Peacock setup...sound ok?

[Chelsey]

Within the next few weeks I will be plumbing a mantis tank onto my existing 100 gallon cube system. The tank will be housing a peacock and will share a heater, sump, and skimmer with my reef tank. I have several different kinds of macro algae that I'm planning on adding to the mantis tank, along with LR rubble and a few pieces of smaller live rock. I will have a 3" sandbed and the only light for the tank will be from my reef tank (I have 2 250 watt MH over it) which will be right next to the mantis tank. The tank is an odd size and is much longer/wider than it is tall, but I think when I last calculated it using the RC calculator it was ~30 gallons (I will upgrade tanks when the mantis outgrows the tank). The peacock that I will be getting is just under 3". Does anyone see any potential problems with my proposed setup? Also, what size PVC tubing should I use for a 3" mantis? Will I be able to use this same tank as a breeding ground for pods provided I don't add any fish? Thanks in advance!


Chelsey

 

[Pea-brain]

I'd be suspicious of anybody but the most reputable dealers selling you any peacock under 4". A 30 gallon thats extra long/wide will be good for life, though a lil' extra room never hurt. PVC should be about 1.5X the width of the mantis and about 2X-4X as long as the mantis IMO.

Dan

 

[Chelsey]

Dan

It is from the most reputable dealer Glad to hear that the tank will be suitable for the mantis. So I need PVC that's 5" for it?! That's much bigger than I thought! Will the peacock rearrange all of my aquascaping on a regular basis, or should I let it get situated and then add the macro algae?

 

[rlf_racing]

I have a 4" peacock. His pvc burrow is 2" ID and close to 12-14" long with three entrances and exits. Since I upgraded his home, he closed up the middle one. Hope that helps a little with pvc burrow. As for lighting for the mantis tank, MH are not good for a peacock. They are prone to shell disease from high lighting. Since they are a deeper water species. I would only use low wattage atinic bulbs for a peacock. Unless you can make their burrow almost black on the inside from the live rock covering the pvc burrow. Just my 2 cents.

Rob

 

[Chelsey]

The lighting won't be direct on him, I have a suspended canopy over my cube and he will get whatever light filters out from that.

 

[Chelsey]

Here's another question

Would my mantis prefer lots of small rock rubble (the largest pieces are probably 4" across, but most are smaller) or some rubble and some pieces of smallish live rock (larger than 4" but not by much)? I feel kinda bad asking all of these questions that I'm sure have been answered before. If anyone has an old thread about O. scyllarus habitats and wouldn't mind posting the link here I'd be grateful Thanks!


Chelsey

 

[Pea-brain]

They will definately appreciate alot of rubble. Especially in the beginning.

Dan