My Ultimate Multi Mantis System(s)
- Thread starter Kharn
- Start date
Kharn
MANTISMAN
I have never really wanted to finish an aquarium build in haste like I am starting to with this one and only because....I want to get the next build underway :lol2:...
There is still some things to do but primarily I want to upgrade filtration, still haven't decided on a finalized idea...keep changing my mind thinking of better things, all I know is that I want a refugium(as large as I can get), skimmer & reactor per stand.
Then I will upgrade certain lights (all of STAND A and only the top tank of STAND B) since there going to house coral & light hardy animals, so as far as this part goes I am set and know what I want (going E-Shine Cree & because I am getting a light per compartment (not per tank) I get bulk buyers discount along with a cleaner look above each compartment, so instead of 4 light upgrades I am actually getting 8).
It's just the filtration I need to settle on...
I basically came up with the idea that I can easily create a much larger version of the ReefOctopus EcoSystem Refugium (since they cost a bucket load and are generally small and there braces fail a lot resulting in shattered EcoSystem....) But there idea is good clean simple and crisp (same as the EcoSystem Hob filters) I figured do the same thing
But rather then actually have the HOB tank hanging off the back of the aquarium, make it taller then the display tank in front of it that its connected to. All that you would see (upon close inspection due to color blending) would be 2 (input & output) 90degree caged elbows, the whole larger tank "HOB" Refugium is supported via a stand with just the 90 degree elbows resting on the rim rather then taking any kind of weight/stress.
Essentially I want to make this custom refugium as big as I can and thus not putting any equipment in it bar the input pump (water will reach a point in exit chamber and flow out from there freely back into display tank due to being at a higher height).
So the other 2 pieces of equipment (skimmer & Reactor will go on the tanks above, yet to decide whether both will go on the one tank (likely middle) since the top is well...getting pritty high (2.1m) STAND A is the only real concern (since I plan on making the refugiums as long as the stands there behind so A=600mmL B=900mmL but C will be a little shorter however what it lacks in length and where only talking about 200mm anyway...it will more then make up for in width (since that stands tanks alone are so slim (150mm ea) the Refugium will likely be a good 300mm at least maybe).
By making these Refugiums I can also house more stomatopods since viewing from behind will be an easy thing =)
Don't know what skimmer to get (since I need 2)...(already have the Deltec MCE600 so that is one, prepared to give it another shot xD)
Tossing up between
http://www.reefinglife.com.au/product.php?productid=16575&cat=343&page=1
http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1535
http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php...x.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1202
Although I think an MCE600 would be overkill on STAND A (being at around 100-150L total volume for stand) and as for the Tunze, it wouldn't look out of place in the display tanks, being black sides and black rear wall, the all black nature of the tunze skimmer would allow it to 'blend in' more then others.
I dunno xD my gut says go Deltec cause you pay for quality...my other gut says go 1 of each to test them all and my third gut says keep reading, just read until you die and then regret it when your dead!
Yeah I got a lot of guts
P.S. Oh and there is also UV sterilizers that I want to incorporate (at the very least 1 for STAND B where the larger smashers are housed) I know next to nothing about them...
There is still some things to do but primarily I want to upgrade filtration, still haven't decided on a finalized idea...keep changing my mind thinking of better things, all I know is that I want a refugium(as large as I can get), skimmer & reactor per stand.
Then I will upgrade certain lights (all of STAND A and only the top tank of STAND B) since there going to house coral & light hardy animals, so as far as this part goes I am set and know what I want (going E-Shine Cree & because I am getting a light per compartment (not per tank) I get bulk buyers discount along with a cleaner look above each compartment, so instead of 4 light upgrades I am actually getting 8).
It's just the filtration I need to settle on...
