12g or 6g nanocube

[chilyb56]

Hi - I've got a small mantis shrimp (maybe 1 1/2") that came in some Florida LR. I've had him for about a year in my 45g reef tank, but am moving now and want to set up a separate tank for him. I'm looking into getting a JBJ nanocube. Would the 6g nanocube suffice or would he be better off in a 12g? I'm worried that the 6g is going to be too small.

thanks!

 

[Gonodactylus]

The 6 would be fine as long as it is well run in.

Roy

 

[rogerwells]

you can just buy like a crappy little tank you dont need to go all out with the nano cube cause like the mantis doesnt need any special lighting and stuff....im just cheap though so thats my way of thinking

 

[ksrinlv]

I also have a smasher from Florida live rock and keep him in a 3 gallon with lots of live rock, macroalgaes and soft corals. The water quality is always good with no other filtration. Go for the nano reef!!

 

[chilyb56]

thanks for the tips - I'll give the 6g a shot. He's also been living with some snails, a brittle star and an urchin with no troubles so far - think there may be issues in the smaller quarters? Do you recommend a cleanup crew with a mantis in a nanoreef?

 

[ksrinlv]

Good luck on the cleanup crew (crabs/snails) - my mantis eats them all! lol! The bumblebee snails last longer because their shells are thicker so like to have some of those, but eventually even they disappear. No idea on the star & urchin, may depend how hungry he gets, I'll be curious to know how it works out.

 

[rwhhunt]

if the mantis is small, a decent sized urchin may survive... the stars should be fine through...

 

[chilyb56]

if growing the macro algae is important for the water quality, maybe the urchin isn't such a good idea. It pretty much devours everything in its path right down to the rock (and maybe even the rock too)

 

[pisces77]

My puple linkia gets left alone but the pin-cushion star gets picked on if the mantis is hungry. They are in with a big male ternatensis.

 

[rwhhunt]

my pincushion urchin got it good... knobby red star lived with my peacock in perfect harmony