Mantis & Mini-bow

[Leviathan_XE]

I've been wanting a mantis since before I started my first tank over a year ago, and now it looks like I'll finally be able to join the cool kids club. I'm thinking of a 5gal. and will replace the bulb with a 10 watt screw-in 50/50 by Coralife. For filtration I was thinking of an Auqa-Clear 20(mini) and leaving in the media or should I replace it with lr rubble? Or should I go with a larger filter (AC 30)? I've read some post that say that for a mantis you don't need much filtration and some that say you do. I want a tank that's very easy to maintan and will provide a great habitat for my little friend. Oh, and as for species I'm gonna order N.wenn from TBS, 50 bucks for a mantis and shipping sounds like a good deal to me!

 

[rwhhunt]

The 5 g bow should work out great. I ordered my tbs wennerea about a month ago, he lives in a 5 g semi-hex acrylic. I have about 10 lbs of LR and an small 100 gph hob filter. I used to keep a pad in there, but have since removed it and have a little LR in it, But primarily use it for flow due to all of the LR in the tank itself. I used the 50/50 screw in Powe compact bulb as well.
The wennerea I got is very colorful, and active...BUT I rarely see him, he is always crawling through all the rockwork making his burrow better. I can lure him out with some krill or scallop, but I have yet to see him wandering around outside on the sand... With that in mind, since he is only 1.5 inches, you may want to think about a centralized pvc burrow or something....

 

[Leviathan_XE]

Thanks for the info rwhhunt! It was actually your post about the arrival of your new pals that inspired me. Your mantis looks awesome! The pvc is definately doable but what diameter would you suggest? I would'nt want to put something in that's too large and would seem like a cavern insted of a secure burrow. Also I wanted to stay on the lighter side as far as lr goes, about 5-7lbs for a tank that's fairly open on one side and plant some type of macro. Should I then take the filter up a notch?

 

[rwhhunt]

I would say a pvc pip less than an inch would be more than enough, since He is only 1.5 inches... My friends oestredii had a nice piece of pvc of about an inch diameter, and it was actually too big, and it decided that it liked this cavernous piece of LR instead! It could be heard bashing away carving tunnels in the rock for a rear exit... So, you may want to consider a "hand picked" piece display peice of LR. Macro would be very good, help keep nitrates down, and add some color to the tank! Don't put to much water flow because from what i can tell they are incredible swimmers in high current, BUT, a deep Live sand bed may be one of the best ways to keep water conditions nice.

 

[Leviathan_XE]

Thanks again for all of your help, I was thinking a deeper sand bed would be the way to go, now I know for sure. I just hope that the mantis a get will look as cool as yours. I wonder if TBS allows for color request or just ships them out as they get them in?

 

[liverock]

Thanks again for all of your help, I was thinking a deeper sand bed would be the way to go, now I know for sure. I just hope that the mantis a get will look as cool as yours. I wonder if TBS allows for color request or just ships them out as they get them in?

Depends on what kind of behind the scenes tour I get when I come to the zoo!

TBS

I have a red and a green right now