Mantis tank build (Odontodactylus japonicus)

[JasonK84]

Any updates?

I picked up a few damsels last Sunday and have been treating them. 1 didn’t make it. Other 2 are doing good and currently ramping up copper power. They’ll be ready to play tag with the mantis before long. Hoping it’s not a short game!

 

[Picasso the Triggerfish]

I picked up a few damsels

Which species of damsels?

 

[JasonK84]

Which species of damsels?

1 yellow tail and 1azure.
I also have a Starcki in QT with them but it isn’t going near the mantis.

 

[Picasso the Triggerfish]

Alrigth, the setup and the species of damsels combined looks good

 

[nomsmon]

How's the mantis doing in the new tank? I'm very curious about the rubble bottom; has the mantis been doing any redecorating?

 

[JasonK84]

How's the mantis doing in the new tank? I'm very curious about the rubble bottom; has the mantis been doing any redecorating?

Here’s some pics taken yesterday. It rearranged some rock and piled a little bit in front of a couple entrances. On the last water change I moved some rocks that were at the front glass and made it more “even” in height across the front.
Also, the reverse under gravel filter seams to be working great!

 

[JasonK84]

And a couple more taken just now.

 

[JasonK84]

I’ve also got this older live rock. Got it over 2 years ago. It was originally bought when I set up a temporary tank for some clowns I got. It had some aptasia so once I removed the clowns I put it into a bucket with lid and only aeration (absolute dark). It was in the bucket for several months and when I pulled it out of the bucket to start my FOWLR tank everything that had been on it was gone. It sat in the sump for almost 2 years in mostly darkness and came out when I set up the 5 gallon tank for the mantis when I got it. Now that it’s in the 20 gallon with consistent lighting I’m getting life! Blue sponge and coraline. Never saw either on this rock in the little over 2 years I’ve had it. Must be a RUGF thing? @Paul B is this the same blue sponge stuff you have in your tank?

 

[PTXReef]

Very cool!

 

[Hadla]

Love your cycloptic mantis!

 

[FreshwaterConvert]

Loving this! Where did you find the rubble for the substrate? I’m wanting to do something similar. Also, what is a reverse under gravel filter? I’m still really new to saltwater. I know the basics of a regular undergravel (had one as a kid in a FW tank). Also, what media are you using for filtration?

 

[JasonK84]

Loving this! Where did you find the rubble for the substrate? I’m wanting to do something similar. Also, what is a reverse under gravel filter? I’m still really new to saltwater. I know the basics of a regular undergravel (had one as a kid in a FW tank). Also, what media are you using for filtration?

The rubble I found on eBay. I bought 40 lbs. for $40.
Here is an eBay link of what I bought. It’s $70 for 40 lbs. now.

Dry Reef Rock Aragonite Base, Porous Aquariums Live FREE SHIPPING!!! | eBay

This new base rock from Addictive Reef Keeping is professionally cleaned and dried to ensure no pesky hitchhikers, pests or algae are introduced into your saltwater aquarium. Will not leach undesirable contaminants or affect the aquarium nitrogen cycle.

www.ebay.com

A reverse flow under gravel filter (RUGF) is just how it sounds. Instead of using the air stones to pull water down through the substrate and to the up flow tubes you use powerheads to force water down the upflow tubes below the substrate to then come up through it. This keeps detritus from settling to the bottom. Instead the upflow through the substrate keeps it suspended where the HOB or other filtration can pull it from the water column.

I use a Seachem Tidal 75 with the ceramic rings it came with and some filter floss.

 

[FreshwaterConvert]

The rubble I found on eBay. I bought 40 lbs. for $40.
Here is an eBay link of what I bought. It’s $70 for 40 lbs. now.

Dry Reef Rock Aragonite Base, Porous Aquariums Live FREE SHIPPING!!! | eBay

This new base rock from Addictive Reef Keeping is professionally cleaned and dried to ensure no pesky hitchhikers, pests or algae are introduced into your saltwater aquarium. Will not leach undesirable contaminants or affect the aquarium nitrogen cycle.

www.ebay.com

A reverse flow under gravel filter (RUGF) is just how it sounds. Instead of using the air stones to pull water down through the substrate and to the up flow tubes you use powerheads to force water down the upflow tubes below the substrate to then come up through it. This keeps detritus from settling to the bottom. Instead the upflow through the substrate keeps it suspended where the HOB or other filtration can pull it from the water column.

I use a Seachem Tidal 75 with the ceramic rings it came with and some filter floss.

I was already debating putting a layer of egg crate down under the substrate just in case, but I might do one of those instead, 2 birds for one stone. Thanks so much! And I’ve been looking into the Tidal HOBs already so that’s a great sign, thank you! I just wasn’t sure what to run in it as far as media. Do you run a skimmer at all?

 

[JasonK84]

I was already debating putting a layer of egg crate down under the substrate just in case, but I might do one of those instead, 2 birds for one stone. Thanks so much! And I’ve been looking into the Tidal HOBs already so that’s a great sign, thank you! I just wasn’t sure what to run in it as far as media. Do you run a skimmer at all?

Nope, haven’t got a skimmer on the mantis shrimp tank.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

That's a beauty!!

 

[JasonK84]

I just put the two damsels into the mantis tank. I fed it some krill just before letting them go.

 

[JasonK84]

 

[JasonK84]

They have survived now for 3 hours! They’ve had time to find several hiding spots among the rock rubble.

 

[KRas1014]

Awesome Mantis! I've been reading through this thread and got to page 3 before realizing you're here in Amarillo too! Did you get the mantis from Fish Pro's?

 

[Alaeriel]

Lovely mantis! Looking forward to many more updates!