New Octo/Cuttle tank

[MJI]

I have a 5 foot, 60+ gallon tank, with loads of live rock(1lb per gal), overskimmed, with carbon and rowa that I'm thinking of converting for an octo or cuttle. I am currently keeping a few SPS corals to give you an idea of the water quality.

I have a couple of questions, before I probably annoy you all even more if I choose to go this way

1) It's generally accepted that you should have moderate to good flow when using live rock as a filtration method. I am currently using powerheads to acheive this, and have read that they are also used in octo tanks sometimes - is this true? I would have thought investigating arms would have been trapped??

Do I need any kind of anciliary filtration with the LR - cannister for example?

2) I have metal Halide lighting at the moment these could be lifted to about 2 foot above tank - any probelems forseen with this?

3) Heater?? In UK Temps? I think I may be able to get hold of Bimac after having spoke to one of the importers in the UK. What kind of temp range suits these guys. Same with Oficinalis (?).

Sorry for overloading this mail - just want to get things right!

Thanks in advance.

 

[OctoRock]

If you are worried about him getting trapped in a powerhead, just put a prefilter on it. No extra filtration needed: skimmer, carbon, LR, and water changes are all you need IMO. The MH could be a problem. The octo would not like the intense light and this could cause him to hide more than he normally would.
They like colder waters, I would shoot for around 72-74, but if you go a little above you should be alright.
Please dont worry about writing to much in your threads, we are all here to help you and the more questions you ask the better off you and (in this case) your octo will be. Keep asking questions . HTH


OctoRock

 

[MJI]

Thanks so much for your reply Octorock - really useful.

Hopefully with the MH lighting raised (only 150W lamps), and with the cave/overhang aquascaping i'm planning the tank should be pretty well shaded in most parts.

I really like cuttles, but I think I may struggle with temperatures for oficinalis. The are found from the UK down to the mediteranean (i think) so that's coolerwaters. I don't want to add an expensive chiller. Please anyone correct me if you know that cuttles this species of cuttle can live in higher temperatures.

Will have to build a tank cover too. Does weighted perspex (with some evap holes) sound ok?

 

[mellen]

try plastic coated hardware cloth in finest mesh available. Octos squirm through holes no smaller than beak diameter (tiny, in small ones). Also, look at fitted purpose built screen tops used for herptile tanks. Either way, lockable swing clamps or ducting tape to secure top firmly. Had O. Vulgaris I caught myself when growing up in south Florida. Kept in 75 gal til he got too big, and I cried all the way back to his capture site when returning him to the sea! Darling pet!

 

[MJI]

Thanks for that Mellen.

Does anyone on this board keep Officinalis? Do you know the temp range?

Also, any ideads on the safest way to aquascape for caves/overhangs if I go with an octo.

Really - thanks you all for you help so far, it's been great!

 

[OctoRock]

Couldn't say about the Officinalis, but as for aquascaping goes: anything is alright provided you give him alot of hiding places. This will make him feel secure and safe and you will see him more often because of it. The next most important thing is to remember to make sure that the rocks are secure. Octos are very strong and they could tear apart the structure. They could also make a rock accidently fall on themselves.


OctoRock

 

[MJI]

Cheers again OctoRock.

Both Officinalis and Bimas appreciate lower temperatures than say a normal reef (but bimac can be somewhat comfortable at this)- so i'll go with no heating (just room temp, but may still be in early 20's).

How does Live Rock fair at the lower temperatures?

 

[ozadars]

I wouldnt try Officinalis.
They get way huge and i dont think its a good idea to mix cuttles and octos. They also grow very very very fast so its not even worth trying
Also I think Officinalis needs much colder water than bimacs need.

Good Luck

 

[MJI]

I wont be keeping both - it's one or the other. Trying to weight up the pros and cons!

 

[mellen]

Deep water reef rock?

Deep water reef rock?

Don't know what would bust your budget, but for Officialensis, could add over size chiller and perhaps deep water or better yet, locally aquired UK shore rock, if that won't get the authorities after you...wait, you may BE the authority, right ? In which case Officialensis would make a pretty pun-y chummy..."the long reaching tentacles of government" and all that. LOL - I like your style! Best of luck! :rollface:

 

[mellen]

species misspelling intentional...

 

[MJI]

LOL Mellen.

My father government department has another branch that deal with costal issues. I'm just a regular run of the mill secret agent. Damn, not secret anymore eh!! LOL

There is a LOT of conflicting information on cuttle keeping. Some say up to 74oC is fine, other say anythig above 68oC is bad news.

Really hard for people who want to do the best by their animals!

 

[OctoMonkey]

Hi Mike

Mine say at about 70 - 74 and they were in with a lot of live rock and corals, dunno if you seen this site?
http://www.geocities.com/octomonkeymadness/Page-one.html

officinalis are very hardy and as long as you have a big enough tank very easy to keep (as long as you can feed them enough too!!!)

Although they are found in the UK they reach warm parts of south africa therefore temps over the 60s are frequently seen there on the west coast...

email me and I'll give you that phone number

 

[MJI]

Thanks for the link Colin, You got corals in your cuttle tank!! They must be indeed ok at higher temperatures! How do you keep you tank at this temp? Chiller? No heater fans etc?

Sent you PM mate.