400 Gallon Tank!! What should I do?

[aepi_tank]

I have a 400 gallon saltwater fish-tank, and I have no idea where to start filling it with fish, and inverts.
The tank belongs to my fraternity, and it is now recently vacant. I have changed the water, and the water levels are all in check.
Getting money for this tank depends on how much the brothers like it. They would like something more exciting than say a few damsels, clownfish, or (even though I like them) triggers.
I posted this thread in the new hobbyist forum, and someone told me that sharks would be perfect for this tank.
THAT sounds cool!
I would also like to consider eels with the sharks? I don't think they would be too compatable, but maybe if the eel was big enough or the shark small enough? I dunno, maybe they would both kill each other. I really don't have too muh experience with fish tanks, and no experience with aggressive fish, so thats why I am posting this here.
Please! Post ANY suggestions you have. Think of this as your dream tank, and what would you do with it.
The shape is kinda like this from the top:
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9.5'

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Front:
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|~~~|~|~~~|~|~~~| 2'
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9.5'

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There is some lighting (6 4ft 40 watt bulbs, 3 blue, 3 white). (I was told this wasn't enough, but sharks may like less light)
The tank is about 9.5 feet long, 4 feet back, and 2 feet deep.
It is a spill over filtration system, with bio-balls and a filter.
There is alot of base rock, and a little live rock. I need to buy more rock to make it a better tank anyway, so the type of rock in there now doesn't really matter.
I have plenty of heaters.
Ummmm... Well, just post whateve you think of the tank!
I'll try to get some pictures of it and post them here.
Thanks

 

[moraym]

Properly making it into a shark tank would require a lot more money than you'd think. Specifically i'd look into a UV sterilizer, very large skimmer, and depending on the conditions of your frat house in the summer, a chiller to maintain constant water temp. Not to mention the feeding cost and maintenance cost of a shark tank. Also, tankmates for sharks are pretty limited. So you'd basically have 400g with just a couple sharks. And most home-aquarium sharks are a lot less active than one would think.
If your fraternity is anything like mine, you wouldn't want to invest too much since well...things happen. And since i'm now on the International Board of Governors for my fraternity, I have to say this: what does your insurance policy say in regards to 400 gallons of water?
Either way, instead of sharks, i'd look into schooling fish. As unexciting as damsels may be, getting a shoal of fish to dart in and out of your rocks (maybe with some easier-maintenance aneomones/corals for color) is pretty interesting to watch (I never liked freshwater neon tetras until I saw my friend's 400g tank with a school of probably 100 tetras darting around his Discus).

 

[moraym]

Just curious, will someone be lined up (read: pledge ) to take care of this thing over winter break, spring break, and summer. That may be another reason to go w/ an easier maintenance load.

 

[evilss]

i would say since you dont have much experience with fish tanks i wouldnt do sharks. especially if money is an issue. you could go with some schooling fish or go aggressive. you could get some great aggressive fish for this size tank. get you a colorful angel. get a puffer or 2. you could get an eel no problem. could also consider a lion fish. a grouper would be nice as well. and if you want to keep it exciting you could get some damsels from time to time. they will be hunted by the above fish. very exiciting to watch these fish hunt. just my opinion though. good luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do.

 

[tony detroit]

I would have never considered this in our fraternity house, BUT a shark and ray tank would be very cool.
Can you plumb pipes to the basement of the house and do filtration down there?

 

[aepi_tank]

Ok, the fish tank is already in the house, in case you guys are wondering. An older brother built it like 4 years ago. Its a nice addition, and we generally like it.
Now, I've seen that people suggest that shark tanks only be run by experts, and I guess that makes sense, but I just want to know (for the future possibly) what makes shark care so difficult. Maybe I could research those things, and once I understand them well enough I could raise sharks.
Rays sound interesting, but I'm not sure what grade sand I have in there, and I've been told that they need very fine grade, so I'll have our local fish store check that out for me.
I think I'll try an angelfish, those are both nice looking and aggressive. Puffers maybe too.
Eels sound like fun, but I've been told that they like to jump and escape from the tank, is that true? And if it is, how can I prevent that?
Well, over this spring break I'll still be here, I'm spending my break money on Mardi Gras instead.
I'll also be here over the summer, so I'll be in charge of it. I am actually the Fish Tank Chairman, hahaha.
As far as plumbing pipes into the basement...
This is Florida, we don't have basements.

lol
We do have a boiler room on the level below (the house was built in '57), but its like 20 feet away from below the tank. Doing that much constructiona and work isn't going to be worth the effort in our house, it is gonna be torn down within 3 years when we move into our new one.
There is alot of room beneath the tank if we need to do additional filtration. It is raised above the ground like 4 ft. I guess i could build something if I need to. When I post some pics of the filter system and tank, etc. maybe you could let me know if what we have is sufficient.
Right now not much funding is lined up, but I need to put SOMETHING in there ASAP. Our Rush (recruitment) Week starts this Sunday, and we want something alive in there by then.
I'm looking heavily into an aggressive tank, so we can watch them hunt.
I would also like there to be sharks, if it is possible, but if they will probably die b/c of my inexperience, then I'l rather just get some other kinds, like a Lion, Groupers, Puffers, Angels, and Rays.
Right now I'd like to know what I should get to start the tank, like what kind of living thing, and how the rocks should be arranged. We had to clean them when we changed the water, so they are just sitting in haphazard piles right now.
Just suggest what I should do for a non-shark aggressive tank, and what I should do for a shark/ray tank.
Thanks

