias inside the display will be a huge soucre for eventual stray current, and for constant electro-magnetic fields from the moment they are turned on.

I kept a pair of Marbled Cat Sharks in a 300g round Rubbermaid livestock trough, and used strictly external pumps for circulation and skimmer supply to prevent any problems. I'm currently in the process of building a new 730g in-wall with a total volume right around 1100g, and am contemplating adding Sharks to the system since it will be 100% sealed and shielded from any electrical current.

Again, I hate to be a "buzzkill", but my concern is for the livestock that has special needs that *most* people do not know about. Aside from that little issue, the system looks great and would more that suffice for just about any other inhabitants.

-Tim

Thank you Tim, it is good to point out things even if they are "buzzkills", thats how we learn and make things better.

But actually I am aware that electrical currents can be damaging to sharks and rays. However a cousin of mine had kept round rays and bamboo sharks for about 10 years in his 400 gallon (until he moved) with internal pumps and no problems. They seemed to be very healthy every time I seen them. As I began planning this build, which actually has been in the back of my head since I got into this hobby, I planned on doing all external pumps and heaters. Although when I asked about these issues on other Shark and Ray forums I got mixed responses on wether internal pumps actually have any negative effects. Some saying that external pumps are just as bad as internals and others stating that internals will not harm elasmobranch species. And because the way the tank was setup it was better to have internal equipment. Hopefully I dont see any negative effects, but I will keep a very close eye on them to spot any unusual behavior.

[tgreene]

Alex,

I'm glad that you took my post in the positive and educational manner in which it was intended.

I would disagree with any statement about external pumps being just as bad however because due to their very nature and design, there is no chance of electrical leakage into the system with magnetic pumps such as PanWorld, BlueLine and other similar designs.

-Tim

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by tgreene

Alex,

I'm glad that you took my post in the positive and educational manner in which it was intended.

I would disagree with any statement about external pumps being just as bad however because due to their very nature and design, there is no chance of electrical leakage into the system with magnetic pumps such as PanWorld, BlueLine and other similar designs.

-Tim

No problem Tim

Thats what I thought too, but I guess I will have to wait and see. Do you have a build thread for your new tank in process? Sounds very interesting.

[tgreene]

Sure do... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1819933

-Tim

[yukonblizzard]

Transfered the FoxFace into the lagoon...

Acclimating:

*Probably not the best idea to pick this guy up by hand!

Exploring his new home:




He is about 8" long:


Swimmin' with his old buds:

[yukonblizzard]

Four of these little damsels made it down the refugium drain and into the display!




The skimmer getting the job done:

[PghFishNerd]

The pattern on the Foxface while it's acclimating is so cool. I know it's not that cool being that it's because he's stressed out lol but that's very neat to see. I knew they could darken and lighten but I had no idea they could morph their colors to that extent... almost like seahorses.
And no, probably not a good idea to pick him up by hand lol. Although I've never heard of anyone being harmed by them.

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by PghFishNerd

The pattern on the Foxface while it's acclimating is so cool. I know it's not that cool being that it's because he's stressed out lol but that's very neat to see. I knew they could darken and lighten but I had no idea they could morph their colors to that extent... almost like seahorses.
And no, probably not a good idea to pick him up by hand lol. Although I've never heard of anyone being harmed by them.

Yeah, it is amazing how the colors can change. The Vlamingiis used to be able to do it, but now that they are so big they either dont feel threatened enough or they grew out of that stage.

[yukonblizzard]

Got the Sailfin Tang in, he is around 9" long...







The mangroves in the refugium...



FTS...







*The room is still a mess I have to get the frag tank out of the room and I have to finish the tile and I still have to paint the room

[justjosh]

Wow, that looks awesome! All you fish are so big and healthy! What is your future stocking list? Any corals or rays??

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by justjosh

Wow, that looks awesome! All you fish are so big and healthy! What is your future stocking list? Any corals or rays??

Thanks Josh I currently have a Bluespotted Skate in qt (bought him the same time as the shark) I just want to fatten him up a bit though.

As far as a stock list goes I am pretty much open to any fish compatible with sharks and rays, like surgeonfish, groupers, and wrasses. I would like to have fish that are not too commonly seen. Any suggestions?

[tozzi]

Wow you just took up an hour of my life cause i stumbled across this thread ! HAHAHA Awesome build man, Really gives me hope of doing this myself one day. Love those big/huge tangs. That skimmer is a beast! Really, great build. Not just good , great quality on everything. And i like that your basically makin everything, good job

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by tozzi

Wow you just took up an hour of my life cause i stumbled across this thread ! HAHAHA Awesome build man, Really gives me hope of doing this myself one day. Love those big/huge tangs. That skimmer is a beast! Really, great build. Not just good , great quality on everything. And i like that your basically makin everything, good job

Thanks Tozzi! I appreciate it. Yeah, so far I am very impressed with the skimmer!*Its pulling out a lot of crap.

[stunreefer]

Very cool Alex

Did you happen to get any of your livestock from Jarrod? The rays look familiar

[03sonicstang]

I just went through all 14 pages, awesome build! Beautiful fish and I love the shark's Jaw theme. My mom and I used to watch the original jaws before swimming in Otsego Lake (Gaylord, MI). To this day when i swim in that lake I play that theme in my head. Nice work man it is inspiring! Tom

[yukonblizzard]

Originally Posted by stunreefer

Very cool Alex

Did you happen to get any of your livestock from Jarrod? The rays look familiar

Thank you very much Austin, actually I got the ray from Tropicorium.

Originally Posted by 03sonicstang

I just went through all 14 pages, awesome build! Beautiful fish and I love the shark's Jaw theme. My mom and I used to watch the original jaws before swimming in Otsego Lake (Gaylord, MI). To this day when i swim in that lake I play that theme in my head. Nice work man it is inspiring! Tom

Thanks Tom I think I would be creeped out to play the theme in my head while in Otsego!

[stunreefer]

Gotcha.

Jarrod had a male ray in his large lagoon that had the tail nipped off (he might have taken them back to the Trop when he broke down his lagoon). He bought my female off of my when she needed a man and more space, I took her home when her disk was only 3" across and she blew up to a 8" disk in no time!

[HOBrien]

Lookin great and inspirational..