Strikingthematch Stingray!

First topic message reminder :

Well the time has come. Several months ago I picked up a 280 gallon tank and started setting it up. (can find the build here!) LINK

Well since finishing the stand, adding sand, and water it has sat empty, that is until now!
A little over a week ago I found a monster CL ad. A guy was getting out of the fish hobby it seems and selling off his whole setup. I didn't pay it much attention because it was a 150 gallon tank with two FX5 filters and I have no need for the whole setup at this time. What really caught my eye was the fish he wanted to sell. one stingray, one arowana, and one catfish.

I got in touch with him and made a deal for the fish, and one FX5. I won't say what I paid but it was a pretty good deal I believe. I only really wanted one of his filters because I had intended on doing another sump setup like I used for my discus tank but never got around to it. So in order to supplement this I used one FX5 that I had kept running on another tank and his filter. The integration to the tank has been flawless and I didn't even experience a mini cycle.
The current tank I have setup is very plain but it has what I need in it. I will make it look more appealing as time goes on. At this point I am much more worried about proper care of the fish then eye candy (the fish are that for me right now)

Setup:
280gallon 72x30x30 all acrylic tank
2 FX5 filters
2 DIY spray bars for better circulation.
2 Eheim Jager 300watt heaters (not shown in pictures)
2 air stones.

As you may remember from the original setup I had sand in the tank. After a week in the tank the stingray was showing signs of irritation. It was a mixture of play and pool filter sand. My guess would be the courser pool filter sand caused it but I have no real way of knowing. For the time being the tank will remain bare bottom. It does not look as good but is easy to maintain and the belly of the ray has already healed. Typically you would want a substrate for a ray because they like to hide in it but I have seen no adverse effects from a bare bottom and seeing as her skin as already healed I would say it was a good idea. I plan to add a substrate at a later time that is both ray safe and appealing but bare will work for now!

This is my first time dealing with a ray and arowana but so far it has been a blast. The ray is no doubt the most intriguing fish I have ever owned. She readily comes to the front of the tank and will follow your finger as if trying to figure you out. Just watching her glide across the bottom the tank is thrilling. The arowana has such a mean look but would run at the first inclination of trouble haha. The catfish is well a catfish but watching it eat is funny to say the least. It likes to attack everything like it is the end of the world even when it's a tiny worm.

Inhabitants
Thus far I have only the fish I got in the deal.
1 10" Female Motoro stingray
1 12" Silver Arowana
1 7" B. Juruense catfish.

Now for the pictures! Enjoy!

The tank





The ray














The Arowana







The Juruense cat

James0816 wrote:

strikingthematch wrote:

I have seen different forums suggest the lighthouse brand as well but I have not seen it for sale around here. I have to check out a spa and pool store I suppose and see if they have any.

Do you think the clown loaches would get along with the catfish? I know that they don't like other cat fish but the clowns would at least be moving around more.

We have one pool store up here that sells it. I have about 1/2 bag left but I doubt that it will cover your floor.

The cats and clowns should be just fine together. Just have to grown out the clowns a bit first of course.

Haha yeah going to need a few bags.

Wonder if I could find some good size clowns haha. The cat is only around 7 inches but I would still worry that as it grows it would outpace the loaches.

TheGodParticle wrote:

zeashness wrote:

I keep telling striking he needs to get me a Red Arowana now.

There's an export ban on Red Arowana's... You won't be getting one soon unless you move to Canada.

We know. Haha still a nice dream.

TheGodParticle wrote:

zeashness wrote:

I keep telling striking he needs to get me a Red Arowana now.

There's an export ban on Red Arowana's... You won't be getting one soon unless you move to Canada.

Awww, that's a bummer. They're so pretty.

Very nice man! Looking forward to seeing this tank sometime soon.

Thanks Ben, I don't know if we will end up having the meeting here or not but that would be a great chance to haha.