I basically came up with the idea that I can easily create a much larger version of the ReefOctopus EcoSystem Refugium (since they cost a bucket load and are generally small and there braces fail a lot resulting in shattered EcoSystem....) But there idea is good clean simple and crisp (same as the EcoSystem Hob filters) I figured do the same thing
But rather then actually have the HOB tank hanging off the back of the aquarium, make it taller then the display tank in front of it that its connected to. All that you would see (upon close inspection due to color blending) would be 2 (input & output) 90degree caged elbows, the whole larger tank "HOB" Refugium is supported via a stand with just the 90 degree elbows resting on the rim rather then taking any kind of weight/stress.
Essentially I want to make this custom refugium as big as I can and thus not putting any equipment in it bar the input pump (water will reach a point in exit chamber and flow out from there freely back into display tank due to being at a higher height).
So the other 2 pieces of equipment (skimmer & Reactor will go on the tanks above, yet to decide whether both will go on the one tank (likely middle) since the top is well...getting pritty high (2.1m) STAND A is the only real concern (since I plan on making the refugiums as long as the stands there behind so A=600mmL B=900mmL but C will be a little shorter however what it lacks in length and where only talking about 200mm anyway...it will more then make up for in width (since that stands tanks alone are so slim (150mm ea) the Refugium will likely be a good 300mm at least maybe).
By making these Refugiums I can also house more stomatopods since viewing from behind will be an easy thing =)
Don't know what skimmer to get (since I need 2)...(already have the Deltec MCE600 so that is one, prepared to give it another shot xD)
Tossing up between
http://www.reefinglife.com.au/product.php?productid=16575&cat=343&page=1
http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1535
http://thereefshop.com.au/index.php...x.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1202
Although I think an MCE600 would be overkill on STAND A (being at around 100-150L total volume for stand) and as for the Tunze, it wouldn't look out of place in the display tanks, being black sides and black rear wall, the all black nature of the tunze skimmer would allow it to 'blend in' more then others.
I dunno xD my gut says go Deltec cause you pay for quality...my other gut says go 1 of each to test them all and my third gut says keep reading, just read until you die and then regret it when your dead!
Yeah I got a lot of guts
P.S. Oh and there is also UV sterilizers that I want to incorporate (at the very least 1 for STAND B where the larger smashers are housed) I know next to nothing about them...
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
O0oooo O000oooo I know I know Pick me pick me *waves hands in the air*
I get the idea of hang on skimmers you got the room behind the tanks, and you played with the idea of sumping them all together. Why not run a sump and one big skimmer with Ozone? I find ozone works better then UV and is cheaper in the long run! Also if you do the sump thing your combining the water volume of all with will help to keep things more stable. You got the room behind the stands but you could also put the simmer where the tv is now and a small led bubble to the water to light up the micro bubble slerry for display perposes.
I get the idea of hang on skimmers you got the room behind the tanks, and you played with the idea of sumping them all together. Why not run a sump and one big skimmer with Ozone? I find ozone works better then UV and is cheaper in the long run! Also if you do the sump thing your combining the water volume of all with will help to keep things more stable. You got the room behind the stands but you could also put the simmer where the tv is now and a small led bubble to the water to light up the micro bubble slerry for display perposes.
Eel Freak
Fimbriated Moray
This definitely has its benefits... And IMO stand-alone external skimmers work better than HOB ones...
As far as picking skimmers? You've got all good skimmers selected. Reef Octopus is all I use, it's a good price and they work wonderfully. Deltec is an awesome name, and so is Tunze. I've seen Tunze in action before and it too is worth the money!
Kharn
MANTISMAN
A few reasons as to why I don't want to do 1 large sump is...
Lots of pipes, there would be between 6 - 12 PVC pipes running over the place to connect each stand to the sump.
Possible contamination, I'd rather loose the stock in 1 stand then all 3 stands....(inrealtiy I don't want to loose stock, period.)
My experience with Deltec has been somewhat skewed but mostly my fault I think...I never truly got my MCE600 operating perfectly...everyday it needed adjustments either the foam was not reaching the collection cup or the foam was reaching the cup too fast hence overflowing it.
