My Ultimate Multi Mantis System(s)
- Thread starter Kharn
- Start date
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Thanks for the kind words but death is far from stupid, it's a necessary path in the cycle of life, if there were no death then what would the population of the world be in every species, I don't think we would exist without death.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Here is what I am so far most likely leaning towards, its a complete re-aquascaping of the Bottom Tank to STAND B where The Juggernaut once lived, as I think I might of said already, I am not going to purchase another large smasher like the one that just past again. I will just let The Kraken grow, a smaller O.scyllarus.
So the once giant smashers tank will be likely chopped up and divided into 3 separate compartments, for 3 spearers, of any size really. But I would still like to do what I aimed to do all along with the system, keep each individual unique, different, I don't really want to get multiples of the same species. But I am lacking room for spearers on the whole and am really keen to get my hands on a P.ciliata seeing as they are somewhat common here.
I also plan on doing some custom work to the tank, I really want to see these spearers in their burrows so I am going to make the DIY PVC burrows for each of the compartments so I can see in the burrows whilst they reside within them beneath the sand, a sheet of eggcrate 1inch below each compartments DSB surface will hopefully "encourage" the use of these DIY PVC burrows buried in the front.
As for the rear of each compartment I am yet undecided as to what I want to do...I've been thinking many things from a clam in one to mangroves and live rock in the two compartments beside the middle compartment with the clam. Perhaps a nice Gorgonian in each compartment ?
Endless questions and thoughts again
So the once giant smashers tank will be likely chopped up and divided into 3 separate compartments, for 3 spearers, of any size really. But I would still like to do what I aimed to do all along with the system, keep each individual unique, different, I don't really want to get multiples of the same species. But I am lacking room for spearers on the whole and am really keen to get my hands on a P.ciliata seeing as they are somewhat common here.
I also plan on doing some custom work to the tank, I really want to see these spearers in their burrows so I am going to make the DIY PVC burrows for each of the compartments so I can see in the burrows whilst they reside within them beneath the sand, a sheet of eggcrate 1inch below each compartments DSB surface will hopefully "encourage" the use of these DIY PVC burrows buried in the front.
As for the rear of each compartment I am yet undecided as to what I want to do...I've been thinking many things from a clam in one to mangroves and live rock in the two compartments beside the middle compartment with the clam. Perhaps a nice Gorgonian in each compartment ?
Endless questions and thoughts again
Last edited:
Kharn
MANTISMAN
It's great to see things like these tiny little feather dusters appearing on my DIY PVC structures, they help me to believe in my own work and in time as I said the longer and longer the DIY PVC structures remain in their current positions, the more and more they will begin to disappear. 
More to come!
and in time as I said the longer and longer the DIY PVC structures remain in their current positions, the more and more they will begin to disappear. 
More to come!
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Another sign of things going well, this large pod within Minnies (G.graphurus) Caulerpa Forest was kind enough to wedge itself between a paddle of caulerpa and the front glass of the tank, it's only a tiny bit smaller then my pinky nail. As I said in the past with the latest filtration upgrade modifications, both Top Tanks of STAND A & B have become refugiums for the sake of better water quality and as a source of food for the coral tanks below them in their stands.
And well here is Minnie, her and her husbands (Maximus) compartment are now completely covered in Macro Algae, they can completely hide themselves in the soft cushioning algae as I have noticed that they like to stuff it in their cavities.
More to come
And well here is Minnie, her and her husbands (Maximus) compartment are now completely covered in Macro Algae, they can completely hide themselves in the soft cushioning algae as I have noticed that they like to stuff it in their cavities.
More to come
Giga
New member
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That's a sweet shot
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Yeah that's why I added it
would make for a great title or even like signature wallpaper with some text on the left .
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Here is a small list of the Supplements, Food & piece of Equipment soon to be purchased for the sake of coral life and longevity.
With this combination of nutrients I really hope to get the most color, size and life out of the corals I currently keep and those I plan to keep, for the Ric's! For the Ric's!!