 

[aepi_tank]

Oh, one more thing...
Are any of the aggressive fish safe with inverts such as carpet anemones? I wanted to get some of those, they look really cool.
Also, if I don't get sharks, but instead get the other agressive fish, do I need to still get more light?
That's not really one more thing...:notsure:
Oh well

 

[moraym]

For research purposes, pick up Scott W. Michael's "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" book, the most valuable source of information available. And continue to read this board's various posts on sharks.
As far as having life in the tank by this sunday, that leaves you no time to QT the fish, meaning you'd probably want to purchase some cheap colorful fish (damsels mainly) since the tank hasn't cycled, and I wouldnt want to risk putting anything too nice in there at this point.
Is the tank on the 2nd floor of your house? I only ask b/c a 400g tank puts a lot of stress on flooring, and just wanted to make sure you had done a little researched on the floor beams to make sure the tank goes across several beams (not running parallel to one) and that it is near a load-bearing wall. Depends on the construction of course, my fraternity house was built around '55, and I barely felt safe putting in a new double fridge for the undergrads, that's how dilapidated our flooring was/is.

 

[tony detroit]

From everything I've learned I'd say this. Either dedicate it to be a shark and ray tank, or dedicate it to be an agressive tank, one or the other, but no in between. Rays don't fare well with many different species of aggressive fish. I'd say for ease, try going with triggers, puffers, and groupers. Maybe some large angels. Run a UV/ large skimmer, and a ton of water flow.
Do you guys have a LambdaChi chapter down there?

 

[moraym]

Originally posted by AEPi_Tank
Also, if I don't get sharks, but instead get the other agressive fish, do I need to still get more light?
The only light you need for a fish-only tank is enough light to see them.
Corals and anemones have specific lighting requirements, but the fish you're considering do not need certain light levels by themselves.

 

[evilss]

as far as eels escaping. as long as you got secure lids on the tank you shouldnt have a problem. double check the back of the tank if you have any plumbing back there, make sure there are no holes for the eel to escape.
just try to plan ahead if you decide to keep aggressive. there are alot of options for this size of a tank but not all fish go together. like puting more than one angel may be a bad idea. usually they dont get along with eachohter.
also. i dont think your gonna have much luck keeping inverts. especially any kind of anemone. the groupers and puffers will destroy all of your crabs and snails if you put some in there.
just do alot of research and reading on here. there are alot of well experienced people here.

 

[aepi_tank]

Thanks guys, as for by Sunay, I'm just gonna get some Damsels and watch them for a while.
The tank has cycled, w/o fish, for like 3 weeks now, so it should be ready for fish.
No, it is not on the second floor of my house. The house is on a hill, and the floor you enter into is the top floor. The slope is pretty steep, and so when it dips enough, another floor underneath, but still above ground, begins. You walk in, and then go downstairs, but not into a basement, its still totally above ground. The fish tank is near the entrance, and so it is secure on the foundation.
I think for a final plan I'm looking into the following:
Groupers (2-3)
Puffers (2-3)
Triggers (2-3) or Lions (1-2)
Angel (1)
Anything else that may work? I am excluding Rays and Sharks for now, the sand is too coarse.
I have lots of little snails that are all over the tank. They aren't really essential to the tank, but will they get eaten too?
Also, is there anything that can tanke care of the algae and not get eaten by the fish I have included?
I don't think I'll put eels in. We have a spill-over filtration system, and if they are good escape artists, they would swim into the pipes and die in the tank below on top of the filters. Or maybe they would just jump out of the top of the tank, since it isn't closed. Is that bad for any of the types I want in there now?
Oh, and yes, there is a Lambda Chi chapter here.
Thanks again

 

[evilss]

you could consider a tang for the algae problem.

 

[moraym]

As far as the top goes, you'll need something to prevent triggers from jumping. You can purchase some egg crate (in the lighting section of Home Depot, just a grid of white plastic) and weigh it down, or even purchase some porch screening and secure it

 

[flatzboy]

I'd get a few tangs to help eat algea and probably a harliquin tusk they are so awesome..

 

[aepi_tank]

Hey guys, the Tang sounds awesome! I'm definately getting one of those. That is if I go witht the agressive tank.
Again, I'm having second thoughts about how much needs to be done with the aggressive types and what could happen to them. I mean, it IS a fraternity house.
I still have a few weeks before I can get the money together anyways.
Tonight I got 52 damsels (2 got thrown in for free) and only one died in the bag, so they are swimming happily now. I'll get pictures as soon as I can.
Thanks

 

[dholmblad]

Ill take it off your hands
If it was mine i would make one half reef and the other a nice sand bed.

 

[new2u]

duude 52 damsels? I had trouble getting 4 out of a 55 trying to get 51 out of a 400 is gonna be hell...

 

[new2u]

but i still wanna see pics

 

[flatzboy]

Originally posted by New2u
duude 52 damsels? I had trouble getting 4 out of a 55 trying to get 51 out of a 400 is gonna be hell...
I'd just leave them in there and make them a nice live treat for lionfish, triggers or whatever aggressive fish he gets.