Dwarf Octopus Tank

[Nils Laicher]

Here are some pictures of the tank, still more rock to come. I need to put the shells closer to the bottom as they we’re placed there by my brother. No sign of any kind of algae yet, but it will come no doubt. Still need to figure out a cover, I was thinking a 2 inch Eurobrace around the edges. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas that would be great. The hard part is figuring out how to get it around the filter and wires so there’s no holes there either.

 

[Nils Laicher]

1/4/18 (14 days into cycle)
Nitrates - 40 ppm
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrites - 2.0 - 5.0 ppm, pretty much the same color on the chart.

 

[Nils Laicher]

I’ve got a question about keeping the octopus in the tank, as I still need to figure something out for that. I am between a 2” Euro brave around the top of the aquarium as I’ve read that can help keep them in, but I also recently read an article about lining the rim of the tank with artificial grass (turf). Has anyone heard of this before? And if so, do you think it would work to keep it in? It is a lot cheaper to go the turf route than buy the plexiglass for the euro brace.

 

[Nils Laicher]

Got my new auto top off today. Works great

 

[tonmo]

I also recently read an article about lining the rim of the tank with artificial grass (turf). Has anyone heard of this before?

Some past TONMO discussions on this:
- Octo-proofing a rimliss aquarium
- TONMOcon V - Presentations
- New Occy
- New to Octopus, need some help with tank size, ect...

Lots more discussion on this... just search "turf"

Got my new auto top off today. Works great

Nice! Pic?

 

[Nils Laicher]

I’ll have to get some pics when I get home

 

[Nils Laicher]

I haven’t updated this in a little bit, but everything is still going well. I have some green algae forming but nothing too bad, bringing the nitrates down by doing water changes every day. Right now they’re sitting at about 30 ppm. I added a 3 stripe damsel to keep the cycle going until I get an octo.
I also constructed a lid for the tank, it’s made of egg crate (lighting diffuser) and screen netting for porches. I cut the lighting diffuser to the shape of the top of the tank and made cutouts for anytjing around the edge, then I went back and glued a piece of the screening onto the eggcrate. There’s no spots where an octopus could get out of.

 

[DWhatley]

How are you securing the lid? An octopus can lift more than you would think.

 

[Nils Laicher]

How are you securing the lid? An octopus can lift more than you would think.

Probably just some rocks in every corner, at the size it will be when I get it it won't be able to lift much I don't think. Not saying they're not strong though.
Or how would you suggest that I secure it?

 

[DWhatley]

Having lost one from not locking down a lid because I didn't think it could open it (many others had not) I warn to be overly cautious. Weights should be OK as long as there is no flex in the grid. Keep in mind that they can go through any opening that is the size of their eye (the actual limitation is their beak but beak and eye size are similar).