Shark Tank at the LFS

melev · 09/12/2006, 09:24 PM

Guys, this LFS has had a large sand shark for years. As it grows, they build a bigger tank. This is what they put together, and it has been running for a month.

The tank holds 2200g!

The tank is divided up with a reef zone that overflows into the shark's sandy section. There is also a spot to the right of the reef that is like a sink hole, just a space for larger fish to escape to in case they are on the run from Piggy.

Bebo77 · 09/12/2006, 09:29 PM

schweet...

Brewen · 09/12/2006, 09:31 PM

Very nice setup.

melev · 09/12/2006, 09:39 PM

And while I have your attention, here are a few more images.

My urchin made it into the shark tank!

Here's one of the owner's personal tanks. It is 400g, with an OM 4-way on the back.

And here are a few tanks on the sales floor, set up like reefs.

And this one caught my attention.

These guys are in every freshwater overflow. I really can't believe this is their existance. They are freshwater prawns, and when they get huge enough, I guess they just eat 'em for dinner. I'd have trouble with that myself, considering all they've eaten the entire time is fish poo.

Snakebyt · 09/12/2006, 09:43 PM

wow, that is an awesome setup.. next time i am in the area i need to stop by there..

Kurt03 · 09/12/2006, 09:47 PM

seems like the sharks swiming area is a little small isnt it? Great idea using part of it for a reef though. Do they grow out colonys there to frag?

melev · 09/12/2006, 09:52 PM

I didn't measure the tank for length x width, as it was just too cool to stand there and enjoy the livestock. The shark sees amazingly well, and swims lazily in the sandy area. The sand looks like they put it in yesterday, but its been running for a month.

There's a 100 bags of Caribsea sand in there!

Kigs · 09/12/2006, 10:04 PM

so is there a glass divider between the reef zone and sand shark?

marino420td · 09/12/2006, 10:06 PM

I dig the Sargeant Majors in the big tank. Those are cool fish.

melev · 09/12/2006, 10:10 PM

No, no divider as you've described. Instead they put some mesh in the rockwork to keep the tiny fish in their section, the larger fish can go from the shark side to the 'tidepool' area, and the shark can't get to either zone.

The water is circulated with a single huge pump, and flows into the reef, which overflows into the shark/tidepool section.

In the images, you'll see some LPS, SPS, a BTA, gargonians and more. They are using a couple of MH lights to provide the reef with light, and they are Hamilton 14,000K bulbs.

They are going to plant mangroves along the reef crest to divvy up the tank a tad, and I think that'll look pretty cool.

garvondavis14 · 09/12/2006, 10:17 PM

hey marc- there's an lfs up here in Ohio (that's right home of the buckeyes

) that has a 10k gallon shark tank with two black tip reef sharks. i forget how many years they said they have had them, but i know it's been a while. here's the site, sometimes their videos on there work and sometimes they don't. They look so awesome, just watching the way they move...and to think my dad and i were only a hundred yards or so away from like 10 of them in Hawaii last year while we were snorkling...

hawaiianwargod · 09/12/2006, 10:27 PM

Marc,

Cool pics....I like the shark tank a lot.

Cuby2k · 09/12/2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev

And this one caught my attention.
These guys are in every freshwater overflow . . . . when they get huge enough, I guess they just eat 'em for dinner. I'd have trouble with that myself, considering all they've eaten the entire time is fish poo.

Hey I love mushrooms and look what they use to make them grow.

That doesn't mean I'd like to farm them THEN eat them though.

melev · 09/12/2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by garvondavis14
hey marc- there's an lfs up here in Ohio (that's right home of the buckeyes) that has a 10k gallon shark tank with two black tip reef sharks. i forget how many years they said they have had them, but i know it's been a while. here's the site, sometimes their videos on there work and sometimes they don't. They look so awesome, just watching the way they move...and to think my dad and i were only a hundred yards or so away from like 10 of them in Hawaii last year while we were snorkling...

Link me - Link me.

jnarowe · 09/12/2006, 11:16 PM

Sweet LFS! Man I wish we had that around here.