Went on with this for a couple months and started to do more indepth reading about how it can take months for them to brake in and become fully operational...here I am thinking it was like any other piece of equipment....set it to what it needs to be set to, plug it in, sit back and profit...how wrong was I about this skimmer...and since then it has really turned me off them altogether (at least HOB style ones since in tank/sump ones if they overflow...it goes back into the tank, not the floor!)
When it comes to skimmers...spending such a large amount on something that might never 'break in' correctly sooo many mixed reviews. There are so many things that can send it crazy...from putting your hand in the tank (oils etc) to feedings and the addatives that you put on (yes I turned my skimmer off for feedings but even after 3hours when it went back on, it would go crazy...all in all the experience made me hate skimmers....(When I got the deltec I was all like, "Yes YES! This is the grand daddy of skimmers Deltec is like Ferrari etc. of skimmers" then after a few months "PIECE OF S**T WORK DAMN YOU!!!!"
Why can't it be like EVERYTHING else, plug it in and profit!!!
Kind of scarred now to be honest just keep thinking of the hell I went through, I never even did end up getting it to "skim" properly, either way to wet, or just nothing in general, hence I took it off, saw no visible down side to not having on and hence left it off....
Great thing to get for my only birthday present....so many other things I SHOULD of got now that I look back on it.
='[
P.S. I am not trying to down talk Deltec, for all I know everything that was going wrong was all MY fault but I could just NVR get it to work properly...
Lots of pipes, there would be between 6 - 12 PVC pipes running over the place to connect each stand to the sump.
Possible contamination, I'd rather loose the stock in 1 stand then all 3 stands....(inrealtiy I don't want to loose stock, period.)
My experience with Deltec has been somewhat skewed but mostly my fault I think...I never truly got my MCE600 operating perfectly...everyday it needed adjustments either the foam was not reaching the collection cup or the foam was reaching the cup too fast hence overflowing it.
Went on with this for a couple months and started to do more indepth reading about how it can take months for them to brake in and become fully operational...here I am thinking it was like any other piece of equipment....set it to what it needs to be set to, plug it in, sit back and profit...how wrong was I about this skimmer...and since then it has really turned me off them altogether (at least HOB style ones since in tank/sump ones if they overflow...it goes back into the tank, not the floor!)
When it comes to skimmers...spending such a large amount on something that might never 'break in' correctly sooo many mixed reviews. There are so many things that can send it crazy...from putting your hand in the tank (oils etc) to feedings and the addatives that you put on (yes I turned my skimmer off for feedings but even after 3hours when it went back on, it would go crazy...all in all the experience made me hate skimmers....(When I got the deltec I was all like, "Yes YES! This is the grand daddy of skimmers Deltec is like Ferrari etc. of skimmers" then after a few months "PIECE OF S**T WORK DAMN YOU!!!!"
Why can't it be like EVERYTHING else, plug it in and profit!!!
Kind of scarred now to be honest just keep thinking of the hell I went through, I never even did end up getting it to "skim" properly, either way to wet, or just nothing in general, hence I took it off, saw no visible down side to not having on and hence left it off....
Great thing to get for my only birthday present....so many other things I SHOULD of got now that I look back on it.
='[
P.S. I am not trying to down talk Deltec, for all I know everything that was going wrong was all MY fault but I could just NVR get it to work properly...
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
I have had this happen with different models of skimmers. But the reality of a skimmer is a guy could make an argument that foam fractionation can consistently remove more harmful agents than any other form of filtration on the market (chemical / mechanical / bio). I think on larger systems the use of a large skimmer can be coupled with Ozone to make one hell of a combo. But these are all suggestions and in the mean time the method you’re currently using is working. I am still keeping an eye out for a message about the deeper then deep sand beds turning to something other than nice. I would keep on a look out for a constant better than perfect calcium and dkh in the stands without add from dosing in the deep sand bed stand. But even this has been shown to not be an issue for you. Contributing this to the movements of the big mantis in there burrows down to the bottom of the tank.
