Mantis tank cleaners?

[Secondgen]

Can anybody tell me if there are any tank cleaners/scavengers that will last a little while in a mantis tank? I know I have to do my part of keeping the tank as clean as possible, but what about algea growth? With the lights running on a 12 hour cycle how does everyone avoid algea blooms? Thanks for the help in advance, I really do appreciate the advice. I will be a new mantis keeper with a 10 gallon AGA with DIY internal overflow, and an Aquaclear 70 DIY fuge. Also what is the best temp to keep the tank at. Thanks again, and God bless.

 

[mattyice]

well with a mantis fitting in a 10G heavy shelled snails like turbo snails would be perfect, or if it is a spearing type of mantis any type of snail would be fine

 

[Pea-brain]

Some people have also had sucess with urchins and brittle stars

 

[DanInSD]

My peacock actually ignores the snails and hermits in the tank, if I provide a varied diet. I also employ a hang-on chaeto refugium which dramatically helps reduce algae blooms.

 

[jenlovesty]

I have a wennera in my 10 with hermits and turbo snails. He has not bothered either. But he does like limpets. I find their shells every once in a while.

 

[Thurge]

I'm trying a Sea Hair. Considering its slow movement and the fact that the one I got over the weekend is at least as long as my G. grapherus I am hopeful.

 

[Secondgen]

Thanks for all the suggestions everybody. Its good to know that a cleanup crew can be kept with them. From alot of things I have read I thought this would be next to impossible. I will probably end up getting a n. wenn, or a smithii for my first mantis as suggested by many people here. What kind of water changes would be suggested with a mantis tank this small like how much, and how often?

 

[Pea-brain]

personally (And I'm not a perfect example lol) I do 1 water change per week. I test the nitrates twice a week. Once in the middle of the week, once before the water change. The test in the middle of the week lets me know if I have an emergency situation. I never let my nitrates rise above 40. The one at the end of the week lets you know how much water you should change. Sometimes I change 1 gallon, usually 2 and occasionally 3. I always keep a premixed 5 gallon bucket of water which I refill and get the salinity right in as soon as I use even a gallon. If anybody wants to shoot holes in my procedure please do. Always room for improvement

 

[Secondgen]

There is nothing wrong with the way you do your water changes. Everyone, and every tank is different. Thanks for the info. I figured I would have to do changes once a week because it is such a small system. I just wasn't sure how dirty the mantis would make the water. I know I have read that some will bury, or keep food in reserve. Thats why I was unsure. How many times do you feed your mantis? I thought about feeding twice a week, but suggestions from mantis keepers would be appreciated. I want to provide the best care possible . Also what types of foods are commonly used?

 

[justinl]

The general rule of thumb for WC is at least 25% over the course of a week. You can do it a little over the week to get up to 25% or just all at once. I picked the latter. If you go with 10 gal you might want to up that percentage. Maybe two 20% in one week.

I would feed a mantis at most once every two days but sometimes let it go without food for 2-3 days just to shake it up a bit. This way there would be less waste to worry about.

Feed varied frozens: krill, mysids, uncooked grocery bought shrimp or squid, silversides. Take your pick of two or three of those. That will be the main diet. Feed live food on occasion (for smashers, live food should be shelled not so thick that the mantis won`t bother with it). soak the frozens in a supplement once in a while.

 

[Pea-brain]

my mantis is currently growing it's rapts back, so I feed it as much as it will eat each day. But once he's healed I'm only feeding him twice a week.