The Shark Tank

August 2014

Would you have a shark tank in your home?

Aquariums are becoming a must have for the rich and powerful.  Exotic fish, enormous fish tanks, impressive lighting, exquisite details are all on the wish lists. A new trend shows interest with the weird yet extremely beautiful jellyfish. The question is what is next?

What about shark aquariums?

Aquarium Architecture recently had an enquiry for designing a custom made shark tank.  However, we like to make aware to our clients the positives and negatives of owning a shark tank or any aquarium for that matter.  Knowing that challenges can present themselves for this kind of tank it gets us excited and thrilled to design a luxury shark aquarium.

As exotic as it sounds, shark aquariums are definitely not for everyone. Shark tanks require plenty of space and can be very expensive to maintain. For keeping sharks, the tank needs to be at least 3 times the size of the shark when fully grown and the width of the aquarium must be at least 2 times the length of the shark. And these dimensions are only for keeping one shark in a tank! Large species of sharks grow very fast so you will need a large aquarium to make it sustainable! Sharks can also pose a real danger to the owner as they can bite or they can even hurt themselves.

A round or hexagonal aquarium is required as corners might prevent the sharks from swimming freely.

When decorating the aquarium, the more free space the better, although having somewhere for the sharks to hide under is recommended, allowing them time to relax. However you should make sure that the shark cannot get stuck in the hiding place!

Water quality is a very important aspect when owning a shark aquarium and large water changes are recommended. As a result life support systems are essential.

Feeding the sharks can also be challenging. They will generally accept most meaty food but they can also go on food strikes when you will have to tempt them with something extremely tasty or try to feeding them at different times.

Where should you locate the aquarium? Wherever you have the required space. A shark tank would look striking in the floor, or as an extension of a swimming pool and even in the middle of a living room where can be admired by everyone.  However, keep in mind that sounds is a big factor when considering the location because sharks are very sensitive to noise, the quieter the more comfortable they will feel.

If you think that the above are not a problem for you and you want to create a striking point in your room then maybe you should consider in installing a sharks aquarium. The starting price for the extravagant choice is $100.000.

At Aquarium Architecture we have the knowledge and experience in providing guidance through the entire process. If you are interested in adding a custom aquarium to your property whether it is or not a shark aquarium you can contact us for a consultation.