Shark tank help, please

[AlexAndCoral]

Guys, Gals,


I'm looking at getting another tank. The wife has even OK'd it. Actually she suggested it, so no way I go wrong here.

I'm looking at setting up FOWL shark tank. I've done a little reading, at it seems that most of the smaller cat and bamboo sharks all like a mostly fine sand tank, with some live rock to go and hide under, so FOWL seems to be the way to go. Asking the LFS they recommended pairing the shark with a ray, as most things will pick on the shark. Not a problem with me at all, although I had also wanted a burr fish, and possibly a large angle. Anyone have any experience with that fish combination?

At the moment I'm looking at tanks between 180 and 200 gallons. I've got my eye on a diamond 190 gallon too. That shape would give plenty of swimming room, more than, a normal rectangle. Then I can put some rocks at the back and make a cave, and leave the front open and sandy. Underneath I'll run a skimmer, wet/dry, and Rainbow 4 filter combo (the chem, mech, UV, heater set), which should keep it clean. I know the sharks are messy, so I'll over size it.

I already have a 175 Gallon reef, with RO/DI and auto top-off etc, so I have just about every bit of ancillary equipment already lying around, and can spare all of that.

So, guys... who can point out the flaws? I'd much rather here them today, than after I have this tank set up.

Now, I'm off to buy a couple more fish books to read up,

Alex

 

[FishyMel]

For sharks it is all about swimming room, so go with the tank with the biggest footprint. One shark species I reccommend are the coral or marbled catsharks. These species will top out at about 24 inches and are pretty nifty looking too. Some people might bash you for the tank size but IMO it is all about the footprint not the gallonage, what is the footprint on the diamond?

 

[FishyMel]

As for the large angel and burrfish, it is a possiblity of you start out all the animals very small. Ask Limitedslip he had some methods for how he kept an emp. angel and porc with his bamboo.

 

[AlexAndCoral]

It's 55" x 42" wide and long, and 35" high, I think. Something like that.

Looked better for them to swim around than a normal rectangle. More space.

And yes, I was looking at a banded cat shark.

Alex

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

A "Banded Cat Shark" is also known as a Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, same as in my avatar. They reach a length of about 40", so IMO, that is out of the question for your tank. I agree with FishyMel here, go with a Coral Cat or a Marbled Cat Shark.

 

[Ranzan]

IMO go for a bigger tank at least 250 gal