In wall shark tank

[<scuba steve>]

I am setting up a 180 gallon in wall and plan on either getting a brown banded bamboo shark or a coral catshark. If the shark gets too big I can always give it to my LFS "show off tank" lol. I will start with only a few questions right now. My first question is what are good tank mates for those sharks. My other question is can I use a magnet acrylic cleaner? I have heard they are very sensitive to metals, but I am not sure about magnets. So thank you all in advance!

 

[salt life]

I'd go bigger, I'm pretty sure but I actually am not for certain, that a 180 is not big enough for sharks, so why not go bigger and keep it for life and not have to get a shark then worry about giving it away, what is the point of that?

 

[<scuba steve>]

Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2925172
I'd go bigger, I'm pretty sure but I actually am not for certain, that a 180 is not big enough for sharks, so why not go bigger and keep it for life and not have to get a shark then worry about giving it away, what is the point of that?
I already bought a 180 gallon.

 

[salt life]

welll aren't you silly, send it to me and then go get a 300g tank, a 180 can work for some time im sure, but why set up a shark tank, if you gotta get rid of the shark down the road, and im sure that isn't an easy process to begin with, you will be happier picking a stocklist you want and be able to keep it.

 

[<scuba steve>]

According to everything I have read including Sharks and Rays written by Scott W. Michael a 180 is large for a coral catshark and a good size for a bamboo. Bamboo sharks in the wild live in small tide pools and wedge themselves into rocks all day long. During low tide they will even wash up on the shoreline and as a result have this special ability to shut off certain sections of their brain for up to 12 hours or until high tide. Even the way they wobble around on their limbs suggests they are built for rocky crammed reefs. They are not requiem sharks which need to swim to breath. Point and case these animals were built to live in small spaces.

 

[salt life]

Point and case, books say alot of stuff, which is based on that persons opinions, and not always what is best. a 180 tank isn't a shallow tidepool and because they wedge them selves into rocks or go on the shore i don't understand where that comes into play. You want a shark tank, sharks produce alot of bioload, you want it for life then i would get a bigger tank, a 180 may be fine for it, but to be responsible id go bigger and you can get another shark.

 

[<scuba steve>]

I don't want to be shark bashed just need help on the questions I have asked.

 

[salt life]

I'm not shark bashing you, your just taking it personally. im guessing you didn't do enough research and bought a 180 cause a book said it was ok, and now your not gonna take advice cause you already bought a 180. im just saying, you want a shark tank, then why not make a suitable home for 1+ sharks so you have a nice display and dont have to worry about giving them back?

 

[<scuba steve>]

I would rather take advice and opinions by people that have traveled the world; written books and studied these creatures in their natural habitats than by someone who hasn't studied or kept sharks.

 

[salt life]

ok, now that is an assumption. Who says i never studied or kept a shark?

 

[<scuba steve>]

Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2925172
I'd go bigger, I'm pretty sure but I actually am not for certain, that a 180 is not big enough for sharks
Your uncertainty with the tank size. But I would like help with the magnets and sharks; also would there be a large chance of the magnet cleaner scratching the tank?

 

[salt life]

doesn't mean I haven't researched it and you obviously haven't done enough. a 180 might be able to hold a bamboo but thats it, and you would have to give it back when it gets bigger.
if your 180 is glass and your using a mag float then no it won't scratch your glass.

 

[<scuba steve>]

Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2925213
doesn't mean I haven't researched it and you obviously haven't done enough. a 180 might be able to hold a bamboo but thats it, and you would have to give it back when it gets bigger.
if your 180 is glass and your using a mag float then no it won't scratch your glass.
I have researched sharks and rays for about 2 years. My tank is acrylic.

 

[crimzy]

A couple issues here... and just so you know, I've kept several sharks and rays. First, Scott Michael is notorious for underestimating tank size. In fact, I believe that he suggests a minimum tank size for a cortez ray is a 75 gallon tank (I think it was a cortez... haven't read the book in a while). Second, I think you could probably get away with having a single coral catshark for life. They max out at about 2 ft so this should be ok. The bamboo maxes out at about 40" or so. If you think that a 72" x 24" tank is suitable for one of these guys then you will change your mind after seeing one in that size tank.
As to your other questions, magnetic algae scrapers are fine. Tankmates should be large, docile fish. Nothing that will pick on the shark such as angels, triggers, wrasses, puffers. And nothing small enough for the shark to eat.

 

[salt life]

there should be acrylic mag floats too, they say it on the package so you might have to just take a look.

 

[sepulatian]

The 180 will not hold the sharks for long. A standard 180 is 72 x 24 x 25. A bamboo grows to 40.9 or so inches. It grows at a rate of roughly 11 inches per year and is hatched at approximately that size. One bamboo would not be able to turn around in that tank within a year. The size of the fish and growth rate is coming from Scott W. Michaels 500+ essential to know aquarium species, which is right in front of me. The sizes for tanks listed are "recommended" and are not for adult size fish.

 

[salt life]

yeah, what sep and crimzy said.

 

[<scuba steve>]

Originally Posted by crimzy
http:///forum/post/2925215
A couple issues here... and just so you know, I've kept several sharks and rays. First, Scott Michael is notorious for underestimating tank size. In fact, I believe that he suggests a minimum tank size for a cortez ray is a 75 gallon tank (I think it was a cortez... haven't read the book in a while). Second, I think you could probably get away with having a single coral catshark for life. They max out at about 2 ft so this should be ok. The bamboo maxes out at about 40" or so. If you think that a 72" x 24" tank is suitable for one of these guys then you will change your mind after seeing one in that size tank.
As to your other questions, magnetic algae scrapers are fine. Tankmates should be large, docile fish. Nothing that will pick on the shark such as angels, triggers, wrasses, puffers. And nothing small enough for the shark to eat.
I was very much leaning towards the coral catshark rather than the bamboo shark as I was worried about a 40" shark. I also like the fact that coral cats are much more active.

 

[jpa0741]

Don't worry about the bashing some people just can't help it. As far as the magnet I believe you were worring about the metals and sharks. I don't know how it turned into magnets and scratching. No worries as they are coated well and should not leach metals.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2925257
Don't worry about the bashing some people just can't help it. As far as the magnet I believe you were worring about the metals and sharks. I don't know how it turned into magnets and scratching. No worries as they are coated well and should not leach metals.
The OP was not bashed at all. He may have taken comments wrong, but I read this whole thread. There was no bashing. I agree that the magnet should not be a problem at all.
There are mag floats designed for acrylic. Be sure to get that kind, so it doesn't get scratched. BTW, Welcome to the boards