Getting a new tank, sharks

[cuticom]

Hi,

My Mum's paying for me to get a new tank, the agreement is she's paying for the actual tank, while I pay for all the other bits and pieces.

The fishes I'd really like to get is a single shark like a red tail shark, rainbow shark, albino rainbow shark or maybe a silver shark. Red tail and the rainbows being the ones I like best.

I have a few questions though, would a 40 L aqua one be suitable for a single shark and companion?

And what fish are compatible with sharks? could I keep them with an angel fish?

Also would a 50 watt heater be okay for that size tank?

I've never had a tank this big before, only had a few goldies and my Bettas my Mum has a large community tank though.

Also any info on caring for sharks is much appreciated,
Thanks
Emma

[f1oored]

The heater depends on how cold your house is and how warm you want the water to be. 50W should be able to push the tank 9 degrees above ambient temperature.

A 10 gallon or 40L should be ok for certain freshwater sharks. A rainbow or redtail would work ok. Try not to overstock the tank (this is a common mistake). Look at how big the fish you want are going to get rather than how big they are when you get them.

Many fish are compatible with the sharks you listed. Angel fish may be ok but they tend to get a little agressive when they get older and they will need a tank bigger than 40L. Here is a link to a compatibility chart so you can get some ideas.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Remember to cycle you tank before you add your fish. Welcome to the forum.

[cuticom]

Okies thanks. I'm in nice hot Australia, so the 50 watt should work out fine then.

I've been looking at prices, and I may be able to get mum to get me a 75 Litre tank. I only plan on having a shark and another fish, and possibly some Betta Barracks in winter, as usually in winter they move into Mum's community tank, it'd be nice to keep them in my room though.

Thanks for the link

Emma

[f1oored]

Make sure to let us know how things go.

[crackatinny]

I would not mix the silver shark with other varietys of shark, as the other types of shark will be aggressive toward it, I have 2 silvers (balas) with angels, silver dollars, balloon mollies, platys, swordtails, black widow tetras and neons, and all get along well.
Another tip, with the sharks make sure you keep o lid on the tank, or you will come out one morning and find them on the floor.
Try the heaters in this link they have via aqua stainless steel with external temp control on special for $20 for up to 200 watt
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
For a filter check out this site for a whisper tetra 60, 330 GPH for just $40
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
I have dealt with both shops with no worries, they have a set postage rate no matter how much you buy to.
And yes you got it right about the heat here in Australia, I'm in Central West NSW

[f1oored]

I don't think the tank size would allow for balas. They get too big and are too powerful of swimmers.

[cuticom]

Its only the sharks I listed that I'm interested in getting, and i only wnat a single shark, and another type of fish like an angelfish.

We already ahve a 50 watt heater, from an old community tank my Mum used to have. Sadly my brother thought it'd be funny to add his extremely agressive paradise fish in, most of the community of tetras were killed.

Well Mum dosnt like the idea of a 75 litre tank, but theres a nice aqua ine 50 L with a built in filter and light that looks good. Its onsale for $90 right now so we are gonna get that one.

I had a look at the compatibilty shark and just a few more questions LOL

If I had a shark in a 50 litre how many of these fish could I add, if I just had the shark and that species of fish

Barb
Danios
Guppies
Loaches
Plecos
Rainbowfish

I'm asking more for curiousity then anything else, I only have a very vague idea of what some of those fish look like LOL

Emma

[crackatinny]

Are you in one of the major cities, if so have a look on ebay, there are some real good buys on there for tanks both new and used, unfortunately I am in a little country town, so it really anoys me when I see a bloke in brisbane selling brand new 6 foot tanks with a starting bid of $99 and buy it now price of $120, or if you are near Canberra maybe check these out [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] A 4 footer for $120

[cuticom]

LOL, I'm not even in a town. I'm a farm brat, with parents who tele commute. our 'local' aquarium is two hours away, which was where we went today.

I don't have anywhere to put a four foot tank, our neighbour is selling one and have been begging for weeks to get it for my Bearded dragon whos currently in a three foot tank.

Do you think a 50 L would work fine? From the sites I've looked at, it should suit an Angel fish and a shark, or I could get some clown loaches or something instead

Emma

[crackatinny]

I don't want to dissapoint, but my smallest and 1st tank is 60L, and I soon found my passion for fish outgrew it, I'm just trying to say that if in the right position, you could do a lot better for the money, even put a wanted add in the nearest town newspaper, what state are you in, I am guessing NT or SA

[cuticom]

Nah, I doubt I'd get any larger, there are only a few fish i really like, most of course are too hard to care for and grow way to big to be kept as pets LOL. I'd prefer to just start at a 50L with not many fish, and if I choose too, will upgrade to a larger tank and sell off the old one. Though I dont think that'd probably happen. It kinda costs a bit LOl.

I've been looking at websites, and from what i can tell theres a chance an angel would be agressive and not get on very well with a shark. LOL the next preference would be three clown loaches, the sharks at the shop were in the same tank as them, so I'm assuming they get on really well?

Mum's had clown loaches for years and they never grew past 10 cm, so would three clown loaches be fine with a shark in a 50L tank?

Though then I'd have a pile of bottom dwellers and the rest of the tank empty LOL, maybe I should just try for a small community tank and have some barbs and tetras or something

[crackatinny]

Ok I believe you, lol, but be warned have you ever tried to stop at 1 timtam, fishkeeping is much the same, and in a few months when I see a post of yours saying, I am addicted to fish and want more, I will reply with I told you so LOL.

In the meantime, please take a look at the pic of one of my silver sharks with one of my angels with 1 of my dollars with one of my swords, none of them bother each other, and don't tell the others on here, but they are in a tank that once they get much bigger will be to small, I am praying for a 4 footer even if I have to move the wife into the shed LOL.

[cuticom]

LOL, I dont think I'd be able to maange a large amount of fish. Don't laugh, but I own and breed pedigree guinea pigs. I had to sell off my stud animals a couple of years ago, due to being unable to continue after a string of deaths, I just couldnt bear to watch another hand reared bub die. But I'm restarting this year, so I should be involved enough in that, to not by more fish, hopefully.... LOL

At least i stopped buying betta fish, I will only get another if I find a green one, I swear it LOL. I used to ahve a gorgeous green one when I was in America, have wanted one ever since.

LOL, I'm still campaigning for my own shed, am sick of aprents nit picking over my guinea pigs, which they dont happen to care for, pay for feed and bedding or have anything to do with. I could, now that my brothers moved out, kick his computer etc off his desk and put a big tank there, but I still think it'd be really hard too keep up.

Silver sharks grow to like 30 cm dont they? can a single one of them live in a 50L tank or is that just way to small? LOl i like the idea of having a big personality plus fish LOL.

Emma

[cuticom]

I still cant for the life of me remember what the 50 L tank i saw at the shop was. i remember it was 50 cm long and was 50 liters, thats it Blah. Oh and it was one of those Aqua ones witn all the filters etc

ooooh i finally found the damn thing. Had to go the aqua one site and get onto their christmas promotion page to find it. Its an aqua one 500

[cuticom]

Hmph scratch that. Mum added to the small amount of information as the tank being $98, the aqua start 500 costs about $150.

So it mustn't be an aqua one aquarium. I used the aquarium calculator and at least know how big the tank was. It was 50 cm long, 31 high and 32 wide.