First Mantis Set-up Suggestions

[SkinnyPete]

Wow, great forum.

I just purchased a 20 gallon acrylic tank specifically for a peacock mantis.

The tank is now filling in my dining room. My lfs is getting a delivery of 2 peacocks tomorrow.

So, I have some questions first.

I have a 110 reef tank with a 50 gallon sump. I'm planning on mixing salt in the mantis tank tonight and adding about 5 lbs of rock rubble from my sump tomorrow morning - along with some dry rock rubble I've had for awhile. Now, do I actually need to cycle this new tank? I'm assuming the established rock should be able to hand the mantis? I'm confused here, so hopefully you can help.

Also, I always wanted a tank with black sand - so I've got about 2" sand bed of black sand...it's pretty fine. I threw in a couple hand fulls of some crushed coral I had laying around, but for the most part it's plain old sand fine sand. For some reason, I missed while researching that they prefer crushed coral or mixed grade sand. Did I make a huge blunder filling this tank with fine sand already?

Lastly, we're painting the trim round our house. The dining room is basically done with just one window trim left - but, adjacent rooms will be painted in the near future. Is there a way to get away with painting in the house with a mantis tank? Just tape up the opening to the acrylic top temporarily?

What else? I guess that's enough. Thanks in advance. I'd love to grab one of these peacocks this week since my lfs rarely gets them in. But, I'd obviously rather be patient and successful.

- Skins

 

[Thurge]

Mantis are messy eaters so i would probably make it more like 10# established rock. I would also think about adding a HOB power filter for added water movement and mechanical filtration. You didn't mention it but you probably ought to add at least one power head for circulation.

Easy fix for the black sand. The added CC should help give the Peacock some texture to use in its burrow, but another option it black Calcite. Seachem has a substrate called Grey Coast, that is black, and about the same consistancy as Reef Grade Argonite.

Open some windows. Using an indoor laytx paint I wouldn't imagine fumes would be too bad, but taping the top couldn't hurt when you are actually painting.

 

[SkinnyPete]

Actually, I probably do have about 10# of rubble (maybe more)...I was being a little conservative. I also have another 10-20lbs of dry rock rubble that I will also be adding. So, probably 25-30lbs of rock rubble - 10# or more of that will be established rock.

With that much rock, 1 - 1.5# per gallon, I'm assuming I wouldn't really need a HOB filter, correct? I currently have a MJ1200 powerhead which may actually be overkill as far as flow goes. I don't have it filled completely so we will see how the sand reacts when the waterline is where it should be.

As far as the sand goes, the mixed grade is just for the mantis to create a burrow? I could, as you say, just add some larger grade black substrate on the top and that should be fine? That'll definitely work.

Follow-up question - how should my rock structure be? I'm setting it up today. I've got a couple larger sized rocks and tons of golfball and small sized rubble. I was thinking of creating a cave for him, but will he make his own burrow? Should I arrange the rock structure a certain way - or just create a cave and let him close it in with the rubble?

Wow - sorry, this turned out longer than I expected. Thanks for the help.

 

[dead beat reef]

1 mantis per tank. 2 mantis in a tank = 1 dead. they dont get
along at all. from what I have read. dbr

 

[SkinnyPete]

I think you misunderstood something that I said in my previous posts or you responded to the wrong thread

I don't plan on housing more than one mantis.

 

[Thurge]

Right, with enough rock and flow you don' have to have a HOB. I "have" one, but since it only has LR rubble in it its hard to call it a HOB. I would use two Maxijets for water movement, set up opposite each other.
Mantis can move plenty of sand but if you can I would try and mix it in to the sand. Doesn't have to be much more than running your fingers through it on the bottom a few times. I would set it up with a large flat rock on the bottom on one side and a few pieces on top, and the opposit way on the other side. In the end the mantis will move the pieces it can, where it wants.

 

[SkinnyPete]

Awesome. Thanks for the help.

So, I actually don't need to build a little cave - the mantis will build what it wants out of the rocks provided?

Very cool. I set-up a little cave rock structure last night. I'll just dismantel it and leave rock rubble scattered.

 

[rekn]

i know this is a little late but i would keep your structure up so when it comes time to adding him he has a place to hide in. theyre extremely intelligent animals and the more stress you can stop the better.

when you add him hell be extremely ****ed and will 9/10 run straight to the hole you made instead of throwing a hissy fit.