New Mantis Shrimp set up ideas

[Optic]

Ok so but of an update,

I'm going down the basic set up road. So I need to know what I can get away with.

No protein skimmer as they don't seem to be necessary just for live rock and a mantis shrimp.

Keeping water changes up with just a basic internal foam filter, thoughts on this? 2ft tank with about 6kg of live rock

 

[nmotz]

Ok so but of an update,

I'm going down the basic set up road. So I need to know what I can get away with.

No protein skimmer as they don't seem to be necessary just for live rock and a mantis shrimp.

Keeping water changes up with just a basic internal foam filter, thoughts on this? 2ft tank with about 6kg of live rock

From personal experience with using an HOB filter, that will certainly work but you will have to clean the filter pad regularly or you will begin to have nitrate problems. If you get a Gonodactylid (like a Smithii, for example) this really won't be too much of an issue. A Peacock on the other hand, will respond negatively to high nitrates. When my nitrates got really high a couple months ago, my Peacock just stopped coming out of his burrow. He stayed in there and wouldn't even really come to the entrances much. His behavior changed dramatically once I brought the nitrates back down.

Have plenty of LR, and just remember that different mantis shrimp like different habitats. If you get a rock-dwelling species, you might consider drilling some holes in the rock before you put it in the tank. If you do a search on this forum you will probably find some examples. Check Roy's List for Stomatopods for more information on the species that you want.

Also, post pictures of your progress and people will give you tips that will really help you out. Good luck!

 

[Optic]

From personal experience with using an HOB filter, that will certainly work but you will have to clean the filter pad regularly or you will begin to have nitrate problems. If you get a Gonodactylid (like a Smithii, for example) this really won't be too much of an issue. A Peacock on the other hand, will respond negatively to high nitrates. When my nitrates got really high a couple months ago, my Peacock just stopped coming out of his burrow. He stayed in there and wouldn't even really come to the entrances much. His behavior changed dramatically once I brought the nitrates back down.

Have plenty of LR, and just remember that different mantis shrimp like different habitats. If you get a rock-dwelling species, you might consider drilling some holes in the rock before you put it in the tank. If you do a search on this forum you will probably find some examples. Check Roy's List for Stomatopods for more information on the species that you want.

Also, post pictures of your progress and people will give you tips that will really help you out. Good luck!

Thanks a lot mate, you are extremely helpful.