• Looking to buy a cephalopod? Check out Tomh's Cephs Forum, and this post in particular shares important info about our policies as it relates to responsible ceph-keeping.

Hi

C

CephDude

Guest
So, I'm Addicted to reading all you'r octopus journals now and it makes me want to start an Octo aquarium.
I already have a 45 gallon saltwater aquarium, I understand I need a seperate aquarium though. So any tips on how to set up the tank and everything else?
 
Tony (TONMO) is reinventing the forum with new software at the moment so some things are still a bit difficult to find but if you go to the home page you will see a list of articles that should get your started. Then go to the Tank Talk forum and scan for topics where you have questions. Once you get a basic idea of what you need, ask away.
 
Ok, Whats a good type of aquarium for, like, In the middle of somewhere that I would be able to walk fully around?
 
An expensive one.:wink:


I'll assume you have a way to get GFCI electricity to the cabinet and that you are not putting it near a floor socket.

For this kind of display, you will definitely need a sump that will let you keep all the ugly equipment out of sight (I think they are desirable in all cases but with a walk around it is pretty much a necessity). If you don't insist on corals or stay to very basic ones, octopuses and cuttlefish (another ceph you might consider) don't need any special lighting so any kind of ceiling light will help make the display attactive without causing the observer to need sun glasses. If you are going to want more intense light than putting it down close to the top would be easier on the eyes and more energy efficient.

A 55 gallon (65 for briareus) is the minimum gallonage recommened for most octopuses we typically keep and the bendensis cuttlefish. Ease of maintenance should be a primary consideration in designing the cabinet and you might consider doors on at least two sides. The tank needs to be large enough to accomodate a stand to hold the sump, any filtration you use (I use an 8" filter sock with charcoal and a skimmer and lots of water changes only). If you are pinched for space inside the cabinet, find an insump skimmer. The height of your cabinet will need to accomodate changing the skimmer collection cup and needs to be calculated into your design.
You can go very expensive with a round tank that looks great but will destroy your ability to take great photos. With cuttles this is a desirable shape to help prevent "but burn" when they get spooked. A rectangle should be much less expensive but doesn't have the cuttle advantage (some people baffle the corners for larger cuttles but the bandensis don't have a lot of problems with this) but photography is easier (reflection and back transparency will still limit the great shot). Corner cleaning is never fun and the rectangle is algae problematic when put together with silicone. You can get rectangles that only have one seam or you can look at acrylics that eliminate the silicone but still have hard to clean corners. Rounded corners help a lot and are easiter to get in acrylics (much more expensive than glass and internal scratching is a big problem. Forget what the vendors say about the fact that scratches can be buffed out. It takes a week of intense labor and an empty tank).

For an octopus, you will need a full top lid that can be tightly fastened down (not weighted, fastened). Depending upon the size of the tank, it will likely need at least one center support if you use a solid material. To keep heat down and ventilate the tank, some have used fiberglass screening as the cover but you will have to secure the perimeter. Duct tape has been the choice of many but I suspect latches are more in order here. I would suggest hinging it rather than requiring removal for weekly maintenance.

It is desirable in an octopus tank water level more than an inch below the top to help disuade escape. The deeper this air pocket the more it will help keep residue from building on the cover. We use a black band (different tanks have different materials) around the tops of our octo tanks to hide the water gap. If you are going to use a light hood rather than a ceiling fixture, this can be made deep enough to hide the lowered water level. We have used black acrylic bands around both the tops and the bottoms of some of our tanks for esthetics.

Hopefully this will get you thinking about the logistics and you can start a tank talk thread on how you might want to proceed.
 
Ok. I've read a lot of information on how to keep an octopus and such, just finding the right set up is the hardest part right now.
Finding a lid for a cyclinder aquarium might be a bit of a problem, But with a rectangle aquarium, as you stated, could cause more algae (in my saltwater aquarium, and freshwater, I have noticed that also).
 
Opting for rounded corners with only one seam (they call it seamless) helps but what kind of budget are you projecting and do you have friends/budget for some custom work. If you have a router, cutting a circle is tedious but doable on acrylic (same with rounded corners) regardless of what the aquarium construction. We have found that adding supports to the sides and putting the top flush with the top of the aquarium looks best and the inside supports help keep the octo inside. You can attach acrylic with silicone to glass or use acrylic cement (needs clamps) with acrylic to acrylic (silicone works but needs to be watched for acrylic to acrylic). If you do an inset lid, don't forget you will need a way to lift it with either an esthetic handle or a simple zip tie through a set of holes. Acrylic is wonderful stuff, edge sanding - required or it will cut you or a cord - is simple and gives a professional look but expensive and you DON'T want to make a major measuring mistake.

You might look through some of the photos on the tank talk threads to see if something catches your eye to get you started.
 
I think I might do a rectangle aquarium, Or a bull nose/head(?) Because in the space I'm ploanning it to be the bull nose/head would work perfectly as a divider and not get a lot of sunlight during the day (A plus for nocturnal octopus)
 
If you are talking about that room divider style I have seen (I don't know the name and have only seen pictures), very cool. I have tried to think of somewhere I could put one like that and finally gave up.
 
I am getting excited about seeing this develop (I think it is also called a bullet shape) Vicarious tanks are fun and don't cost the voyer anything but time :biggrin2:. Please post a build out journal on it if you go this way (or even if you don't - but I particulary would like to see one of this style used in a real home).
 
Cool to see someone interested before I even start :biggrin2:, My first choice for an octo aquarium would be the divider, And is there an age limit for octo keeping?
 
Define age limit :sagrin: Are you referring to octo size/age like for lobsers? or human age as in if you can't carry the 5 gallon water bucket to do water changes weekly you should not be an octo keeper? In either case, however, there is no uppward or downward limit. You may not have read yet that female octopuses (with only one commonly known exception) only produce one set of eggs, brood them and then die very shortly after the hatching so there would be no reason for an age or size limit, at least for females.
 

Shop Amazon

Shop Amazon
Shop Amazon; support TONMO!
Shop Amazon
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Back
Top