finally took pics of my reef tank

[rollingzep]

Hi guys I am a new member here--great site. Been lurking for a long time and finally got around to joining and took some pics of my tank. I think its 300 gallon tank not sure though. Its acryllic with dimensions 5X5X2. Here are some pics
Whole shot of tank-with Solaris lights

shot of some my corals

shot of queen of the tank

one weird oyster with vlamingi

a few tangs

another shot of blue spotted stingray

and a shot of my baby

 

[Trotter]

Interesting

 

[ReefingBuddha]

A shark, a ray, and a vlamingi in a tank with a 5 ft run and not much open space. I'm sorry but I think that's all kinds of horrible.... I'm planning the same size tank with a lot more open rock work and I didn't want to put anything bigger then a sohal in there... Great dimensions for a tank but way to ambitious on your livestock selection there. How long has this thing been up and running?

No offense meant and I want a blue-spotted as much as any reefer but that's just not right man.

 

[PJsStuff]

Any pics of the equipment??

 

[rollingzep]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11654444#post11654444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirschmann
A shark, a ray, and a vlamingi in a tank with a 5 ft run and not much open space. I'm sorry but I think that's all kinds of horrible.... I'm planning the same size tank with a lot more open rock work and I didn't want to put anything bigger then a sohal in there... Great dimensions for a tank but way to ambitious on your livestock selection there. How long has this thing been up and running?

No offense meant and I want a blue-spotted as much as any reefer but that's just not right man.

Tanks been running for two years now and everybody is doing great. The blue spotted is a year old and has plenty of room. Seems very content as well. The shark never moves from the rocks-only to come out and feed. Vlamingi is like 5 inches so I am not worried about him. The photos are kind of deceiving-there is a lot more room than what you think. And I wouldnt recommend a sohal with any type of ray-done that and HUGE mistake. He nips at the ray's tail. Took him right out. I am not flaming or responding in anger but I would rather have that bluespotted ray in my tank thriving than in the LFS 75 gallon tank which was telling customers that that tank is sufficient.

As for equipment I have a huge skimmer(dont know the make), a 100 gallon sump with live rock, an Iwaki pump pushing 2275 gal/hour, a tunze wave machine, a 70 watt UV sterilizer, a 1/2 hp chiller. Either I am very very very lucky or I am doing something right

 

[ReefingBuddha]

I based my response on everything I have ever read or heard about rays, sharks, and most large growing tangs. As mentioned I don't want to rain on your parade and I'm very happy to hear that these animals have been doing well in your tank thus far.

2 questions though

1) what is your exit strategy for the inevitable day that the shark and ray outgrow the tank?
2) what horrible LFS had that ray in a 75? We should picket that place and run it out of business. What horrible ethics some stores have. Wish there was some agency, that actually cared, that they could be reported to!

 

[rollingzep]

You are not raining on my parade-those animals are in there for life. They are not getting any bigger. They are full grown. The shark only grows to 24in(which this shark is) and does not move around. He does one circle around the tank after he is fed and right back to his cave where I will find him the next day. The stingray is about 10 in wide and that is his full growth according to his specs. He is not the larger blue spotted ray but the more delicate blue spooted ribbontail ray. I have heard many reports that he does not do well and very rarely makes it past 6 months but I have him for almost a year now and he is feeding very well.
I appreciate your concern for these animals-but I am a huge aimal lover and would never ever do anything to hurt them or give them a bad life. Hell I wish I had it as good as they did.
Anyway great site and a huge amount of info. Thank you

 

[Chihuahua6]

Yikes. Sorry you had to get flamed after just posting for the first time. Your tank is beautiful and looks like everything is well taken care of. I would like to hear more about the oyster actually. You don't see too many of those inside an aquarium. Where did you get it? How do you care for it?

 

[rollingzep]

No I am not offended or anything--its good that there are people that do care about these animals and do not want to see them suffer. Anyway I have no idea what kind of oyster that is. I have it for a couple months now. It looks like a space ship. I got it from a friend of mine. I feed it and the other clams a food powder called ultra clam. My other clams have grown considerably.

 

[ricks]

" I think it's 300 gallons" 60 x 60 x 24 = 86,400 divide by 231 = 374 gallons.

 

[mcliffy2]

This is an interesting setup. Can you take some pics w/ the flash off? They will come out much better I think.

 

[miwoodar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11656432#post11656432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chihuahua6
Yikes. Sorry you had to get flamed after just posting for the first time.

Agreed. Welcome to ReefCentral!

Take some more pics and tell us more about your setup. Do you have any problems with the ray or the shark knocking stuff over?

 

[reefwonders]

Nice looking setup. I too would like to see some equip. shots. The oster is a spiney oster.

 

[ReefingBuddha]

I'm glad I didn't offend, as i didn't mean to at all. I'm glad you see why I reacted the way I did and I should have asked some questions before jumping to conclusions. It's just a reaction to the few other people who have no clue about the hobby and take a challenge like this lightly, I'm happy to hear your don't. The ray does look health.

Best of luck man.

P.S. are you happy with the tank size?

 

[rollingzep]

You are never with tank size, always something bigger and better out there. It will do for now though. I am getting by the end of the year or very early next year a 10X5X3 tank(acrylic) which then I will be satisfied(for a while anyway). :rolleye1: Anyway here are a few more pics of the tanks contents
This is a shot of my favorite fish--never see any out there--Picus Sweetlips

Here's my 2 1/2 year old hippo with the 6month old yellow belly

A group shot

My 2 year old Naso

Here is a couple of shots of the stingray during his daily daytime routine

and then at night

and here is a shot of a smoothhound(temp resident) and the ray and other shark

Thanks everyone. I will try to take better pictures but I think my camera sucks and I have a few (more like many scratches) on the tank which I think is screwing up the pictures as well.

 

[bdif]

I thought those rays were not even close to being reef safe? I've heard they will eat any invert. Do they mean just snail/crabs/shrimp?

 

[rollingzep]

AS far as shrimp is concerned I dont know because I dont have any. But he does not touch any snails or crabs, and he does not knock anything over when he swims.