Yukonblizzard's Shark and Ray Reef Lagoon

[clownfreak]

Alex, have you looked at michiganreefers.com lately? Someone was selling two types of bamboo sharks lately. I don't think the UA would let me post a link though.

Edit: I just looked it up and it is a white spotted bamboo shark and black banded bamboo (shark I'm assuming)

 

[yukonblizzard]

Great personality as well. Mine was a huge camera hog, and the kid loved feeding him by hand.

You got that right! I cant look into the tank without them right in my face begging for more food.

 

[yukonblizzard]

I just read this on Wikipedia:
"Unlike most fishes, the daily activity pattern of the horn shark is under exogenous control, meaning that it is regulated by environmental factors rather than by an internal physiological cycle. Observations of captive horn sharks show that the relevant cue is light intensity: the sharks become active immediately after the lights are turned off, and stop as soon as they are turned back on. In one experiment where the sharks were kept in darkness, they remained continuously active for 11 days before slowing, possibly from fatigue. In nature, horn sharks exposed to a bright light at night may stop swimming and sink to the bottom."
Have you observed him with the lights out at all? It would be pretty neat to see how much truth there is to this.

Actually I have noticed this to be true. When I leave the LED moon lights on I can see him cruising around the mid to upper section of the water, while when lights are on he is usually resting or creeping along the sand.

 

[yukonblizzard]

Alex, have you looked at michiganreefers.com lately? Someone was selling two types of bamboo sharks lately. I don't think the UA would let me post a link though.

Edit: I just looked it up and it is a white spotted bamboo shark and black banded bamboo (shark I'm assuming)

Thanks for the tip...I'll have to check it out. I have tried to join Michigan Reefers several times, but for some odd reason it never works, I'll try again tonight.

 

[PghFishNerd]

Actually I have noticed this to be true. When I leave the LED moon lights on I can see him cruising around the mid to upper section of the water, while when lights are on he is usually resting or creeping along the sand.

That's so cool. I was wondering how they would react to moonlights.

 

[yukonblizzard]

That's so cool. I was wondering how they would react to moonlights.

I was a little worried that he would not be very active, but so far he seems to have a good balance between activity and rest. Although I think I might put the moon lights on a timer, they seem to be a little too bright.

Any thoughts on wether moonlights have any negative affects on fish?

 

[yukonblizzard]

Building quarantine tank...

I will use a 10 gallon tank for the sump where I will put the protein skimmer, live rock, and mangroves. For flow I will use 3x Koralia 600 gph, and for lights I will use a fluorescent shop light.

The bulkhead

 

[jbird69]

Your gonna get some serious deflection on that thin acrylic

I have my moon lights on a timer. They only run til 1am. I have noticed my LPS really extend their feeders much more in total darkness. Not sure of any effect on my fish.

 

[yukonblizzard]

Your gonna get some serious deflection on that thin acrylic

Haha, I hope not

I have my moon lights on a timer. They only run til 1am. I have noticed my LPS really extend their feeders much more in total darkness. Not sure of any effect on my fish.

I think I will do a timer like you and just have it on when I am up so I can see.

 

[PghFishNerd]

I think I will do a timer like you and just have it on when I am up so I can see.

That's a good idea. Unless you have night vision goggles, I don't know how else you'd be able to observe his night behavior. That would suck to miss out on cause its so freakin cool. I'm ridiculously jealous of you lol. You may have to take some night vids for us D pleaseeee)

 

[yukonblizzard]

That's a good idea. Unless you have night vision goggles, I don't know how else you'd be able to observe his night behavior. That would suck to miss out on cause its so freakin cool. I'm ridiculously jealous of you lol. You may have to take some night vids for us D pleaseeee)

Thanks man I will definitely try to get a night vid(Hopefully the camera will be able to see)

 

[tgreene]

Having had Sharks for a couple of years (sadly both are now deceased), I wanted to make you aware of something that I'm afraid you're not at all aware of...

Sharks and Rays are incredibly sensitive to electrical stimuli. It will quite literally destroy their immune systems and kill them. I say this because your internal skimmer pump and the Koralias inside the display will be a huge soucre for eventual stray current, and for constant electro-magnetic fields from the moment they are turned on.

