Info for tank setup

[BLockamon]

I'm thinking of trying my hand at keeping a mantis. I currently have a 90-gallon mixed reef and was thinking of adding a 30-gallon cube next to the main tank. I would split the return line from the main display and feed it to the 30, with the water overflowing back to the main tank.

The tank will be tied into the main filtration system, which will have a protein skimmer, kalk and calcium reactor, sulfur denitrator, carbon and anti-phos. The tank temperature is currently arount 78F.

Is there anything else I need to consider? How much rock do I need in the mantis tank (I have 120 lbs. of Tonga in the main reef, so I have plenty of biological filtration)? I want enough to give him a home, but not so much that I never see him.

Any recommendations on what kind of mantis would do well in this setup and where to purchase one? I believe my LFS gets Peacocks in pretty often, but I was wondering if I would be better off with some other type.

Anything else for the little guys? Do they like macro algae? If so, what lighting would be enought to grow it?

Thanks.

 

[AngeloM3]

Peacocks are the type of species that grow big. Not sure of the species names though. They eat crabs, lobsters, hermits, goldfish, damsels or any small fish or invert. No macro algae is needed for them.

 

[Uriel]

Food as above, minus the goldfish, which are bad for any saltwater animals to eat. Mine eat mostly snails, hermits, crabs, thawed shrimp/scallop/squid and ghost shrimp.

Give him enough large pieces to form a decent burrow, some larger pieces for a roof, walls, with a lot of smaller rubble (Many LFS will just give you leftover rubble, find out when their rock shipments come in).
On that subject, let the LFS know that you will happily take their unwanted hitchhiker crabs (Gorillas, etc...), they may give them to you for free, or charge a small amount.

As far as macro algae goes, it sounds like you have the filtration pretty much taken care of. Get a magnet cleaner, as you don't want to put your hands in there to clean.

A 30 wound be fine for a peacock, whic is (Overall) the most outgoing species. A smaller mantis might be rarely seen in such a setup.

Good luck.

-Uriel

 

[BLockamon]

Any recommendations on where to buy a Peacock? My LFS gets in what they call Peacocks, but I'm not too trusting of their classification. Course, the last one I saw was about 3-4 inches, so he might be the real deal.

I was thinking some macro for decoration and to give the mantis a hunting grounds (maybe C. prolifera). I agree that I don't need it for filtration. The idea of a Peacock prowling through some high grass to pounce on a meal sounds appealing to me...maybe I'm just cruel that way.