new tank looking for fish only

[billyfish]

I just purchased a 200 gal tank that is 72 long x 36 wide. I want to put in some cool looking fish (lionfish, shark, stingray, etc.) I will have an artificial insert. i want to get some nice fish but not sure which to put in and which not to mix with. I would love to put a sting ray and shark in but not sure if my tank can handle that and then put some other fish in. Any ideas would be helpful

 

[sweatervest13]

You could put a nice size angel fish in there. A lot say you need a 220g or larger, but there are ones that can go in a 200g tank.
Are you going for an aggressive tank?? or a peaceful fish only tank??

 

[saxman]

I'm not a shark/ray keeper, and your tank has a nice footprint, but even so, you'd be looking at one of the smallest elastomobranchs, and nothing that swims. However, I think the tank would be pretty tight. Again, I'll let one of the shark weenies chime in.
As far as other cool fish, large or medium-bodied lionfish would be really great in a tank like that, as would larger scorps and stingfish (Inimicus sp). You could fill it out with an eel (such as a zebra), squirrel/soldierfish, a Xanthichthys sp. triggerfish (a male blue jaw would be great), a marine betta, etc.
Here's a link to a good lionfish article with lots of nice photos of the various species:
LIONFISH CARE GUIDE
FWIW, we have a 210 gal build we're doing that will house four medium-bodied lionfish, an Inimicus stingfish, and an Aussie harlequin tuskfish for starters. We already have the fish in various grow-out tanks as we tend to get our fish on the small side as we like to grow them up.

 

[saxman]

That link came out kinda funny...and I can't edit it from my ipad for whatever reason. You can cut/paste it, or I'll fix it when I get home (I'm on biz travel today).
EDIT: Link fixed...click away!

 

[rickross23]

Sharks and rays do best in ponds or HUGE rectangle tanks, like 500+gallons.

 

[saxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/391975/new-tank-looking-for-fish-only#post_3478554
Sharks and rays do best in ponds or HUGE rectangle tanks, like 500+gallons.
Actually, the best shape for sharks and rays is a large cylinder or at least a tank with rounded corners. They tend to get stuck in square corners or tight rockwork.

 

[brun67]

as long as the corners are pretty much rounded and there able to go in a circular motion they will be fine for some time, but most sharks dont stop growing for years. Blacktips are always moving and will control the top of the tank, but if your looking for a more "comatose" shark, id go with a nurse shark. they get big, but they dont move around as much.

 

[rickross23]

as long as the corners are pretty much rounded and there able to go in a circular motion they will be fine for some time, but most sharks dont stop growing for years. Blacktips are always moving and will control the top of the tank, but if your looking for a more "comatose" shark, id go with a nurse shark. they get big, but they dont move around as much.
 
[/quote
Nurse sharks get 13'.

 

[brun67]

i didnt say nurse sharks were small......
I just said that they dont move around much.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by brun67 http:///t/391975/new-tank-looking-for-fish-only#post_3478844
i didnt say nurse sharks were small......
I just said that they dont move around much.
Probably because they're depressed that they can't swim around like they do in the ocean.

 

[brun67]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/391975/new-tank-looking-for-fish-only#post_3478847
Probably because they're depressed that they can't swim around like they do in the ocean.
+1 on that. i dont think they should be in home aquariums because of the fact of how big they get.