Nuuze's mantis tank

[Nuuze]

So after talking with local reef buddies on MARS and showing the family videos I've decided to start a mantis tank! :D

Here's the one I currently have on reserve for group buy.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/Oscyllarus_016_2.jpg


After running to several LFS yesterday I got most of the things needed to start the tank.

It's a 15G TruVu measuring 24"x13"x12"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9436.jpg

Tank with stand...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9432.jpg

[Nuuze]

In the begining I was going to plumb and tap into my existing Elos System making a mantis/refugium tank reducing the need for extra heater, skimmer, chiller, etc. but for some reason two tanks didn't look right next to each other. After a lot of consideration the tank ended up on the opposite wall from my Elos System 120 as a stand alone sumpless setup.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9435.jpg

Added 25 lbs of sand
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9437.jpg

One big'ole rock so the critter doesn't cause an avalanche crushing himself
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9439.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9440.jpg

[Nuuze]

To help excellerate the tank cycle I used saltwater from my established 79G reef.

6 gallons of water
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9441.jpg

12 gallons
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9442.jpg

[ej1698]

Awesome!!! looks great, can't wait to start mine when it get's a little warmer.

is that your subwoofer next to the tank....lol your going to shake the **** out of your mantis if it is...

[Nuuze]

Since I had an extra skimmer laying around I decided some quick cleaning! :D
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9447.jpg

With the skimmer running about 8 hours now, the water is crystal clear!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9448.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9449.jpg

[Nuuze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11755370#post11755370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ej1698
Awesome!!! looks great, can't wait to start mine when it get's a little warmer.

is that your subwoofer next to the tank....lol your going to shake the **** out of your mantis if it is...

LOL! Yep, it's a SVS 1000w 2-12" sub. :D

[ej1698]

looks great, have a picture of your other tank..

[Nuuze]

Here's the other side of the room...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_4520.jpg

The recliners are modular so I juggled them around to fit the new tank.

[richofoz]

Nice setup.
You might want to put a guard of some kind on your heater? I know the Jagers are pretty tough but it might add a little extra piece of mind...

Rich

[Feclar]

Nice room

You shouldn't put a small tank in the same room as a big tank, it looks like the small tank is trying to compensate for something with the size of that skimmer

p.s. You may need a bigger tank in a year or two for that mantis

[Nuuze]

:) Skimmer is just temporarily to clear up the tank and until my circulation pump and AquaC comes in.

[Nuuze]

I'm thinking of upgrading the light that came with the tank.

I can't seem to find 2 24w T5 fixtures with legs., only 4 T5's. Here's a 4 24w T5 (two blue and two white) with built in timer. I figure I can use this tank as a backup quarantine/frag if needed.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU-USA01150&Category_Code=Current-T5

Thoughts?

[Nuuze]

Got some stuff in today from the brown truck...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9473.jpg

Had to do some dremel work with a styro plate floating on the surface
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9474.jpg

Also my wife and daughter couldn't stand an empty tank
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9476.jpg

[Alesia]

Looks like a nice setup and I really like that acrylic tank... but did I read correctly that this is a 15g for a peacock that's already 4 inches long? I would be concerned about water quality and the need to potentially upgrade in the future. I believe 30g is generally the minimum recommended tank size for an adult peacock considering both the tank footprint and overall volume.

[Nuuze]

Yes, 15G for now. 24"x13"x12" I plan on keeping water clean with an oversized skimmer and frequent water changes from my esablished 79G reef. If it ends up beeing too active then I will move him to a bigger system.

But when looked and compared the footprint I have, 20G and 25G were the same, just taller. If anything I can move to w 36" wide...

[Nuuze]

Couple more things from the brown truck today! :)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9516.jpg

I ended up getting this fixture without the timers instead:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU-USA01120&Category_Code=Current-T5

Light came with 4 plugs.
1-moonlight
1-fan
1-two banks of T5 for actinic
1-two banks of T5 for daylight

actinic only
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9525.jpg

actinic and daylight
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t54/Nuze_2007/DSC_9526.jpg

Still playing around with the nano stream positioning...