More to come
With this combination of nutrients I really hope to get the most color, size and life out of the corals I currently keep and those I plan to keep, for the Ric's! For the Ric's!!
More to come
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Well here it is, the hopeful new addition to the crew, the meral spot is classic of the G.smithii but the overall coloration I find somewhat unique, Dr. Caldwell has already commented on this in the past.
" The G. smithii is probably another species. It could be G. acutirostris. I have seen animals with this coloration on Guam and Fiji. Roy "
Since I am likely to get this individual tomorrow during work hours I plan on swiftly taking it home for acclimation then adding to The Juggernaut old tank (inside a small critter keeper), then by the time I come home from work later I plan to likely remove Adam (G.smithii) from his DIY PVC burrow in the Top Tank of STAND A and place him in a small nano HOB at the rear whilst this new addition takes up residence in Adams old compartment, I always planned on only having 1 species in each display tank not multiples (unless like some spearers 2 can live together peacefully).
More to come!
" The G. smithii is probably another species. It could be G. acutirostris. I have seen animals with this coloration on Guam and Fiji. Roy "
Since I am likely to get this individual tomorrow during work hours I plan on swiftly taking it home for acclimation then adding to The Juggernaut old tank (inside a small critter keeper), then by the time I come home from work later I plan to likely remove Adam (G.smithii) from his DIY PVC burrow in the Top Tank of STAND A and place him in a small nano HOB at the rear whilst this new addition takes up residence in Adams old compartment, I always planned on only having 1 species in each display tank not multiples (unless like some spearers 2 can live together peacefully).
More to come!
Islandoftiki
New member
That's a really nice one! Can't wait to see more.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Agreed but unfortunately the seller has had to hold onto the little critter for a slightly longer period (at least until Tuesday/Wednesday next week), he is going away overseas temporarily.
Should give me more time to prepare
. I'm excited because I hope it's a different species to anything I have so I am keen to see what it's interaction is like and if I should or shouldn't place it into a display compartment or a HOB nano, likely the former replacing Adam (G.smithii) whilst he goes back to the HOB nano (seeing as I have multiple G.smithii).
More to come!
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Say hello to...
Captain Krush, Leader of the Enemy!
This massive Blue Swimmer Crab has been under my care for a few months having been captured a while ago and intended as a fair effort for the now deceased Juggernaut, the giant crab has shown remarkable resilience in the hostile environment of the Live Food System and a couple days ago it molted and came out of it healthy and fit, so much so that I am now looking at this particular individual as more of another pet/crew member rather then an actual meal.
It is interactive, active, aggressive, colorful and well interesting, it takes food swiftly, the introduction of Scallop flesh into the Live Food System last night made the 3 Blue Swimmer Crabs go utterly insane, all 3 went for each other as soon as they smelt/tasted the scallop in the water, I immediately shoved a whole scallop in the face of each crab to keep them quite which worked a treat, I awoke this morning to them all still munching away on the scallops.
What evil shall this new leader of the dark side plot against the Stomatopod realm......:fun5:
Captain Krush, Leader of the Enemy!
This massive Blue Swimmer Crab has been under my care for a few months having been captured a while ago and intended as a fair effort for the now deceased Juggernaut, the giant crab has shown remarkable resilience in the hostile environment of the Live Food System and a couple days ago it molted and came out of it healthy and fit, so much so that I am now looking at this particular individual as more of another pet/crew member rather then an actual meal.
It is interactive, active, aggressive, colorful and well interesting, it takes food swiftly, the introduction of Scallop flesh into the Live Food System last night made the 3 Blue Swimmer Crabs go utterly insane, all 3 went for each other as soon as they smelt/tasted the scallop in the water, I immediately shoved a whole scallop in the face of each crab to keep them quite which worked a treat
, I awoke this morning to them all still munching away on the scallops.