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
I have had this happen with different models of skimmers. But the reality of a skimmer is a guy could make an argument that foam fractionation can consistently remove more harmful agents than any other form of filtration on the market (chemical / mechanical / bio). I think on larger systems the use of a large skimmer can be coupled with Ozone to make one hell of a combo. But these are all suggestions and in the mean time the method you’re currently using is working. I am still keeping an eye out for a message about the deeper then deep sand beds turning to something other than nice. I would keep on a look out for a constant better than perfect calcium and dkh in the stands without aid from dosing in the deep sand bed stand. But even this has been shown to not be an issue for you. Contributing this to the movements of the big mantis in there burrows down to the bottom of the tank.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
I too am concerned and search often for DSB that turn nuclear...however the mere fact that Dr.Caldwell has kept them for years like this....is more then comforting in knowing that I won't have problems either =).
That is where my trust lies in the VeryDSB, along with other seasoned owners of large, burrowing species, seasoned at least meaning someone who has kept them longer then me and considering I am just approaching my first year of keeping them....I still see myself as very much a noob/inexperienced in fact I would say that I have not even had a DSB mature in my ownership yet, as it can take a VERY long time for a DSB to become fully operational and since the current 2 are only a few months old and there predecessor only got to 6 months old, I have never experienced that year + of DSB, so cannot necessarily comment on it.....
I have also wandered whether the stomatopods burrow acts as a sort of "vent" since essentially that "toxic" layer of substrate...is the very place they make there burrow (as deep as they can) and yet they live completely and utterly happy.
I really want to and guarantee I will have a skimmer or skimmers for the tanks but...If I am going to do a skimmer etc. then I want a lot of the bells and whistles to go with it, that being refugium(s) & reactor(s).
The FX5's were never going to be the be all and end all.
One of the good things about canisters and stomatopods is that in my experience the whole nitrate factory side of things mostly comes from uneaten food that gets sucked into the canister and hence stays in there, builds up and starts the horror.
With my stomatopods I have never fed them a food that can get sucked into the canister filter...its always been portions/chunks of flesh far to big to be sucked into the filter and at the same time, far to big for the animal to consume completely (I like to give them more, knowing there all phat and happy =P, juggy is getting a real phat *** on him
lol should start to bring him along to my gym sessions....stomatopod on tread mill xD HAHAH).Back to sanity.
SO as far as food going into my FX5's...its very minimal if any at all, so that is 1 area that I can at least control (yeah there is tons more, waste etc.) I really did try to nuke my first tank on purpose mostly to gouge the reactions of the stomatopods, at one point I had a fairly nasty cyano patch in the tank that I just left and watch grow, nothing bad happened to any stomatopod (eventually that tank was brought down to make way for these systems as you well and truly know....don't I just love repeating myself for no reason lol, knowing you know what I would type xD ?).
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Here is a funny picture I got of The Juggernaut cleaning himself last night =)
The Mantis Salute!....SIR! YES SIR!! xD
I take pictures daily but only really upload those of abnormal quality or something different, whilst the quality could be better, the different aspect of how his maxillipeds is held makes it a rather comical sight xD.
P.S. I should send him back to military school as I am pritty sure the drill instructor would be upset with a left handed salute....anyone confirm xD ?
The Mantis Salute!....SIR! YES SIR!! xD
I take pictures daily but only really upload those of abnormal quality or something different, whilst the quality could be better, the different aspect of how his maxillipeds is held makes it a rather comical sight xD.
P.S. I should send him back to military school as I am pritty sure the drill instructor would be upset with a left handed salute....anyone confirm xD ?
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Kharn
MANTISMAN
BONUS =)
Through doing lots of reading last night about marine crustaceans etc. I started to read the articles in a different forum a much more local forum (SEQ specific) and one of the things I learned about was a particular little crab that I had collected previously and labelled it "Porcelain Crab shaped".