Mchllmarsh · 09/12/2006, 11:25 PM

Wow... Thats amazing!

garvondavis14 · 09/12/2006, 11:37 PM

oh, my bad... i thought i posted the link. sorry lol

http://www.aquaticsandexotics.com/

there ya go...the site isn't too spectacular, but the sharks definitely are!

melev · 09/12/2006, 11:45 PM

Thanks. All the video links go to a 404 page.

JR719 · 09/13/2006, 12:32 AM

Marc,

I get to the DFW area every so often.... Where is this tank? I would like to stop by next time I'm in the area.

melev · 09/13/2006, 01:43 AM

That would be Fish Paradise, in s/w Ft Worth. I have their address on the LFS page on my site.

McCrary · 09/13/2006, 05:02 AM

I wish we had a LFS like that down here in Tucson.

RocketSeason · 09/13/2006, 07:39 AM

My LFS has a 90 gallon display!

...yeah...

jnarowe · 09/13/2006, 08:10 AM

I was wondering what they made that tank out of. ANyone know how they sealed it?

smokinprice · 09/13/2006, 09:08 AM

Wow those are some great photos! Thx for sharing.

slevesque · 09/13/2006, 09:16 AM

Any shark police around

?

I have to admit I don't know much about shark but if we can't keep a yellow tang in less than a 3' 75G tank, I wonder how we can justify keeping a shark that big in a swiming area only twice his lenght. It seems like the same ratio as having a tang in a 10G tank.

The tidepool - lagoon effect is very nice though, I like it a lot.

09/12/2006, 09:24 PM	#1
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Shark Tank at the LFS Guys, this LFS has had a large sand shark for years. As it grows, they build a bigger tank. This is what they put together, and it has been running for a month. The tank holds 2200g! The tank is divided up with a reef zone that overflows into the shark's sandy section. There is also a spot to the right of the reef that is like a sink hole, just a space for larger fish to escape to in case they are on the run from Piggy.

09/12/2006, 09:29 PM	#2
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	schweet... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

09/12/2006, 09:39 PM	#4
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	And while I have your attention, here are a few more images. My urchin made it into the shark tank! Here's one of the owner's personal tanks. It is 400g, with an OM 4-way on the back. And here are a few tanks on the sales floor, set up like reefs. And this one caught my attention. These guys are in every freshwater overflow. I really can't believe this is their existance. They are freshwater prawns, and when they get huge enough, I guess they just eat 'em for dinner. I'd have trouble with that myself, considering all they've eaten the entire time is fish poo. Last edited by melev; 09/12/2006 at 10:03 PM.

09/12/2006, 10:17 PM	#11
garvondavis14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The nasty 'Nati! Posts: 539	hey marc- there's an lfs up here in Ohio (that's right home of the buckeyes) that has a 10k gallon shark tank with two black tip reef sharks. i forget how many years they said they have had them, but i know it's been a while. here's the site, sometimes their videos on there work and sometimes they don't. They look so awesome, just watching the way they move...and to think my dad and i were only a hundred yards or so away from like 10 of them in Hawaii last year while we were snorkling... __________________ WE ARE ALL WITNESSES LBJ23 LET'S GO CAVS, BUCKS, BROWNIES, REDS AND MUSKIES Current Tank Info: marine- 65 BB reef... freshwater- 55g mbuna tank, 20g fry tank, 30g community, 5g planted, 150g red eared slider habitat

09/12/2006, 10:27 PM	#12
hawaiianwargod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 11 54' N, 121 55' E Posts: 1,836	Marc, Cool pics....I like the shark tank a lot. __________________ "To be a successful reefer, one must master the art of mimicry" ~Hawaiianwargod~ [E] levated [L] evel [O] f [S] weetness Current Tank Info: 210+ - "G" Elos 160XL [~]

09/12/2006, 09:31 PM	#3
Brewen Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Maria,CA Posts: 1,618	Very nice setup.

09/12/2006, 09:43 PM	#5
Snakebyt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lubbock Tx Posts: 2,141	wow, that is an awesome setup.. next time i am in the area i need to stop by there..

09/12/2006, 09:47 PM	#6
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	seems like the sharks swiming area is a little small isnt it? Great idea using part of it for a reef though. Do they grow out colonys there to frag?

