Questions about setting up a shark tank @ home

[down4life]

I am moving to NC on July 1st. I would like to set up a shark tank in my living room. What would be the smallest tank I can get away with? What kind of shark would you recommend? Someone told me a Nurse shark? Do they require special lighting or filtration? Are they that hard to keep alive? Are they alot more work than other salt setups? I have been into saltwater aquariums for a year and a half..

 

[fish boy]

nurse sharks get prety big you can get bamboo sharks which olny get like 3 feet

 

[jim27]

Don't get a nurse. They're known to reach upto 14ft. Get something small like a coral cat or a bamboo shark(which is what I have). I recommend bamboos, they are widely available and easy to keep as long as you have lots of filtration/good water quality. You'll need at least a 180 gallon for one of these but obviously bigger is better. I keep two small ones in my 180(which will eventually be a 240+ gallon). Keeping sharks in my experience is not that much different than keeping any other SW fish. They don't need any special lighting(normal aquarium lighting is fine) but filtration has to be very good. They are very messy eaters. My signature has info about my tank.

 

[falcon63]

where in nc

 

[troels]

Instead of asking "What would be the smallest tank I can get away with?" I would ask what is the largest tank I can afford ? and then ask what kind of shark could go in to a tank of that size.. For a adult nurse you would need 20.000 gallon as a minimum...

 

[splash1914]

For sharks, its not really how many gallons, but the length and width that is important. (no pun intended) Nurse sharks are very hardy but after 2 years they will be too big. Leopard sharks for me are the best. They look like real sharks and hardly if ever just lay on the bottom. They are constant swimmers....Only problem is they are getting expensive.... I have found them to be very hardy... I have only lost one due to a over sized mean green moray eating one for lunch....

 

[cwfish]

Splash, just curious, how large are your leopards right now? Are you planning on doing a SERIOUS upgrade of tanks in the future since they need quite a bit of space?
Isn't your tank a 180? not a 200? Either that or your dimentions are wrong.

 

[splash1914]

One is a little under 2'(had for about 2 years)
Two are about 10" (just got them)
When they get too big donate them them to the local science center or trade them in.....
Your right my tank is 180.... I had it custom made and was going with what the builder told me..... Thanks.... Looks like I can do smaller water changes now...

 

[cwfish]

Oh ok, that makes sense I guess to donate them as long as that place will accept them. It would be tough to keep them at home since you would need a D$@N big tank! Do you have any pics of the sharks now? I have always like the look of those guys. Good luck to you.
Go talk to that custom builder and demand a 10% refund!

 

[splash1914]

I tried getting a full refund from them when it was delivered scratched... Thats another whole other story... whats your email and I will send some pics....