Turns out this is no Porcelain crab, or even a crab...its of the Galatheidae family and commonly referred to as "Squat Lobster". The information given is that they are the ultimate algae eating invert that you want for your CuC if you can get them as they eat a wide variety of Algaes the only down side to them is that they are practically defenseless (not just against stomatopods, nothing is safe against a stomatopod xD) but I don't see that as a problem because I easily got over a dozen in my last collection.
Basically I plan to go out next time and target these specific 'squat lobsters' try and get as many as I can then distribute them evenly amongst the compartments that have light over them (since those are also the smaller species). All in All it sounds like a really good idea and something I am going to try, the crabs cannot harm the stomatopod yet if the smaller stomatopods wish to eat one, it won't be a simple walk in the park due to them being similar in size =).
Da Squwat Wobsta! :frog:
Algae(s) eating, great nutrients for any growing stomatopod
EDIT: On further reading I don't know what to believe now xD it might be a Petrolisthes which is a porcelain crab as originally thought
Through doing lots of reading last night about marine crustaceans etc. I started to read the articles in a different forum a much more local forum (SEQ specific) and one of the things I learned about was a particular little crab that I had collected previously and labelled it "Porcelain Crab shaped".
Turns out this is no Porcelain crab, or even a crab...its of the Galatheidae family and commonly referred to as "Squat Lobster". The information given is that they are the ultimate algae eating invert that you want for your CuC if you can get them as they eat a wide variety of Algaes the only down side to them is that they are practically defenseless (not just against stomatopods, nothing is safe against a stomatopod xD) but I don't see that as a problem because I easily got over a dozen in my last collection.
Basically I plan to go out next time and target these specific 'squat lobsters' try and get as many as I can then distribute them evenly amongst the compartments that have light over them (since those are also the smaller species). All in All it sounds like a really good idea and something I am going to try, the crabs cannot harm the stomatopod yet if the smaller stomatopods wish to eat one, it won't be a simple walk in the park due to them being similar in size =).
Da Squwat Wobsta! :frog:
Algae(s) eating, great nutrients for any growing stomatopod
EDIT: On further reading I don't know what to believe now xD it might be a Petrolisthes which is a porcelain crab as originally thought
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Kharn
MANTISMAN
I've been keeping a keen eye on that Female G.T. compartment in STAND A seeing as it is the latest inhabitant and I want to ensure she is getting along good in her new safer confines, so each day I always take a few mins to look hard in the tank for the 'tel-tale' Golden eyes she has and today...I found her =D as an added bonus she seems to of 'setup shop' in the morph garden =) and say this mostly because I have seen here a lot now (now that I look in one spot) and she is in the same spot so I am assuming its her cavity/burrow.
The good thing is she is doing well =) I really like her coloration and cannot wait to see her bigger =D and at her true potential =).
The good thing is she is doing well =) I really like her coloration and cannot wait to see her bigger =D and at her true potential =).
Kharn
MANTISMAN
A week or so back I posted plans to make some burrow systems for each compartment within each tank for at least STAND A the reasons being that this stand houses the smallest and toughest / most hardy species so if its going to work with any...it will work with these little guys n gals first, the 2 primary reasons for doing this are to create a sort of play area for the animals making the labyrinth of tunnels rather interesting along with creating different plateaus on the frame itself for various light requirements in corals (those that need to be position further up, can be whilst those at the bottom well that is simple...).
The idea was to put a plateau at each vertical entrance there by allowing me to get a picture of the stomatopod should it poke its head out, rite beside a really nice coral that I plan on saving those plateaus for, (morphs will litter the base/floor).
Here is how its going so far with my first attempt.
FRONT
LEFT SIDE
RIGHT SIDE
TOP
REAR
As you can see I still need to do some gluing of substrate to the frame itself and touch up certain areas, the touching up is the last thing I will do, it all may take a while but the longer I take the more thorough it will be =) and hence better it will look.