09/12/2006, 09:52 PM	#7
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I didn't measure the tank for length x width, as it was just too cool to stand there and enjoy the livestock. The shark sees amazingly well, and swims lazily in the sandy area. The sand looks like they put it in yesterday, but its been running for a month. There's a 100 bags of Caribsea sand in there!

09/12/2006, 10:04 PM	#8
Kigs Moved On Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: LI, NY Posts: 2,182	so is there a glass divider between the reef zone and sand shark?

09/12/2006, 10:06 PM	#9
marino420td Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cape Girardeau, MO Posts: 2,529	I dig the Sargeant Majors in the big tank. Those are cool fish.

09/12/2006, 10:10 PM	#10
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	No, no divider as you've described. Instead they put some mesh in the rockwork to keep the tiny fish in their section, the larger fish can go from the shark side to the 'tidepool' area, and the shark can't get to either zone. The water is circulated with a single huge pump, and flows into the reef, which overflows into the shark/tidepool section. In the images, you'll see some LPS, SPS, a BTA, gargonians and more. They are using a couple of MH lights to provide the reef with light, and they are Hamilton 14,000K bulbs. They are going to plant mangroves along the reef crest to divvy up the tank a tad, and I think that'll look pretty cool.

09/12/2006, 11:16 PM	#15
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Sweet LFS! Man I wish we had that around here. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

09/12/2006, 11:25 PM	#16
Mchllmarsh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The O in OC, California Posts: 127	Wow... Thats amazing! __________________ A good friend will bail you out of jail, but... a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn... that was fun!" Current Tank Info: 10 gal. reef tank (w/ Nemos). I just upgraded to a 20gal with MH... I'm moving up in the reef world!

09/12/2006, 11:37 PM	#17
garvondavis14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The nasty 'Nati! Posts: 539	oh, my bad... i thought i posted the link. sorry lol http://www.aquaticsandexotics.com/ there ya go...the site isn't too spectacular, but the sharks definitely are! __________________ WE ARE ALL WITNESSES LBJ23 LET'S GO CAVS, BUCKS, BROWNIES, REDS AND MUSKIES Current Tank Info: marine- 65 BB reef... freshwater- 55g mbuna tank, 20g fry tank, 30g community, 5g planted, 150g red eared slider habitat

09/12/2006, 11:45 PM	#18
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Thanks. All the video links go to a 404 page.

09/13/2006, 12:32 AM	#19
JR719 Tang Cop Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: OK Posts: 2,240	Marc, I get to the DFW area every so often.... Where is this tank? I would like to stop by next time I'm in the area. __________________ Can't sleep, clowns will eat me. America is the most grandiose experiment the world has seen, but, I am afraid, it is not going to be a success. Sigmund Freud Current Tank Info: 300 reef, Aqua controller, Deltec calcium reactor, Reeflo 250 skimmer, Icecap bla bla bla

09/13/2006, 01:43 AM	#20
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That would be Fish Paradise, in s/w Ft Worth. I have their address on the LFS page on my site.

09/13/2006, 05:02 AM	#21
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	I wish we had a LFS like that down here in Tucson. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

09/13/2006, 07:39 AM	#22
RocketSeason Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 601	My LFS has a 90 gallon display! ...yeah... __________________ There is no such thing as a "Nemo fish". PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 37 Gallon Oceanic Cube, Various softies, 95 lbs of LR, 6 gallon cryptic fuge. Planning my 75 gallon upgrade.

09/13/2006, 08:10 AM	#23
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	I was wondering what they made that tank out of. ANyone know how they sealed it? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

09/13/2006, 09:08 AM	#24
smokinprice Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 224	Wow those are some great photos! Thx for sharing. __________________ Jeff Current Tank Info: 46G bowfront reef

09/13/2006, 09:16 AM	#25
slevesque Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 377	Any shark police around ? I have to admit I don't know much about shark but if we can't keep a yellow tang in less than a 3' 75G tank, I wonder how we can justify keeping a shark that big in a swiming area only twice his lenght. It seems like the same ratio as having a tang in a 10G tank. The tidepool - lagoon effect is very nice though, I like it a lot. __________________ Stephane Levesque The Shrimp Guy! Current Tank Info: 55 + 20L