New mantis tank

[MJI]

Hi all.

I set up a new 10 gallon tank for my newly captured mantis (G Smithi) about 4 weeks ago.

It is suffering from what I think is probably diatoms (brown algae). There is around 7 gallons of SW to about 6 lbs of LR.

Anything else apart from water changes and syphoning to help this along. Have other experienced this - if so, how long did it last?

Many thanks in advance, and warmest seasons greetings from the UK.

 

[DensityMan]

Put in a varied diet... er.. cleaning crew for your G. smithii and that should do the trick.

Tim's a bit small yet so the 3 larger Cerith snails I put in there for diatom control did really weell (up until the heater exploded last week - they didn't make it through that).

A fighting conch would also help with the diatom bloom, but would eventually need a much larger tank to forage (approx. size as adult = 4 inches)

Nassarius snails will help indirectly, through burying themselves, but are good detritus eaters - also Tim's favortie meal.

Blue-leg hermits are very durable, good detritus and possibly hair-algae eaters. Tim has little use for them in his diet (when there are snails around) and I suspect a blue-leg as a prime candidate for the removal of one of Tim's eyes. (Useless for diatoms control)

Astrea snails were also used in my 10g tank for Tim. They are better for film-algae on the glass and rock-work though. (Useless for diatoms control)

Nerites are good for glass cleaning, but not very good... (Useless for diatoms control)




Hope that helps,

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

Happy Boxing Day MJI,

I don't have an answer. I just wanted to wish someone Happy Boxing Day (hopefully "Happy" is appropriate). It's a first for me.

Cheers!

 

[jjrock]

A day off work is always "happy" no matter what Country you hail from!!

JJ.