My mantis tank.

[Reefer-Diver]

Ive never seen a mantis with that beautiful blue color!

[TundraGuy]

Zoas and Mantis what a pair. No shortage of color in that tank. I like it.

[StephLionfish]

I think it's funny what you're doing with the shells....I tried to do that, but my mantis feels the need to destroy the shells into tiny pieces....
Is the damsel trying to mess with the mantis?

[Dana42078]

Originally Posted by ritter6788

I had a Sgt. Major Damsel that was fearless of my big peacock. I wouldn't doubt the damsel at all. It never messed with it in the burrow but they would face off when the mantis came out. You have a very nice tank and a beautiful mantis. Best of luck.

TYVM. I was just kinda worried because my damsel like yours is FEARLESS..

Originally Posted by Reefer-Diver

Ive never seen a mantis with that beautiful blue color!

TY. He is very gorgeous when he comes out to show off.

Originally Posted by TundraGuy

Zoas and Mantis what a pair. No shortage of color in that tank. I like it.

=) Thats the only thing i wanted to achieve. Lots of color and a good lookin mantis.

Originally Posted by StephLionfish

I think it's funny what you're doing with the shells....I tried to do that, but my mantis feels the need to destroy the shells into tiny pieces....
Is the damsel trying to mess with the mantis?

Im still making something just collecting shells ATM. It should be durable enuff when im done. SO far so good...i mean the damsel sleeps in the reef, just not on the dungon side. He's been secluded for 3-4 days now....doesnt come out his hole at all, spends alot of time on his back looking up. I know hes still good because when i move fast and wearing white he reacts and stands up like ima feed him. Def a molt in progress. Ive seen him do this before. Lets just hope he makes it as he is full grown.

[Dana42078]

Caught him eating his molt then placing it outside his burrow. So excited. THese last 8 days were hard to bare. I know he wont come out for a little while but its nice to know he pulled through.YAY

[TundraGuy]

I hate the molting process I lost my O. Scyllarus to a bad molt. He was in a 60 gallon I went out of town and the person taking care of my tanks did not top off my 60. So now when I see my mantis Squshi all locked up I get nervous.

I got a question for you with all that light your mantis does not have any problems? I remember one of the great Dr. Roy’s writings saying bright lighting seems to contribute to shell rot. Has this been in issue for you? It may have been only certain mantis have this sensitivity.

Love your tank just keep posting pix.

[Dana42078]

Originally Posted by TundraGuy

I hate the molting process I lost my O. Scyllarus to a bad molt. He was in a 60 gallon I went out of town and the person taking care of my tanks did not top off my 60. So now when I see my mantis Squshi all locked up I get nervous.

I got a question for you with all that light your mantis does not have any problems? I remember one of the great Dr. Roy’s writings saying bright lighting seems to contribute to shell rot. Has this been in issue for you? It may have been only certain mantis have this sensitivity.

Love your tank just keep posting pix.

Sorry to hear about your O.Scyllarus loss. Its goot a be tough losing one of these guys/gals to a molt, but like Dr Roy says its the most common death for them.

As far as lighting is concerned. I only have a nova extreme 2 bulb fixture, and the LED moonlight bar. Id say a good portion of the light is kinda blocked on the one side as the water spashes up and collects on the sheild. I clean it every month or so. But IMO its not that much light considering G.T's are found in Acros's in the wild. Im sure they can handle more light than other stomatopods. He also has a very nice dark dungon to hang out in. I think theres got to be a way to tell what ones can handle more light. Species found in X amount of water can or cant take more light. I thought i saw some signs but ppl on here said it looked like abrassions....once he comes back out from his molt i'll be sure to get a nice look at those questionable spots.

Thanks for looking and your questions. Ill try and get some new pix up soon.

[Dana42078]

Heres what he didnt eat......he really does not like his booty. I seen him today also and he looked fine. Just really "light" in color, im sure he'll darken up once his shell hardens up. The only reason i fished these out is because he was out n about, seemed fine and he clearly threw them out as if they were trash. One was in the front of the tank and one by his backdoor entrance to his burrow.

[StephLionfish]

Glad he's OK then....those smashers are pretty cool souvenirs. Too bad they start smelling...or do they? Hm..

[Dana42078]

Nope....they dont smell...i kept these this time and they are dry no smell to them at all. Not sure what i want to do but i might start collecting them and preserveing them. I still have my muskie head from when i was a kid (54inches was the fish) i was 10 so i was told what to do and did it....assume you can preserve these somehow...btw we ate him that night fed my whole family, nothing went to waste.

[Dana42078]

Finally its been like 3-4 weeks since he's taken food from me. Seems like the molt went good. He was really frisky today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7lYtZzvVvs

[StephLionfish]

Like I said, I would be terrified to stick my hand in that tank LOL. He's so pretty, how big is did you say he is?

[Dana42078]

I'd have to say he's at least the size of my hand. 6 or so inches.

[StephLionfish]

O.O
I'd say it's time for that bad boy to get a bigger home to stretch his legs! And...well, you know, if you need to get rid of any frags...during the switch over....you know how to pm me... haha jk, jk. Seriously though, that's pretty big...

[Dana42078]

Yea....I know... I feel bad...that's why I bought a 45g cube for him. I'm working on it....hopefully before his next molt.

[StephLionfish]

Any updates with the marbles?

[Dana42078]

I dropped one by his burrow. He smacked it twice and put it outside his burrow and hasn't touched it since. I'll try makin a vid ASAP

[Dana42078]

top down i took last night

[FLMantis]

Hey Dana, what color bulb combination are you using? Daylight, atinics?

[Dana42078]

Well it's jus a two bulb fixture so I don't have much of a choice...well I do and don't...I played with the ATI combos and I like this look the best for now. ATI purple and blue plus. It's really a pita to get good photos...

[Dana42078]

HE came out the other day and the shot kinda sucked so i played with it.....still sucks..

[Dana42078]

Thinking about my future reefing. Its so hard to keep my reef in check. Params wise. Yet really the only issue i deal with in the mantis tank is phos.....

Would like some input with everyone else. Whats your set back param wise?

I do 1/4 WC (5g) 3/4's (like every 3 weeks) to monthly ona 20g tall.

jus depends on how the tank looks really on the WC

[nirvanaandtool]

Do larger water changes. I do about 20-25% every week.

[Koshmar]

you can also offset phosphates by adding macroalgae. I used chaeto and C. prolifera in my tanks and my phosphates were always zero, though you know those testkits aren't all too accurate....

Love your pics and tank btw. Really cool to get those little stomato-gifts too, I built up quite a little collection of dactyl molts. Save em that way you can compare them over time to see the growth.

[TundraGuy]

Go out and get a two two little fishies phosban reactor. I find I don’t have to use much GFO to keep the levels out of the testable rang. But Macro dose help with it as well. I just find with a reactor you can play with your mix. Once you have used GFO in a reactor and see a decline in ugly algaes and in increase in coralline and other calcareous alages you’ll be hooked. Just make sure to rinse if first and use a maxi jet 900 or smaller don’t be a wise guy and use a 1200 (I see this common mistake all the time).