I kept a pair of Marbled Cat Sharks in a 300g round Rubbermaid livestock trough, and used strictly external pumps for circulation and skimmer supply to prevent any problems. I'm currently in the process of building a new 730g in-wall with a total volume right around 1100g, and am contemplating adding Sharks to the system since it will be 100% sealed and shielded from any electrical current.

Again, I hate to be a "buzzkill", but my concern is for the livestock that has special needs that *most* people do not know about. Aside from that little issue, the system looks great and would more that suffice for just about any other inhabitants.

-Tim

 

[yukonblizzard]

Having had Sharks for a couple of years (sadly both are now deceased), I wanted to make you aware of something that I'm afraid you're not at all aware of...

Sharks and Rays are incredibly sensitive to electrical stimuli. It will quite literally destroy their immune systems and kill them. I say this because your internal skimmer pump and the Koralias inside the display will be a huge soucre for eventual stray current, and for constant electro-magnetic fields from the moment they are turned on.

I kept a pair of Marbled Cat Sharks in a 300g round Rubbermaid livestock trough, and used strictly external pumps for circulation and skimmer supply to prevent any problems. I'm currently in the process of building a new 730g in-wall with a total volume right around 1100g, and am contemplating adding Sharks to the system since it will be 100% sealed and shielded from any electrical current.

Again, I hate to be a "buzzkill", but my concern is for the livestock that has special needs that *most* people do not know about. Aside from that little issue, the system looks great and would more that suffice for just about any other inhabitants.

-Tim

Thank you Tim, it is good to point out things even if they are "buzzkills", thats how we learn and make things better.

But actually I am aware that electrical currents can be damaging to sharks and rays. However a cousin of mine had kept round rays and bamboo sharks for about 10 years in his 400 gallon (until he moved) with internal pumps and no problems. They seemed to be very healthy every time I seen them. As I began planning this build, which actually has been in the back of my head since I got into this hobby, I planned on doing all external pumps and heaters. Although when I asked about these issues on other Shark and Ray forums I got mixed responses on wether internal pumps actually have any negative effects. Some saying that external pumps are just as bad as internals and others stating that internals will not harm elasmobranch species. And because the way the tank was setup it was better to have internal equipment. Hopefully I dont see any negative effects, but I will keep a very close eye on them to spot any unusual behavior.

 

[tgreene]

Alex,

I'm glad that you took my post in the positive and educational manner in which it was intended.

I would disagree with any statement about external pumps being just as bad however because due to their very nature and design, there is no chance of electrical leakage into the system with magnetic pumps such as PanWorld, BlueLine and other similar designs.

-Tim

 

[yukonblizzard]

Alex,

I'm glad that you took my post in the positive and educational manner in which it was intended.

I would disagree with any statement about external pumps being just as bad however because due to their very nature and design, there is no chance of electrical leakage into the system with magnetic pumps such as PanWorld, BlueLine and other similar designs.

-Tim

No problem Tim

Thats what I thought too, but I guess I will have to wait and see. Do you have a build thread for your new tank in process? Sounds very interesting.

 

[tgreene]

Sure do... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1819933

-Tim

 

[yukonblizzard]

Transfered the FoxFace into the lagoon...

Acclimating:

*Probably not the best idea to pick this guy up by hand!

Exploring his new home:

He is about 8" long:

Swimmin' with his old buds:

 

[yukonblizzard]

Four of these little damsels made it down the refugium drain and into the display!

The skimmer getting the job done:

 

[PghFishNerd]

The pattern on the Foxface while it's acclimating is so cool. I know it's not that cool being that it's because he's stressed out lol but that's very neat to see. I knew they could darken and lighten but I had no idea they could morph their colors to that extent... almost like seahorses.
And no, probably not a good idea to pick him up by hand lol. Although I've never heard of anyone being harmed by them.

 

[yukonblizzard]

The pattern on the Foxface while it's acclimating is so cool. I know it's not that cool being that it's because he's stressed out lol but that's very neat to see. I knew they could darken and lighten but I had no idea they could morph their colors to that extent... almost like seahorses.
And no, probably not a good idea to pick him up by hand lol. Although I've never heard of anyone being harmed by them.

Yeah, it is amazing how the colors can change. The Vlamingiis used to be able to do it, but now that they are so big they either dont feel threatened enough or they grew out of that stage.