The likely first candidate for a test run will either be Adam or Eve they are G.smithii, here is Eve being all excited perhaps she wants to be first =D
I forsee this looking exactly how I ... forsaw it lol, the same thing with my whole multi mantis design, I though of it, then did it =D however things won't start looking 'natural' until algae sets in / time has gone by either way I am really happy with it so far, still a fair bit to do.
More to come =)
The idea was to put a plateau at each vertical entrance there by allowing me to get a picture of the stomatopod should it poke its head out, rite beside a really nice coral that I plan on saving those plateaus for, (morphs will litter the base/floor).
Here is how its going so far with my first attempt.
FRONT
LEFT SIDE
RIGHT SIDE
TOP
REAR
As you can see I still need to do some gluing of substrate to the frame itself and touch up certain areas, the touching up is the last thing I will do, it all may take a while but the longer I take the more thorough it will be =) and hence better it will look.
The likely first candidate for a test run will either be Adam or Eve they are G.smithii, here is Eve being all excited perhaps she wants to be first =D
I forsee this looking exactly how I ... forsaw it lol, the same thing with my whole multi mantis design, I though of it, then did it =D however things won't start looking 'natural' until algae sets in / time has gone by either way I am really happy with it so far, still a fair bit to do.
More to come =)
Kharn
MANTISMAN
This evening I wanted to target feed my smaller smashers, the smaller the were the more I wanted to offer them and although I couldn't get as many pics as I'd of liked, I did get one in particular that I am happy with =D.
Female G.ternatensis - Just after she grabbed it, I proceeded to give here 2 more portions of prawn the same size as the one in the pic after I took this pic in hopes I could get better shots, but she was too quick, I'm happy she is eating.
Beyond her STAND A was rather lack luster, I suspect 3 of them are under going molts (Adam, Shockwave & Rocky) due to not having seen them in a few days and the last time I did see them was when they all got a few small crabs to bash on and eat, so I think the missing crabs + missing mantis means, there all eaten & the stomatopod is molting from the massive food intake (crabs were only slightly smaller then stomatopods and each compartment got about 4-6 crabs).
However STAND B was a lot more fun =)....
Minnie is always a fiery 'tart' and tonight was no exception, as soon as the food hit the surface she darted around the corner and got all 'tough' as in to say "Who dare enter my lair!"
Then she realized it was a big phat tasty piece of prawn and rage swiftly turned to Joy "Om nom nom nom..."
Alass I regrettably shoved the prawn on the skewer to far, so she was having some trouble getting it off, she made a break for her cavity in the rock and then proceeded to use the leverage from within to pull the meat free from the skewer! Problem solving =) free at last to munch on the goodness of prawn meat =)
Obviously after feeding her, Maximus her husband was up next =) and he knew it, having repositioned in his burrow to not only 'best' whatever falls in, but in order to watch whats going on with his wife, he curiously watched on as she valiantly removed her piece and patiently waited his turn, he didn't have to wait long.
Perhaps wisdom comes with age in stomatopods too as I said he repositioned himself inside the burrow (hence greatest leverage) rather then come charging out like his anxious wife, by doing this it only took one hard pull and he got what he wanted, having said that, he is much larger then her so things come easier in the strength department...
Up next and just below the above action was The Kraken, hearing all the commotion from above he knew what was going on (that and probably tasting the water) either way he was too quick for me, as soon as the prawn meat on the skewer entered his tank, he shot up to it, grabbed it and darted back into his den, he is looking up and can see the prawn meat, this was just before he shot up to it!
Within a split second he was up down and within the burrow, before I started to laugh at the whole speed of it, I saw him slowly start to poke his head out the rear of his den almost as if to check and ensure that he wasn't spotted or had no followers, its a hard life for a stomatopod in the CIA, gotta cover your tracks!
Finally...the king, the heavyweight of heavyweights...the stomatopod that would quite literally take down any other stomatopod...even though he is the same species as The Kraken, its his sheer size that is frightening (mixed in with his species being O.scyllarus, Peacock) he is big (as big as he will get) he is fearless (will attack if the camera gets to close to front of tank) and he has destroyed every living (and dead) inhabitant that has dared to tread water with him, The Juggernaut peers out from his cavern with greedy eyes awaiting what he surely knows.
