I'ved got stingray!!

[Paul_MTS]

30W who makes them?

I'ved only seen 25W by TMC.

But depending on how the price works out i think 2 15W's would be better so I can run 1 on each inlet.

Oh and if I used one would this knock out any more of the anchor worms? as the treatment has kind of been cut short.

 

[CFC]

It would prevent the spread of any more anchor worms but will not kill any that have already attached themselves to fish.

My UV is a old second hand one from when the LFS sold off their old discus system and replaced it with new, it is a vectron but from what i understand they no longer make them this size, although shops that have pond supplies may stock them at this size. I'm hoping the bulbs are still available as my one is up for renewal at the end of the month.

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'm hoping there dead on the fish now. the one that i just got rid of appeared about 1.5 weeks ago.

Oh right, will have to check the catologue otherwise I'll get 2x 15W or maybe 1 now and 1 later...got quite a few costs coming through lately.

 

[technium]

Paul you can sometimes get the bigger uv's off ebay, thats where I got my 30 or was it 36w uv.

Mines not in use yet but would need to replace bulb so cfc let me know where you get yours from, i will have to check make and model.

Good luck

T

 

[Paul_MTS]

Yeh i had a look on ebay, which had a single 30W but it looked more like a pond one-

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...4354028523&rd=1

there's a few vecton's so i might go for a couple of them.

fish delivery is tomorrow (and hopefully my vivaruim!!)

Will do another water change when I get home today and then another tomorrow then i should be set.

I even have a spare pond Vorton 4500 knocking around somewhere, shame it's not the same as aqauruim ones.

 

[Paul_MTS]

just done my 2nd big water change...

for these big ones i'ved been using hot tap water bu normally add a few boiled kettles instead.

with the rays and other fish in my tank is hot tap water safe?

 

[CFC]

Provided the conditioner you use treats copper and other heavy metals it will be fine though i wouldnt make a habbit of it, the insides of boilers are disgusting.

 

[Paul_MTS]

thats ok, just use it if i'm in a rush.

does stress coat cover them??

our boilers new last year as we had solar water heating installed and had a bran spankers boiler with that with digital probes and stuff everywhere

just bought a TMC 25 watt.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oh yeah, CFC you were saying i need to feed alot to keep them healthy.

Could you give me a guild on this...

i normally feed bloodworm, lancefish, discus mic, mealworms, superworms and crickets.

Yay the rays are currently at work this might cause me going home from college early

 

[Paul_MTS]

yay got them home!!!

just about to start switching the water in there bags.

Oh yeh my UV has come from a marine set up so should I give the insides a good scrub or will the ammount of salt content in there not effect my water at all?

 

[CFC]

The insides of the UV will need a good clean to remove any salt deposits, rays dont actually mind a little salt but your other fish probably wont enjoy it.

Healthy rays are heavy feeders, my motoro will eat at least 5 or 6 small whitebait or average sized prawns each day. The problem is that the wholesalers are unlikely to have spent time working with the rays so they will either not be feeding at all (BAD) or just taking bloodworm which is ok but not a particually great diet for them.
The first thing you must do is get them eating so if they will only accept bloodworm you will have to supply this in massive ammounts, around 4 cubes each ray on a daily basis is a good starting place. Once they are happy to whizz around scoffing bloodworm like its going out of fashion then you can start to introduce other food items to them, try small pieces of mussel/cockle/lance fish, chopped earthworms and both raw whole shrimp and cooked prawns. At first it is likely that they will ignor these foods or just hover over them for a second before moving away but what you do is slowly decrease the ammount of bloodworm offered so that they are hungry enough to have to try the new foods. Once they start eating the larger foods you can stop feeding the bloodworm altogether.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Excellent cheers CFC, i know the suppliers had made sure they were eating froozen bloodworm before they were sending any rays out.

I usually chop up a couple of lance fish at night for the slightly smaller mouths, there actually alot bigger than i expected, i'ved had to remove a few bits of wood to make sure they have a path on the floor in a few places, i'll rearrange properly at a later date.

i buy my bloodworm in 500g shop slabs so thats ok, i'll try a few froozen river shrimp aswell.

is there a good way i can get the rays from the bag into the tank without getting the bag water in the tank, there's a couple of turds in there!!

 

[CFC]

Use a clean plastic container with a few holes pierced into the bottom to allow the water to drain away and scoop the rays from their bags to transfer them to the tank.

How long have you aclimatised them for? I recomend using the drip method for at least 2 hours to adjust the rays to the new water.

 

[Paul_MTS]

right oki dokey,

I got them home at about 2-30, let them settle for temperature for about 15 mins (they've been floating in a tank all morning then in a poly box) i then started changing part of the water every 20-30mins.

The PH has been raised by about 1-2 points each time. I need to do it another 1 or 2 times then the PH should match.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Just released them....stunning!!

The smaller one is quite active exploring the tank already, although the bigger one has settled at the back of the tank for now.

will get some pictures up in a bit.