Algea tank
- Thread starter cappn
- Start date
Hey guys! My second half is now cycling. I have been doing almost daily 10% water change to keep the Ammonia down around .5ppm. Is this an exceptable amount or am I doing fine? I know that if change too much water then it increases cycle time. However, I have also read that 1ppm of Ammonia can be lethal to fish. Also, does a Mantis or Pistol more than the other? Before I added the second half I had what i thought was a pistol and the clicks were spread out over time, now I have another UFO making the clicking, but at a much more rapid pace. Could it just be a pistol that likes to click more than the other one? Or maybe they are talking?
Thanks!
Thanks!
docklink
New member
Sounds like it is cycling appropriately. Keep it under 1ppm and you'll do fine. Pistols can do multi clicks in rapid succesion. Mantis generally do one click but can do succesive clicks. There tends to be a very brief pause or hesitation between mantis clicks, though we are talking fractions of seconds so the differnce can be subtle. It really isn't a reliable way to differentiate between pistols and mantis 
The verdict is in: Its a Mantis. My aunt and cousin were over and it was the first time they had seen my tank so I was showing them all the cool stuff and there and telling them what they were. Then they saw one of the serpent star's legs and wanted to know what it looked like so I dropped a shrimp pellet in there so he would come out. Well the powerhead blew it up and over my usually feeding spot and it landed on the edge of my rock. Just then is a sweeping motion this red blurr comes and grabs its and takes it into the darkness. I was surprised as I had not seen this creature before. Then it darted back out as if to say "haha suckers!" and went back. The second time, I got a good look. It was definitly a Mantis. Now, anyone have a good way to catch these? It would be to difficult to try and net him with all the rockwork. I need some sort of trap.
docklink
New member
Nothing like visual confirmation. You know which rock it's in now. I don't suppose its one buried at the bottom of a stack? If it is an upper rock and removeable from the tank, then the business with a squirt bottle full of selzer (or ro/di water) and a a bucket would be your best bet. You can use a bottle trap but the mantis are such good swimmers, smart and fast that, unless you are watching the trap and have a string attached to pull it out the moment the mantis is inside, I don't think it works well. You can try to entice it out with a tasty morsel and then use the "claw". Good luck with whatever you attempt.
Well, that gives me a question. Do they have just one specific rock and place they go, or do they move from rock to rock? Since i have only seen him once, is it same to assume that i know he lives in the rock i saw him on? Anyway, i got the whole bad batch this time around. Last time i only hand on hairy crab that i got rid of. Now i have 2 hairy crabs, 1 mantis, and aptaisa. Hooray for me
docklink
New member
The "aptasia" I wouldn't worry about. I was a bit panicky with my ssecond batch when a couple rocks had a load of them. But I just watched and waited. They slowly disappeared with time. Most of the posts I've read over the last year indicate that's typical.
The mantis can and do move about the tank but tend to have a favorite local or den. At the start, it tends to be the rock they came in with.
The mantis can and do move about the tank but tend to have a favorite local or den. At the start, it tends to be the rock they came in with.
Put some putty over the hole the mantis shrimp is in... that should work... don't believe anyone who says its cool to have them in the tank.
Also I would take care of the aiptasia quickly. They spread like wildfire, and will kill corals. Search the SPS forum if you would like some good info on them. There are 3-4 horror story tanks where they are beautiful tanks full of sps that all got stung by Aiptasia and are now dieing off.
People will say not to worry about the mantis or the aiptasia. I encourage you to look at their galleries (generally dont have them) as opposed to those who advocate extermination.
Also I would take care of the aiptasia quickly. They spread like wildfire, and will kill corals. Search the SPS forum if you would like some good info on them. There are 3-4 horror story tanks where they are beautiful tanks full of sps that all got stung by Aiptasia and are now dieing off.
People will say not to worry about the mantis or the aiptasia. I encourage you to look at their galleries (generally dont have them) as opposed to those who advocate extermination.
docklink
New member
I respectfully disagree on the "aptasia" on the TBS rock. I just don't think it's that virulent. The horror stories of aptasia running amuk come from tanks with pacific live rock or recently introduced rock from a holding (grow-out) system. But, if it concerns you, nuke away.
Most mantis hidey holes have more than one egress, so puttying the hole might work but probably won't. Sorry to be a nay sayer.
Most mantis hidey holes have more than one egress, so puttying the hole might work but probably won't. Sorry to be a nay sayer.
