Sting Ray Tank

blawson · 06/27/2006, 09:21 PM

This is my first time posting - so please bear with me a bit.

I am in the process of sitting up a FOWLR tank that will house a pair of sting rays, an epaulette shark and a few other fish yet to be determined. The tank I have is an acrylic tank with interal overflow (previous reef setup) that is 66" W x 34" D x 36" H (300-350 gallons). I understand that the rays need plenty of sand area to glide around. I am looking for some feedback on a design I have been toying with.

I am working with a few acrylic designers to develop a custom shelf system that will sit approximately 12-14 inches above the substrate and will be mounted to the back and one side of the tank. The shelf will serve as a rock ledge for live rock and will have multiple holes in it for water flow and will be diagonal from the front left to front right corner. This will allow for 1/2 of the tank to be under the shelf (cave) and 1/2 to be open from substrate to top. I think by using 1" thick acrylic with proper mounting blocks on the back and sides I can get away without any middle support which will leave the entire bottom 12" of tank for the rays to glide around and 1/2 of the water column open all the way.

What do you think? Cool idea or stupid?

I am struggling with what else to put in the tank. The rays will likely spend most of their time in the bottom 1/3 of the tank and the epaulette shark will likely stay in the substrate or in the lower levels of rock on the ledge. I am looking for some ideas for some fish that like the top 1/3 of thewater column to have a bit more activity. I had thought about a pair of cross hatch triggers, but I am sure they will pick at the rays. I also thought about a school of blue-spotted rabbitfish, but not sure how they will fare with teh rays and shark. Any suggestions?

I know this is a tall tank for rays, but I already have the tank and am converting it from reef to fish only and am looking for something a bit different.

Thanks

blawson · 06/27/2006, 09:44 PM

Also what kind of substrate would you recommend for the rays? I was thinking 4" deep sand bed with the finest crushed coral I could find?

ClamIAm · 06/27/2006, 10:04 PM

First, I don't know that I would keep 2 rays and an epaulette in that size tank. I'd do whichever you like best. Either one needs a very fine substrate, but it certainly doesn't need to be that deep. A couple inches is probably fine.

Bebo77 · 06/27/2006, 10:13 PM

To Reef Central

i think your tank may be too small for 2 rays and a shark...

i think that sharks belong in 600+ gallon tanks... what about triggers and such?

stykthyn · 06/27/2006, 10:26 PM

yeah I would double the size of the tank for what you are thinking about. I would also go with a deeper sandbed, remember rays like to dig, so maybe another inch on top of what you were shooting for.

Fishfreak218 · 06/28/2006, 08:48 AM

i agree.. with all that rock taking up so much room... i agree with wat is said above^^

06/27/2006, 09:21 PM	#1
blawson Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 4	Sting Ray Tank This is my first time posting - so please bear with me a bit. I am in the process of sitting up a FOWLR tank that will house a pair of sting rays, an epaulette shark and a few other fish yet to be determined. The tank I have is an acrylic tank with interal overflow (previous reef setup) that is 66" W x 34" D x 36" H (300-350 gallons). I understand that the rays need plenty of sand area to glide around. I am looking for some feedback on a design I have been toying with. I am working with a few acrylic designers to develop a custom shelf system that will sit approximately 12-14 inches above the substrate and will be mounted to the back and one side of the tank. The shelf will serve as a rock ledge for live rock and will have multiple holes in it for water flow and will be diagonal from the front left to front right corner. This will allow for 1/2 of the tank to be under the shelf (cave) and 1/2 to be open from substrate to top. I think by using 1" thick acrylic with proper mounting blocks on the back and sides I can get away without any middle support which will leave the entire bottom 12" of tank for the rays to glide around and 1/2 of the water column open all the way. What do you think? Cool idea or stupid? I am struggling with what else to put in the tank. The rays will likely spend most of their time in the bottom 1/3 of the tank and the epaulette shark will likely stay in the substrate or in the lower levels of rock on the ledge. I am looking for some ideas for some fish that like the top 1/3 of thewater column to have a bit more activity. I had thought about a pair of cross hatch triggers, but I am sure they will pick at the rays. I also thought about a school of blue-spotted rabbitfish, but not sure how they will fare with teh rays and shark. Any suggestions? I know this is a tall tank for rays, but I already have the tank and am converting it from reef to fish only and am looking for something a bit different. Thanks

06/27/2006, 10:13 PM	#4
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	*To Reef Central* i think your tank may be too small for 2 rays and a shark... i think that sharks belong in 600+ gallon tanks... what about triggers and such? __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

06/28/2006, 08:48 AM	#6
Fishfreak218 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Palm Beach Florida Posts: 1,412	i agree.. with all that rock taking up so much room... i agree with wat is said above^^ __________________ -30g. Oceanic Cube Cuttlefish Reef -90g. Mixed Reef -14g Biocube FW planted tank -10g. frag tank (soon) Current Tank Info: 90g. Reef, 30g. Cube cuttlefish reef

06/27/2006, 09:44 PM	#2
blawson Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 4	Also what kind of substrate would you recommend for the rays? I was thinking 4" deep sand bed with the finest crushed coral I could find?

06/27/2006, 10:04 PM	#3
ClamIAm Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 535	First, I don't know that I would keep 2 rays and an epaulette in that size tank. I'd do whichever you like best. Either one needs a very fine substrate, but it certainly doesn't need to be that deep. A couple inches is probably fine.

06/27/2006, 10:26 PM	#5
stykthyn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Panama City Florida Posts: 1,995	yeah I would double the size of the tank for what you are thinking about. I would also go with a deeper sandbed, remember rays like to dig, so maybe another inch on top of what you were shooting for.