What evil shall this new leader of the dark side plot against the Stomatopod realm......:fun5:
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Last night was a feast of Scallop!
Every Stomatopod took their fair share but one...The Leviathan (L.maculata) who must be full from the large fish he has captured and consumed recently but evaded the camera each time...
Here are the photos of the individuals caught last night on the camera, some were filmed in High Speed (Slow Motion) in particular Morgoth (L.sulcata) who once again gave me some great footage!
Photos now, vidz to come
First up the new rising star and recently crowned King of Smashers in the Ultimate Multi Mantis System, The Kraken (O.scyllarus) wrestles with the scallop flesh, the young and smaller 'peacock' is extremely energetic and active taking on it's new role as leader of hammers with equal enthusiasm.
Up next is Minnie & Maximus (G.graphurus) hungry and healthy they both took to the scallop meat like magnets, unfortunately she was too swift and easily slid the flesh off the skewer, he was slightly more cautious but still left nothing of the scallop in the end...
More to come as that was it for STAND B (Minos was recorded in High Speed!:inlove
Every Stomatopod took their fair share but one...The Leviathan (L.maculata) who must be full from the large fish he has captured and consumed recently but evaded the camera each time...
Here are the photos of the individuals caught last night on the camera, some were filmed in High Speed (Slow Motion) in particular Morgoth (L.sulcata) who once again gave me some great footage!
Photos now, vidz to come
First up the new rising star and recently crowned King of Smashers in the Ultimate Multi Mantis System, The Kraken (O.scyllarus) wrestles with the scallop flesh, the young and smaller 'peacock' is extremely energetic and active taking on it's new role as leader of hammers with equal enthusiasm.
Up next is Minnie & Maximus (G.graphurus) hungry and healthy they both took to the scallop meat like magnets, unfortunately she was too swift and easily slid the flesh off the skewer, he was slightly more cautious but still left nothing of the scallop in the end...
More to come as that was it for STAND B (Minos was recorded in High Speed!:inlove
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Following onto STAND A and the smallest specimens, here is Eve (G.smithii) she was attracted to the scallop flesh through the scent on the water, visibility isn't easy her garden of algae but she found it within a few seconds then dragged the skewer and flesh to her burrow entrance.
Nicole (G.ternatensis) was once again to fast for me to capture, all I got was her booty in the background lol :lmao:
Megatron (G.chiragra) also enjoyed his fill of scallop flesh, the fearless and pound for pound king in his own rite was out and about long before I came with the food likely having tasted it on the water from the commotion above (his compartment is the last in the line).
Here is an interesting shot, it was taken above the tank after I lured Rock (G.graphurus) to his highest entry/entrance point in the DIY PVC burrow inside his compartment, this 'door' is only a few inches off the surface which allowed me to get a nice clear shot of the fiery little smasher who is the largest in STAND A.
Finally...the smallest member, Trispin (H.trispinos), the tiny little critter is doing great in it's equally tiny 4.2L HOB nano, still it actively takes food but rarely comes out, it is ultra ultra uber quick in movement....:lol:
More to come in the form of the videos ! :dance:
Nicole (G.ternatensis) was once again to fast for me to capture, all I got was her booty in the background lol :lmao:
Megatron (G.chiragra) also enjoyed his fill of scallop flesh, the fearless and pound for pound king in his own rite was out and about long before I came with the food likely having tasted it on the water from the commotion above (his compartment is the last in the line).
Here is an interesting shot, it was taken above the tank after I lured Rock (G.graphurus) to his highest entry/entrance point in the DIY PVC burrow inside his compartment, this 'door' is only a few inches off the surface which allowed me to get a nice clear shot of the fiery little smasher who is the largest in STAND A.