Like a Childhood form of Hercules playing with his food at his father Zeus' table at dinner time...The Juggernaut whacks his already dead and prepared food "for good measure, to ensure its dead..." sending particles and pieces of the food flying off... I guess The Juggernaut wants to extend his domination to not only the living but, the dead as well.
Hope you enjoyed =) more to come soon.
Current suspected Molters: Adam, Shockwave, Rocky, Morgoth & The Leviathan.
Female G.ternatensis - Just after she grabbed it, I proceeded to give here 2 more portions of prawn the same size as the one in the pic after I took this pic in hopes I could get better shots, but she was too quick, I'm happy she is eating.
Beyond her STAND A was rather lack luster, I suspect 3 of them are under going molts (Adam, Shockwave & Rocky) due to not having seen them in a few days and the last time I did see them was when they all got a few small crabs to bash on and eat, so I think the missing crabs + missing mantis means, there all eaten & the stomatopod is molting from the massive food intake (crabs were only slightly smaller then stomatopods and each compartment got about 4-6 crabs).
However STAND B was a lot more fun =)....
Minnie is always a fiery 'tart' and tonight was no exception, as soon as the food hit the surface she darted around the corner and got all 'tough' as in to say "Who dare enter my lair!"
Then she realized it was a big phat tasty piece of prawn and rage swiftly turned to Joy
"Om nom nom nom..."
Alass I regrettably shoved the prawn on the skewer to far, so she was having some trouble getting it off, she made a break for her cavity in the rock and then proceeded to use the leverage from within to pull the meat free from the skewer! Problem solving =) free at last to munch on the goodness of prawn meat =)
Obviously after feeding her, Maximus her husband was up next =) and he knew it, having repositioned in his burrow to not only 'best' whatever falls in, but in order to watch whats going on with his wife, he curiously watched on as she valiantly removed her piece and patiently waited his turn, he didn't have to wait long.
Perhaps wisdom comes with age in stomatopods too as I said he repositioned himself inside the burrow (hence greatest leverage) rather then come charging out like his anxious wife, by doing this it only took one hard pull and he got what he wanted, having said that, he is much larger then her so things come easier in the strength department...
Up next and just below the above action was The Kraken, hearing all the commotion from above he knew what was going on (that and probably tasting the water) either way he was too quick for me, as soon as the prawn meat on the skewer entered his tank, he shot up to it, grabbed it and darted back into his den, he is looking up and can see the prawn meat, this was just before he shot up to it!
Within a split second he was up down and within the burrow, before I started to laugh at the whole speed of it, I saw him slowly start to poke his head out the rear of his den almost as if to check and ensure that he wasn't spotted or had no followers, its a hard life for a stomatopod in the CIA, gotta cover your tracks!
Finally...the king, the heavyweight of heavyweights...the stomatopod that would quite literally take down any other stomatopod...even though he is the same species as The Kraken, its his sheer size that is frightening (mixed in with his species being O.scyllarus, Peacock) he is big (as big as he will get) he is fearless (will attack if the camera gets to close to front of tank) and he has destroyed every living (and dead) inhabitant that has dared to tread water with him, The Juggernaut peers out from his cavern with greedy eyes awaiting what he surely knows.
Like a Childhood form of Hercules playing with his food at his father Zeus' table at dinner time...The Juggernaut whacks his already dead and prepared food "for good measure, to ensure its dead..." sending particles and pieces of the food flying off... I guess The Juggernaut wants to extend his domination to not only the living but, the dead as well.
Hope you enjoyed =) more to come soon.
Current suspected Molters: Adam, Shockwave, Rocky, Morgoth & The Leviathan.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
As far as upgrades go...
Rite now I am planning on purchasing a pair of Tunze Internal Skimmers that should sit neatly, evenly in the compartment that I decide to put it in for STAND A & B, they look good and Tunze is a trusted name + there price is really good too =).
