Upgrading home question.

[rlf_racing]

I am going to be upgrading my mantis pvc home to a larger pvc home. My queastions are, can I use aquarium silicone on the pvc and pour some type of substrate on it to give it a more natural apperance? If yes, what subtrate would everyone reccomend?

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

I would roll it in silicone then pour aragonite on top of it. Then let it cure for about 24 hours though it usually doesn't take that long at all.

 

[rlf_racing]

Does have to be aragonite? Can it be crushed coral, moon sand, or anything else that is reef safe? And do I need to cement the pvc together before doing this?

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

No it doesn't have to be aragonite. Just my favorite.. But any other off shelf reefsafe substrate should work fine. If you plan to glue any fittings together I would deff do that and let it dry a while before using the silicone. I don't know if that would create any type of chemical reaction or noxious smell. But PVC cement dries very quickly so I don't think you would have any problems.

 

[rlf_racing]

I know feclar has a nice pvc home for his mantis. I liked the design, and going to try setting up something like that for my mantis. Except I have a 75 gal tank to play with. How many entrances and exit do you think a 4" O.S would use? I don't want to offer more than it would like. I am not sure on that part.

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

Chances are if there are more than one entrance and one exit then it will most likely close up the rest of the tunnels you create.
I would try making no more than three openings and have all three in a point of observation. Then add lots of small live rock rubble so that he/she can build and choose the openings.

 

[rlf_racing]

Cool. Thank you for the help.

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

No problem ..Keep us posted on the mini build.

 

[rlf_racing]

Will do. I just need to get a little more supplies before I start. Gangsta Nemo one last question if you don't mind. Does your O.S. have a pvc home or did you allow him/her to make their own?

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

I started out my O.S or Penny with a 6" pvc pipe . I then added copius amounts of rubble to the tank a few months later. At first she just rearanged it to her likes. But as molting time came around she constructed a more adequate burrow for her needs.
It took a little while but eventually she ignored the PVC altogether. Thus it was removed. There was nothing wrong with using the PVC though. Penny just decided it wasn't her cup of tea. Most important part is adding rubble so they can seal of the burrow when molting is evident. Other than that you can remove the extra rubble or PVC not used.

 

[rlf_racing]

How can you tell when they are going to be molting? I've had mine now for a month and don't know how long he was at the lfs. He is showing small signs of shell disease and been told that if he has a successful molt that could disappear.

 

[Gangsta Nemo]

I would feed a heavier regiment of vitamin fortified food to help induce a molt a little quicker. Soaking food in selcon and vitachem plus giving them more live foods. You can usually tell they are going to molt by a sudden lack of appetite or increased burrow construction. Your O.S may not molt very often so feed him well. Hope that helps..

 

[rlf_racing]

Yes it does. Thank you.

 

[yankeereefer]

looks like you've decided to keep the O.s. - Glad to hear it.

I don't think that you need to glue the PVC together - I didn't - I feel it'll give me the flexibility to change it later if I wanted too. I strategically placed LR around the burrows so it wasn't so noticeable. The only thing I would have changed is that I would have used black PVC instead of the white.

As for molting - Keep your mantis fed with selcon soaked krill or shrimp. Dim the lights - I ran actinic only and only for a few hours a day. Also make sure there is lot's of rubble available for it to close up it's burrow.

 

[rlf_racing]

Yeah I decided to keep my saltwater tank. The only reason that I wanted to glue it was because I am going to use aquarium silicone and some type of substrate to to help look more natural. I am going to pick up selcon this friday when I get paid to help this guy out.

 

[yankeereefer]

You keeping it in the partitioned system or is it going back into the nano?

The nano will be too small for any length of time.

 

[rlf_racing]

No, he is staying in my 75 until I can find a 60 to 80 gal cube for him. And see if I can a more natural enviroment. But that wont happen for a few months. I was thinking of taking out the divider and let him have full rome of the tank. Since I will be upgrading his pvc home this weekend.