Invert Only Tank Anyone?

[JeffD]

Anyone out there have an invert only tank? There are so many interesting types of crabs, and other inverts I'm wondering if anyone has a tank setup for just inverts or a tank where the primary focus is inverts. I've been thinking on the lines of a crab tank.

would love to see some pics

 

[TheH]

Haven't tried it myself. I imagine aggression might be an issue, probably need a lot of rock to increase habitable surface area since the water volume would be unusable. Sounds interesting though.

 

[JeffD]

any suggestions as to what different types of crabs can likely co-exist? I do plan on having a fair bit rock in the tank to provide some cover and areas of refuge and spacing. I'm leaning at a 40g breeder or larger tank.

trying to find specific info on lighting requirements for marine crabs but not having much luck.

thanks

 

[Aszrael1266]

I was thinking of doing the same thing with the small 6gal nano a friend gave me. Its a bit small to really do much with.

 

[JeffD]

after this amount of time since i posted i would say not many have done it..Still checking into whats required in general to keep an only vert tank.

 

[hollback]

I have a 7 gallon office cube with a pom-pom boxer crab. I love her but rarely see her. I had one in a 10 gallon for several years that was out and about all the time. This one just has less personality or is really wimpy.

 

["Umm fish?"]

A sexy shrimp nano tank is lots of fun!

 

[Nightwitch]

Everybody on the mantis shrimp sub-forum keeps an invert-only tank

 

[Guygettnby]

i have kept invert only tanks in the past and they were lots of fun. i am currently considering putting together a small pico tank with a pair of harlequin shrimp. as far as i know lighting does not make an impact on the crabs and such you can keep.

another really cool thing i did in the past was i set up a hitchhiker tank. so everytime i got a nasty hitchhiker i put it in this tank. was a really cool idea and was alot of fun but..... slowly but surely they started killing each other off.

 

[JeffD]

yes there's definitely some pretty nice inverts. Been thinking about this for some time now Some crabs are pretty aggressive as we all know. so if I decide to go with this the tank will need some decent length and width. I think a tank without a reasonable "range" (based on the numbers i'm keeping etc) things could get ugly. Not alot out there on lighting specific to inverts but what i could find mentions the need for light, but nothing high powered required. For this i'll be probably be using recycled t5's from another system as they get old for lighting, combined with normal t8 type tubes from the lfs similar to marine glo bulbs for color. If i find things are too dull and details are not somewhat vibrant i'll first try new t5 bulbs. Not interested in overdriving any bulbs. VHO would be another option if the t5ho's don't give me what i want. Not interested in mh either. Trying to be somewhat energy conservative with this tank. Much depends on what size tank i will go with.

Back to thinking.....and tks for the comments and suggestions

 

[harleychic]

I wouldn't think lighting would be much of an issue, other than aesthetics and simulating a night/day cycle for your inverts.

Porcelain crabs are pretty mellow.