Crooked Reef
Active member
So I have decided that I want a mantis shrimp after watching one a larger peacock mantis at the lfs the other day. We both stared at each other for about 10 minutes basically mesmerized with each other. It was going about it’s business, but watching me closely.
I don’t have the space to set up a tank for a peacock, and my wife would kill me if I added a third tank into the house that size, so after some research I have decided to go with a N. Wennerae. This is my current plan if anyone can review it and critique it;
1. 5 gallon glass tank (16”x8”x10”) I would build a small plastic divider to go in the rear corner, sort of an all in one type of overflow, that would house a 15- 25 watt heater and return pump.
2. For the return pump I am thinking a maxijet 400 (currently own) with standard locline return nozzle. Will this be enough flow for the tank? If not I may hide the heater somewhere else and leave the overflow out and just put a Koralia nano on one side.
3. DIY screen top to keep the shrimp in and my son’s hands out.
4. 3-5 lbs of live rock with more rubble spread about for building stuff.
5. 2-3” of substrate. I’m looking for suggestions for type and if this is enough.
6. Lighting. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef running gen 4 radion xr15 pros and a biocube 29 dwarf lionfish tank with 2 AI prime hd lights that will be ordered to replace its current light because it doesn’t provide enough light for the corals I want in there. Basically I am stating that the mantis tank will not need strong lights for corals now or down the road. I have enough of that to handle in the other tanks I really don’t need a third coral tank. For this one I am thinking of using a Current Marine Orbit strip light that I have over the lion tank or maybe a par 30 bulb over half the tank so one half stays more shadowed.
7. No mechanical filtration. This tank will sit on a stand next to my 90 gallon reef tank. My plan is to switch a gallon of water from the mantis tank and reef tank daily or every few days as needed to keep water quality in line. The reef can handle cleaning the nitrates and phosphates of this tank no problem. At first my plan was to plumb the mantis tank into the 90’s system, but this seems much easier and truthfully more cost efficient.
I don’t have the space to set up a tank for a peacock, and my wife would kill me if I added a third tank into the house that size, so after some research I have decided to go with a N. Wennerae. This is my current plan if anyone can review it and critique it;
1. 5 gallon glass tank (16”x8”x10”) I would build a small plastic divider to go in the rear corner, sort of an all in one type of overflow, that would house a 15- 25 watt heater and return pump.
2. For the return pump I am thinking a maxijet 400 (currently own) with standard locline return nozzle. Will this be enough flow for the tank? If not I may hide the heater somewhere else and leave the overflow out and just put a Koralia nano on one side.
3. DIY screen top to keep the shrimp in and my son’s hands out.
4. 3-5 lbs of live rock with more rubble spread about for building stuff.
5. 2-3” of substrate. I’m looking for suggestions for type and if this is enough.
6. Lighting. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef running gen 4 radion xr15 pros and a biocube 29 dwarf lionfish tank with 2 AI prime hd lights that will be ordered to replace its current light because it doesn’t provide enough light for the corals I want in there. Basically I am stating that the mantis tank will not need strong lights for corals now or down the road. I have enough of that to handle in the other tanks I really don’t need a third coral tank. For this one I am thinking of using a Current Marine Orbit strip light that I have over the lion tank or maybe a par 30 bulb over half the tank so one half stays more shadowed.
7. No mechanical filtration. This tank will sit on a stand next to my 90 gallon reef tank. My plan is to switch a gallon of water from the mantis tank and reef tank daily or every few days as needed to keep water quality in line. The reef can handle cleaning the nitrates and phosphates of this tank no problem. At first my plan was to plumb the mantis tank into the 90’s system, but this seems much easier and truthfully more cost efficient.