[helipilot]

I would be a little nervous about the heater with the bright red light. It's like waving a red flag at a peacock, saying "hit me".

[Nuuze]

Thanks! I been meaning to pick one of these up before the mantis arrives.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FI-HMD-50&Category_Code=Finnexheat

[helipilot]

That looks like it should work. I have gotten good service from the "Stealth heaters" from Visi-therm. (Aquarium Systems)

[helipilot]

Great looking set up, I can't wait to see your mantis move in.

[eran]

looks sharp

[BodiBuilt]

Lookin good Nuuze!

[Nuuze]

#16 did not make it past a day of shipment/acclimation. Not sure if it was too stressed from shipment, my tank, etc. All water parameter tests were in range when I checked.

Thanks to the groupbuy, some freebie mantis were included and I was greatful to get a replacement named Cuddles.

For the first week and half we did not see Cuddles much at all. When I check with flashlight it is there and moving around. Until one day I was cleaning some algea patches off the sand with a turkey baster. I was being cautious keeping an eye on the rock in tank in case Cuddles came out. All of a sudden Cuddles darted out of the side to see what's going on nearly freaking me out! Since then Cuddles comes out everyday now exploring all over. As soon as she (assuming the name "Cuddles" is female from Stomatopod.com?) see movement in the room she take cover and peeks.

Here are the best pics we can get so far since she moves so fast!

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0108.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0109.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0120.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0121.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0122.jpg

[BADGUS]

neat tank.

[krazeekiddie]

That's awesome!! I LOVE my mantis!!! They are pretty cool...PLUS I get to scare my friends when I show them videos on You Tube hehehe

[Nuuze]

I got some goodies today for Cuddles from Aquarium Concepts in Dublin.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0263.jpg

She's pretty vicious!
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0297.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0299.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0302.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/Nuuze/DSC_0305.jpg

[Thromgar]

What kind of crabs are those, and how much did they cost?

Awsome pics.

[Nuuze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12210043#post12210043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thromgar
What kind of crabs are those, and how much did they cost?

Awsome pics.

Those are what they sell as "feeder crabs" from Aquarium Concepts in Dublin. They are BAD for reef tank (they are picked out of the live rocks that they sell), in turn they sell them as feeders for Octopus, Mantis Shrimps, etc. They costed $0.99 each. TREAT FOR CUDDLES! :D

[Shawn D]

Nice pics! How big is Cuddles?

[Nuuze]

Thanks. She's about 3 1/2".

[Nuuze]

Update:

We haven't seen Cuddles for several days now. I was a bit worried today so I decide to move some sand aside on the front door of her rock home. I see a shell floating around when I take a peek with a flashlight. After a few moments I see shadows of what looks like another mantis moving around. It looks like she molted and what I first saw is her old shell. :)

[rlf_racing]

Just be careful and not disturb her while she molts. Any additional stress could possibly kill her. I have read and heard while a mantis molts you shouldn't change the water or anything major in the tank or you could end up with a dead mantis.

Do you know if Aquarium Concepts ship feeder crabs?

[Nuuze]

Thanks for the info rlf_racing!

I don't think Aquarium Concepts ship. But the feeder crabs are crabs are hitchhikers they get off of liverock shipments. So maybe your lfs may have some for you.

[SSpiro]

Cool pet! ;)

[rlf_racing]

I wish that was the case about hitchhiker crabs. I only know of one lfs that would get them on florida live rock but he charges 10 bucks per crab if found in their live rock.

[kdblove_99]

My peacock just molted also Mike and i think one of Daves did also. SO looks like alot from our group buy are molting at the same time

[Nuuze]

That's great to hear kdblove_99. Looks like Cuddles is starting to come back out again today. :)

[rlf_racing]

I know I wasn't with your group buy but it seems like everyones mantis is molting or just finished molting. Both my peacock and my little wennerae just finished molting. Just thought I would share.

[Nuuze]

That's interesting rlf_racing. :)

[rlf_racing]

Yeah I was a little worried about my peacock since he showed a signs of shell disease. But now that is all gone. :)

Rob