Macroalgae and Mantid's

[rwhhunt]

So, does anyone here keep species of macro with their mantis, I am trying to diversify the environment for my mantis tank for both asthetic and water quality purposes. I am looking for some colorful and helpful species that will grow relatively quickly, and help reduce nitrates and phosphates??? The majority of my light is available primarily from the rockwork, so sand rooted macro will probably not be the best...

any suggestions????

 

[ksrinlv]

I am keeping a variety of macros and corals on the live rock with my smasher with great success. The water quality in his 3 gallon abode is always top notch with no other filtration. Definitely try it!

 

[rwhhunt]

what types of macros do you have?? i was thinkiing caulpera, and kelp...

 

[ksrinlv]

I've had good luck with the several caulerpas but you have to keep them pruned back or they'll take over the tank. Quickly! And it's also true that the caulerpas can occassionally have a meltdown, though that hasn't ever had a devastating effect on my tanks and haven't ever had it all meltdown at once, but something to keep in mind. I have some bubble algae in my mantis tank that is usually considered a bad thing but has turned out to not be near as overpowering as the caulerpas, I just take it out when it gets to be a good sized clump and it slowly grows again, pretty manageable and a good nutrient export in the process. Have some other macros that frankly I haven't taken the time to identify but are growing good and look nice too. Grow whatever you can find!

 

[modemfox]

I keep my mantis in the fuge. No problems so far except all my exiled crabs have vanished "Mysteriously" LOL!

 

[sharkdude]

My peacock would shred, and I assume eat ?, grape caulerpa.
A little salad with his frozen shrimp dinners?

 

[rwhhunt]

got to geth him those greens!.... or purples!

 

[Psyire]

My mantis is with Chaeto right now, he hasn't touched it or bothered it, but it's only been a few days...

 

[Uriel]

I keep grape caulerpa in most of my (5) tanks, though i am removing most of it soon for a Fuge. I added it for diversity, but now it is growing like mad, and I want more space for zoos, polyps etc... (5-12 g tanks).
I also have some C. mexicana in one tank, and the mantis moved it to screen her entrance. She uses it to cover her ambush attacks on snails (Quite funny to see). Some other unidentified C, which looks like long kelp stalks (or grass0, as well as halimida (sp?).

My O. scyllarus wrapped the grape in and out of his burrow stones, perhaps using the roots to strengthen everything?

My G. tern shreds it and uses it to cover her entrances.

-Ron