Do mantis tanks need live rock?

[serjuanca88]

Every single mantis tank I have seen as life rock in it. Is this really necesary. I have a bunch of dead live rock in my garage I could use. Could I use this? Maybe seed it.

From the stand point of filtration is live rock needed?

 

[AttackDonut]

As long as the mantis shrimp has a place to hide, I don't see the harm in this. My mantis tank (all whopping 3 gallons of it) started off with some cured live rock. For all intents and purposes, this was dead rock. Eventually life started to spring forth, but the mantis shrimp didn't mind in the slightest.

 

[dc]

I agree, some live in the rock, such as mine. Makes no difference if it's live. I used base rock also, so anything would be fine. Clean tho!

 

[dwarfatize]

Dead LR will work. So will LR. As long as the mantis can hide, it should be fine.

 

[serjuanca88]

Sounds good, maybe I'll order a few extra pounds when i set my nano up.

 

[Agu]

I would think you'd want the natural filtration ??

Agu

 

[serjuanca88]

Sure I want the natural filtiration. Thats why I think I am going to seed it with a peice of live rock and let the tank run for a few months with a clownfish or something. Then I will put the clown or watever in my nano.