Shark?

[Tom C.]

So I have been in the saltwater hobby for about 5 months now. I have two 55 gallon tanks. One I have horses and coral and some crabs and shrimp. The other is my aggressive tank. In it I have a banded moray, miniatus grouper, and a Huma Huma Trigger. I have a 220 gallon tank that I have just added water, salt, and sand to. I would like a banded bamboo shark and some other life in that tank but would like experience, suggestions, and anything you guys have to offer. So lets hear it...

[ReeferMan]

IMO they arent worth it because they only last a short period of time. Sharks are also correct me if I am wrong for experienced aquarist.

[dbartco]

Tom,

 

Please don't. Spend some time in the hobby, and you will learn that these things should be left to experts. It is not fair to the animal, no matter how "cool" it is to have in the tank.

 

Practice some conservation for now.

[dhoch]

Tom,

 

I think you will find most people here are going to say don't do the shark in a tank that size...

 

They and myself belive that sharks are best suited to enviorns that are setup for them (i.e. small ponds/pools or very large >500 gallons tanks) rather than in a hobbyist large tank setup.

 

There are so many other things that you can do with that 220... and some of those critters in that 55 FO are going to need to get in there eventually.

 

Dave

[jamesbuf]

I have to agree. You need an enormous "footprint" for sharks. Imagine when it gets big and can't even turn arond in such a small tank. Do me a favor and go to a fish store called Totally Fish off of Georgia Ave in Silver Spring, MD. They have a huge indoor shark pond setup and even in a 3000 gallon system, their sharks still have bumps on their noses and other scars from runnging into things. I'm not saying you can't have sharks at home, I even eventually plan on housing sharks somewhere down the line when I have more money to invest in the right setup, not to mention after I've had a little bit more experience in the hobby.

If you're looking for cool aggressive fish, you can't go wrong housing a few triggers along with an aggressive wrasse or two. Throw in a grouper and I guarantee lots of carnage. Triggers are very hearty and offer alot more room for error. Plus its a blast to feed them. Jeez I really miss my old trigger tank. If it weren't for all my snails, shrimps, and crabs, I would definitly go back to an aggressive FOWLR tank. I miss the CARNAGE!!!!!

[Tom C.]

OK, so now that I have got some input and I dont plan on getting a shark. What would you recommend for a aggressive tank that the grouper, trigger, and eel can go in? What would you add? I currently have about 2 inches of sand on the bottom of the tank. Folks are telling me I need another couple of inches. Also, what is the rule of thumb for adding live rock?

[jamesbuf]

OK, so now that I have got some input and I dont plan on getting a shark. What would you recommend for a aggressive tank that the grouper, trigger, and eel can go in? What would you add? I currently have about 2 inches of sand on the bottom of the tank. Folks are telling me I need another couple of inches. Also, what is the rule of thumb for adding live rock?

 

First off I would definitly add 2-3 more inches of sand. I switched from crushed coral to a 6" DSB about 3 months ago and man did it help my water parameters. As for live rock, I would find some liverock under the "for sale" lists. I believe that someone is breaking down a 150 gallon right now and there should be 50lbs left. NEVER buy LR from any of the LFS. Way overpriced and who knows how long its been cycled. There are always people selling LR on here around 3-4 per lb, you just have to periodically check back now and then.

 

As for fish.....with a tank that big, I would definitly get a niger trigger and a clown trigger. Clown triggers are so awesome looking, they are the reason I switched over to saltwater a few years back. You could probably even get 2 nigers since they are less aggressive than most triggers (but will still rip food to shreds during feeding ) If you buy the fish small, you could even add a couple more types of triggers. Look for a Lunare Wrasse. Awesome, fast swimming and agile fish. Very colorful too. I would look into getting some type of tang too. There are very hearty and many do well in a FOWLR setup. Get a good old reliable yellow tang. Very hearty and should be able to hold his own against the other aggressive fish. You're going to have some fish die off as you go along, so stocking in the beginning with several small fish will mean the strongest fish will make it and mature, just make sure not to add too much at one time and definitly make sure the tank is established before adding alot of fish. If someone had only told me that when I first started out, it would've save me a bundle of cash.