Just don't know what size to get since you hear a lot of the old "Skimmer rated to do 3x the tanks total volume so if STAND A is 150L I'd be looking at a skimmer that is meant for more around 450-500L"
Its easy, it can be done in under 10mins and the best part about them is that since they will actually be in the display tanks (hidden by there own plain black rectangle shape) then I don't need to worry about the cup overflowing (something that kept happening with my MCE and since it was behind the tank....lots of water on floor).
Rite now I am planning on purchasing a pair of Tunze Internal Skimmers that should sit neatly, evenly in the compartment that I decide to put it in for STAND A & B, they look good and Tunze is a trusted name + there price is really good too =).
Just don't know what size to get since you hear a lot of the old "Skimmer rated to do 3x the tanks total volume so if STAND A is 150L I'd be looking at a skimmer that is meant for more around 450-500L"
Its easy, it can be done in under 10mins and the best part about them is that since they will actually be in the display tanks (hidden by there own plain black rectangle shape) then I don't need to worry about the cup overflowing (something that kept happening with my MCE and since it was behind the tank....lots of water on floor).
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Well I have officially provided the public at least 1,000 images of my stomatopods (since that is all my free online folder will hold...) now I need to start to delete some of the older things (I will delete everything but the actual footage of animals, so like designs, drawings, examples will all have to go to make room for future animal footage).
Hard to believe that there is over 1000images of mine floating about out there
EDIT: In reality I have taken more like around 7,500-10,000 photos because I do it in groups, whereby I take about 50 pics of 1 animal, sort through them all and only take 2 (delete the rest).
Hard to believe that there is over 1000images of mine floating about out there
EDIT: In reality I have taken more like around 7,500-10,000 photos because I do it in groups, whereby I take about 50 pics of 1 animal, sort through them all and only take 2 (delete the rest).
Last edited:
benjaminspades
New member
Very nice! Do you know of any fish that will be compatible with a mantis?
Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express
Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Anything that won't actually try to eat the mantis will work...
Until it doesn't, NOTHING is certain with these animals when it comes to other inhabitants, some have successfully kept other inhabitants with them (fish specifically) and have had them live together peacefully.
Some keep another inhabitant in there successfully for months only to one day wake up and find the 'fish' is missing...
Others can't put anything in with there mantis because it has a kill on sight approach...
To many variables.
Basically my theory "if" adding other inhabitants...
"Don't put in what your not afraid to loose..." (and of coarse nothing that can eat the mantis too), $10 damsel is ok, $500 angel is foolish...
Kharn
MANTISMAN
This evening I finally answered the call to my Male & Female G.graphurus "pair", previously when Minnie was in the sump she was able to pass through eggcrate to get to Maximus and have a little kinky fun, since going into her now permanent home I doubled up that eggcrate (mostly to stop it from leaning) and in the process due to a slight unevenness in its pattern (sheet against sheet) she could no longer pass through and have fun with Maximus...
This evening after hearing them repeatedly bang on the eggcrate and threaten me I decided to snip some plastic away thus allowing enough room for her to pass through at will but not the much larger him.
I just finished doing it and since I have been hearing that tapping all evening so far, I set the camera up in the hopes that soon she shall enter =) time will tell how it all goes but at least this time the quality will be much better (for those who don't know I have earlier footage just of poor quality ='[...).
Also cleared out an area for them to "play" in since I noticed last time that they opted for the open space rather then cavity of Maximus.
This evening after hearing them repeatedly bang on the eggcrate and threaten me I decided to snip some plastic away thus allowing enough room for her to pass through at will but not the much larger him.
I just finished doing it and since I have been hearing that tapping all evening so far, I set the camera up in the hopes that soon she shall enter =) time will tell how it all goes but at least this time the quality will be much better (for those who don't know I have earlier footage just of poor quality ='[...).
Also cleared out an area for them to "play" in since I noticed last time that they opted for the open space rather then cavity of Maximus.
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