This was moved from another thread to its own thread, just so it doesnt get missed 
C
'Hi I'm new to this every pet shop I look to for answers try to talk me out of octopus . Thats the same response I would get about chameleons but managed to breed them for years. I always loved octopus since I was young swimming after them in greece. I never had a salt water tank but I just bought a 72 gallon bow tank with holes on the bottom and a ecosystem wet dry mud filter I was told I dont need a protien skimmer or air pumpis this true? I also got 60 pounds of live sand and 90 pounds of live rock how long should the tank take to cycle I was told a few days after the nitrate level goes up I would be able to get my octopus , I read on this web site something about waiting three months. the compartment were there are holes in the tank fore water to get to the filters has an opening on top of it with probably a 1/2 inch gap to the cover of the tank can I close that of with plexiglass drilled with holes so the octopus doesnt climb in it ? do you think its a good idea to put carbon in the tanks over flow? they also sold me a heater ,I read that its good to keep the temperature at 68 degrees I live in New York and keeping the tank in my basement , winter the temp down there is 62 night, and 67 day, summer it stays about 70 degrees will this give me any problems that I should be prepared for?thank you for any info
'
Hi Manny, welcome to TONMO.com
As you have witnessed, pet shops dont always know so much about keeping cephalopods and I bet that almost everyone here has had the same stories regarding their husbandry. The fact is they can be kept in captivity and everyone here is testament to that. So if you have more questions; just ask the TONMO community.
Well, i think that a skimmer and carbon are two if the most important piecies of equipment in an octo tank. They require a high oxygen level in the tank which a skimmer helps to produce, using an airpump at the same time is recommended too. And they produce way more waste than a fish of teh same mass so carbon helps adsorb a lot of the waste chemicals and ink if your octo ever inks in the tank. So use carbon, get and air pump AND a good skimmer!
There are several species of octopus commonly sold. The heater's use is dependant on what species you have, if you get a species like Octopus bimaculoides then you wont need a heater, if you get a tropical species like one of the Indonesian octopuses or a reef octopus like cyanea or briareus you will need a heater. you need to know what specie syou are going for.... any ideas what your local shop sells?
Colin
C'Hi I'm new to this every pet shop I look to for answers try to talk me out of octopus . Thats the same response I would get about chameleons but managed to breed them for years. I always loved octopus since I was young swimming after them in greece. I never had a salt water tank but I just bought a 72 gallon bow tank with holes on the bottom and a ecosystem wet dry mud filter I was told I dont need a protien skimmer or air pumpis this true? I also got 60 pounds of live sand and 90 pounds of live rock how long should the tank take to cycle I was told a few days after the nitrate level goes up I would be able to get my octopus , I read on this web site something about waiting three months. the compartment were there are holes in the tank fore water to get to the filters has an opening on top of it with probably a 1/2 inch gap to the cover of the tank can I close that of with plexiglass drilled with holes so the octopus doesnt climb in it ? do you think its a good idea to put carbon in the tanks over flow? they also sold me a heater ,I read that its good to keep the temperature at 68 degrees I live in New York and keeping the tank in my basement , winter the temp down there is 62 night, and 67 day, summer it stays about 70 degrees will this give me any problems that I should be prepared for?thank you for any info
'
Hi Manny, welcome to TONMO.com
As you have witnessed, pet shops dont always know so much about keeping cephalopods and I bet that almost everyone here has had the same stories regarding their husbandry. The fact is they can be kept in captivity and everyone here is testament to that. So if you have more questions; just ask the TONMO community.
Well, i think that a skimmer and carbon are two if the most important piecies of equipment in an octo tank. They require a high oxygen level in the tank which a skimmer helps to produce, using an airpump at the same time is recommended too. And they produce way more waste than a fish of teh same mass so carbon helps adsorb a lot of the waste chemicals and ink if your octo ever inks in the tank. So use carbon, get and air pump AND a good skimmer!
There are several species of octopus commonly sold. The heater's use is dependant on what species you have, if you get a species like Octopus bimaculoides then you wont need a heater, if you get a tropical species like one of the Indonesian octopuses or a reef octopus like cyanea or briareus you will need a heater. you need to know what specie syou are going for.... any ideas what your local shop sells?
Colin