[Tom C.]

Thanks for the advise. I will be moving my 2 inch Huma Huma Trigger, my Red Grouper 3 inches and my banded Moray 1 foot to the bigger tank once it finishes cycling. What is the rule of thumb for a clean up crew? How many snails how many crabs? What types of each are good to get? Are there pros and cons of using a certain type of clean up crew for acrylic?

[dbartco]

Ummm. research my man. Unless you are putting the snails and crabs in for food for the fish, there is no clean up crew you will have with (most) triggers. Research your need for liverock if you are doing a FOWLR. May get by with other cheaper methods. And most of all, get a long term plan together, review it countless times (with yourself and others), and then make decisions. You have a nice large tank now, make sure you do what is necessary. People say you need more inches, what do you want to do long term?

 

Slow down, relax, and do your reading before you get anything else. Ask lots of questions first.

 

You're going to have some fish die off as you go along, so stocking in the beginning with several small fish will mean the strongest fish will make it and mature, just make sure not to add too much at one time and definitly make sure the tank is established before adding alot of fish.

 

 

Sorry James, but why does that have to be. Yes, we all have killed fish, but it doesn't have to be part of the process or just expected.

 

Good advice otherwise. Oh, and ask BRK about their clown trigger. Auctioned off at $35 or something cause no one wanted such an agressive fish, even in FOWLR's.

[Tom C.]

I have seen the Clown Trigger and he is gone. He was one mean SOB. When I went up to the tank he used to pick up a shell and throw it at the glass. I couldnt believe it. There is a $350.00 spotted angel there if you want an expensive fish. He also has some big clams. But I dont have the lights to push that in the 220.

[jason the filter freak]

sharks can't live in anything with corners, they lack the ability to swim in revers and can get stuck in a corner

[davelin315]

OK, that's only for some types of shark. There are sharks that are sedentary, but as a former shark keeper (everything from cat and bamboo sharks to a leopard, nurse, and wobbegong), don't waste your time. The novelty wears off and then they just sit there (at least the ones that you can fit into that tank for any amount of time). They're marvelous creatures and incredibly resilient, but if you're looking for a true predator, these are not your fish. Although they are at the top of the food chain, it's not as exciting as you think it is. They become tame and very "lazy" in my experience and the only real excitement I ever had with them was when I gave them crayfish for a meal. Then it was neat because they had to hunt carefully and then you could also hear the crunching as they finished off their meal. I never did get to build my shark lagoon (it was going to be a 15' or 20' x 8' x 3' deep concrete pond in my basement) in which I was going to house bonnet head sharks. Those are the truly unique sharks that you would want to have in a cool system as they have limited size (typically around 3'), are active swimmers, and do well in small groups, but they are also very difficult to find as pups, even more difficult to ship, and require a very high level of skill to keep.

 

Also, I'd avoid adding more sand. You have a trigger and an eel in there and if you get to around 4-5" of sand, you'll get some anaerobic areas. The trigger and the eel will both dig into the sand and turn your tank upside down. If they happen to get to an anaerobic area that has had time to fester and begin doing its job you'll end up with problems in your water chemistry. Stick with the 2 inches and be prepared for a lot of tank "rearranging" with them. The other thing that you definitely need to do is make sure that your rock is on the bottom of the tank and is held together tightly. Eels spend so much time digging around that it could shift any rock that's not firmly on the bottom of the tank, it could even move those if it gets under it, and a rock slide is what you don't want in your system. I would suggest a PVC frame and zip tie the bottom rocks to the frame, bury it under the sand, and then stack the rest of your rock on top, maybe even doing the same thing with a PVC frame and zip ties. That will keep your rock work intact and you can enjoy the fish without worry of a rock slide cracking your tank.

[Charlie97L]

there's a new store in rockville, aquarium one, that had 2 gorgeous lunare wrasses when i went in yesterday. one was a good 6-7". amazing fish. they also had a saddleback wrasse.

 

i think tropical lagoon in silverspring regularly has the lunar as well. and of course, sean and johnny can get you anything under the sun.