Finally...the smallest member, Trispin (H.trispinos), the tiny little critter is doing great in it's equally tiny 4.2L HOB nano, still it actively takes food but rarely comes out, it is ultra ultra uber quick in movement....:lol:
More to come in the form of the videos ! :dance:
TundraGuy
MantisOholic
I'm back! Looking good bro. How about a video walking up to the stands pan left and right showing the individual displays and then to the back so we get a shot of the plumbing and water works? What's the plan for that big swimmer? Is he going to have home in the stand? O and sorry to hear about the Jugernat.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
Glad to see you back! The stands are looking a little more healthy seeing as the refugiums intended are all now fully operating and acting as the primary filtration at the current moment, the canister filters are all still attached and likely cause more damage then good, I see it as a plateau effect...what nitrates & phosphates the Refugiums are keeping in check, the Canisters are putting back in...
Either way all the Stomatopods and current 'corals' are doing fine!
Their are actually 3 large skimmers, each stand will stay on it's own and will soon have it's own sump in place of the canister filter, each sump will host 1 of those large skimmers, a return pump and either 1 or 2 TLF 150 reactors for media like Phosphate remover / Activated Carbon.
After the filtration upgrade is done I will be creating a large auto top up storage system that will sit directly behind the TV, between STAND A & B sumps, the TV stand is being changed (I'm making a new one) to have large wheels on it for ease of access behind it and the STANDS, once the sumps are in place I will only be able to access STAND A & STAND C sump through either end of the entire systems length whilst STAND B sump in the middle needs to have that TV on wheels so I can roll it out to access the sump & auto water storage.
The stored water is going to be around a +500L converted small rain water tank which I will fill maybe once every +6months with RODI water that I found I can purchase from my local super market for 50c/L! Plan is to just fill the rainwater tank as needed and have auto top up units attached to the sumps & rainwater storage tank, this should hopefully allow me to go away on long periods at a time without worrying about evaporation cause rite now it's one of my other biggest issues.
I'm not proud of my plumbing or how the tanks are designed altogether so it's something I DO NOT want to encourage, having said this once I have made my filtration upgrades I will be a little bit more proud of at least trying to fix my major flaws in design so much as I will post some pics...I said it before and I'll say it again, I got NO IDEA *** I was thinking when I designed these tanks....at least now when I upgrade all the tanks I know exactly what I want and how much better it will be!
As for The Juggernaut, it's time had come, it died to healthy to mean anything to me other then time itself, it must of been a very old smasher but having said that it was extremely active, rite up until the end having been photographed taking food actively 4days earlier.
Kharn
MANTISMAN
King Krush, The Unfathomable, Dictator of Hosts and Leader of the Enemy...
He is a Giant Blue Swimmer Crab that dwarfs full grown adults of his own kind, with sheer bulk he orders the other smaller lesser crabs around, ensuring that his will be done.
King Krush rules with an Iron Claw and ever since the passing of the once Hammer King Juggernaut has been in somewhat brighter moods as of late, he now knows full well that none can challenge his rule in the realms.
However there is one, a sole Stomatopod that trains day and night to bring about a change to this new found fear, something to turn the tides and bring him into the position of his once elder, larger, stronger and bolder brother...The Kraken (O.scyllarus) waits patiently, trains diligently and eats ferociously to fill his deceased brothers position as King of Hammers and the new lord of the realm.
That is unless King Krush finds him...
=)
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zJJKHyy75QQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
He is a Giant Blue Swimmer Crab that dwarfs full grown adults of his own kind, with sheer bulk he orders the other smaller lesser crabs around, ensuring that his will be done.
King Krush rules with an Iron Claw and ever since the passing of the once Hammer King Juggernaut has been in somewhat brighter moods as of late, he now knows full well that none can challenge his rule in the realms.
However there is one, a sole Stomatopod that trains day and night to bring about a change to this new found fear, something to turn the tides and bring him into the position of his once elder, larger, stronger and bolder brother...The Kraken (O.scyllarus) waits patiently, trains diligently and eats ferociously to fill his deceased brothers position as King of Hammers and the new lord of the realm.
That is unless King Krush finds him...
=)
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zJJKHyy75QQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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