Starter Fish

[ehull71]

so what fish would use to cycle a 520 tht will eventually have a shark and other predator type fish in it

 

[Fish Fan]

I would ask @Jay Hemdal and @vetteguy53081 how best to establish a tank for sharks. My understanding is that they need a very mature biofilter, so this would likely be a long-term plan, adding the sharks at the end when the tank was ready.

Good luck!

 

[ehull71]

yeah that im aware of just trying to figure out what fish would be best long term or not long term in other words possible prey once others are introduced without spending a lot of money with that in mind
thinking cromis, clowns maybe but they are pricey and i dint like them that much and dont like cardinals

 

[vetteguy53081]

so what fish would use to cycle a 520 tht will eventually have a shark and other predator type fish in it

Doing this can be challenging and costly and you want to do everything to keep nitrates down. I recommend no less that 300 gals preferably oval shaped and well equipped with a UV unit, denitrator, oversized skimmer and good flow. You also want to maintain salinity with steady readings and feeding will be a challenge as most sharks eat messy foods which raise nitrates. I recoomend sharks such as epaulette, cat sharks and bamboo sharks which are less difficult to maintain.
Plans on weekly water changes of at least 20% to maintain prime conditions

 

[vetteguy53081]

yeah that im aware of just trying to figure out what fish would be best long term or not long term in other words possible prey once others are introduced without spending a lot of money with that in mind
thinking cromis, clowns maybe but they are pricey and i dint like them that much and dont like cardinals

There are choices. Mine are Tangs, but be prepared with any species to maintain health and have a quarantine setup ready in case needed. This can be a pricey hobby, have a plan before you start this journey

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

so what fish would use to cycle a 520 tht will eventually have a shark and other predator type fish in it

Cycling a shark tank is best done with ammonium chloride, and there is some question if Urea might be added as well, because that is the primary waste product for sharks. That would allow for the development of bacteria that contain urease, and enzyme that will break the urea down into ammonia, which other bacteria can then process.

There is a good, very comprehensive article on sharks recently posted in the library here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

I've had many years of experience housing sharks in public aquariums, and I'm glad to help with any specific questions that you might have.....

 

[ehull71]

yes i would love to pick your brain about some ideas i have the shark or sharks that i want and tank mates
and where can i get the stuff you spoke about for cycling

 

[ehull71]

Cycling a shark tank is best done with ammonium chloride, and there is some question if Urea might be added as well, because that is the primary waste product for sharks. That would allow for the development of bacteria that contain urease, and enzyme that will break the urea down into ammonia, which other bacteria can then process.

There is a good, very comprehensive article on sharks recently posted in the library here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

I've had many years of experience housing sharks in public aquariums, and I'm glad to help with any specific questions that you might have.....

Do you have a few minutes

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you have a few minutes

If you’d like to just post here - I’d be glad to try and help!

 

[ehull71]

Cycling a shark tank is best done with ammonium chloride, and there is some question if Urea might be added as well, because that is the primary waste product for sharks. That would allow for the development of bacteria that contain urease, and enzyme that will break the urea down into ammonia, which other bacteria can then process.

There is a good, very comprehensive article on sharks recently posted in the library here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

I've had many years of experience housing sharks in public aquariums, and I'm glad to help with any specific questions that you might have....

If you’d like to just post here - I’d be glad to try and help!

So instead of using cromies I should just use the Amonia chloride and where do get the urea and is it faster to cycle the tank

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So instead of using cromies I should just use the Amonia chloride and where do get the urea and is it faster to cycle the tank

Yes - cycling with ammonium chloride is better than using chromis; no disease issues, no worries about what to do with the chromis afterwards, and an ability to dose larger amounts of ammonia than a few chromis could ever produce.

I’d start by dosing 1 ppm ammonia. When it’s depleted, keep adding it to maintain 1 ppm. When the filters can handle 1 ppm in 24 hours, they are nominally established.

If you want to augment that with some urea, also at 1 ppm, there is no at to directly test for that, so I’d suggest adding 1 ppm weekly. I found a pound of urea for $7 on Amazon.

 

[ehull71]

Yes - cycling with ammonium chloride is better than using chromis; no disease issues, no worries about what to do with the chromis afterwards, and an ability to dose larger amounts of ammonia than a few chromis could ever produce.

I’d start by dosing 1 ppm ammonia. When it’s depleted, keep adding it to maintain 1 ppm. When the filters can handle 1 ppm in 24 hours, they are nominally established.

If you want to augment that with some urea, also at 1 ppm, there is no at to directly test for that, so I’d suggest adding 1 ppm weekly. I found a pound of urea for $7 on Amazon.

So now with all this said I’ve had and crappy time with the install side of this tank and lots other things but I’ve had my shark picked out and is being held for me when can I put it in also should I put the shark in first or go with some of the other predators that I want it’s a zebra horned shark I’ve had others but not this one and don’t know if at all territorial