Help critique my planned mantis shrimp tank setup!

[jonebone]

Hello, I'm looking to setup my first aquarium and to specifically house a peacock mantis shrimp. I've been doing lots of reading and I've gathered a list of what I want to buy, but I'd like some expert feedback before making any purchases. I also still have some questions at this point and would like some clarification there too. Any input is greatly appreciated, onto the list!

1. 20 gallon acrylic tank - Thinking about a "sapphire blue background", is there any preferred color here?

2. Visi-tem Delux Heater 100 watts - About right for a tank of this size?

3. Protein skimmer, down to one of these two:

AquaC Nano Remora w/ Maxi-Jet 900 Pump

or AquaC Remora w/ Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump (Both can be found on Amazon)

Does it make sense to get a Protein Skimmer with a pump or should I buy them separate? Also, if I get this combo, do I still need an additional powerhead?

4. Saltwater Master Test Kit

5. T8 bulb for lighting, 17w 24 most likely. Appropriate for Mantis?

6. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix 55 gal - How long would this last?

7. Approx 40lb of live rock. Will probably pay extra for "cured".

8. Red Sea Hydrometer w/ Digital Thermometer

9. Substrate... Sand or Crushed Coral or Aragonite? I've heard I'll need at least a 3-4" bed for a Peacock, how much substrate should I buy?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help, I'm open to suggestions about where to actually buy the Mantis Shrimp after I've got the tank up and running.

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by jonebone

Hello, I'm looking to setup my first aquarium and to specifically house a peacock mantis shrimp. I've been doing lots of reading and I've gathered a list of what I want to buy, but I'd like some expert feedback before making any purchases. I also still have some questions at this point and would like some clarification there too. Any input is greatly appreciated, onto the list!

1. 20 gallon acrylic tank - Thinking about a "sapphire blue background", is there any preferred color here? Go bigger, peacock mantis need about 30 gallons, but good choice going with acrylic.

2. Visi-tem Delux Heater 100 watts - About right for a tank of this size? Yup thats fine for the tank size, but id suggest keeping it out of reach of the mantis, he can smash it and cause a huge problem.

3. Protein skimmer, down to one of these two:

AquaC Nano Remora w/ Maxi-Jet 900 Pump

or AquaC Remora w/ Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump (Both can be found on Amazon) Id go with this one instead of the nano.

Does it make sense to get a Protein Skimmer with a pump or should I buy them separate? Also, if I get this combo, do I still need an additional powerhead? Get that AquaC Remora with the MJ1200 and then put in 2 k2s and you should be good to go.

4. Saltwater Master Test Kit I have this test kit and its plenty for a mantis tank.

5. T8 bulb for lighting, 17w 24 most likely. Appropriate for Mantis? Lighting doesnt really matter unless your keeping corals, so that should be fine.

6. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Mix 55 gal - How long would this last? For a 30 gallon id do a 5 gallon water change every week especially with a mantis so that should last you about 3 1/2 months.

7. Approx 40lb of live rock. Will probably pay extra for "cured". Sounds like a good amount for a 30 gallon.

8. Red Sea Hydrometer w/ Digital Thermometer Id deffinetely get a refractometer, hydrometers are most of the time off.

9. Substrate... Sand or Crushed Coral or Aragonite? I've heard I'll need at least a 3-4" bed for a Peacock, how much substrate should I buy? 3-4" sounds right, id go with aragonite sand. Heres a nice calculator that will tell you how many pounds of sand youll need for a 3-4" sand bed http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/SandBed.php

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help, I'm open to suggestions about where to actually buy the Mantis Shrimp after I've got the tank up and running.

Stomatopod.com usually has a nice choice of peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)

[jonebone]

Wow, thanks for the fast reply! I thought I had done my homework, I saw that most site said a 10 gal was way too small for a Mantis but 20 gal or more should be adequate. I appreciate your input and will definitely look further into it, but I'm hoping 20 gallons should be enough to get by.

I heard that Crushed coral was better than fine sand since the Mantis like to rearrange their habitat and dig out holes. If they do this in sand does it cause a sand storm in the tank and reduce visibility?

As for the k2s, what advantage is there in having two? Would it be okay to add just one if I still have the MJ1200 attached to the skimmer?

Finally, that link you posted is actually out of Peacocks at this time, any idea how long until they restock?

Thanks a bunch man, you've been quite helpful.

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by jonebone

Wow, thanks for the fast reply! I thought I had done my homework, I saw that most site said a 10 gal was way too small for a Mantis but 20 gal or more should be adequate. I appreciate your input and will definitely look further into it, but I'm hoping 20 gallons should be enough to get by.

I heard that Crushed coral was better than fine sand since the Mantis like to rearrange their habitat and dig out holes. If they do this in sand does it cause a sand storm in the tank and reduce visibility? I have one of my own and by digging holes they dont throw sand everywhere they just take sand and push it out to the sides and will make mounds in places. Wont effect visibility at all.

As for the k2s, what advantage is there in having two? Would it be okay to add just one if I still have the MJ1200 attached to the skimmer? The MJ1200 wont make flow, it pushes the water into the skimmer. 2 K2's would insure that both sides of the tank get flow and will keep waste in the water column until the skimmer gets it.

Finally, that link you posted is actually out of Peacocks at this time, any idea how long until they restock? Don't really know, but im sure there are plenty of places where you can get peacock mantis' they are pretty popular.

Thanks a bunch man, you've been quite helpful.

[jonebone]

Do you mind elaborating on this answer: "The MJ1200 wont make flow, it pushes the water into the skimmer. 2 K2's would insure that both sides of the tank get flow and will keep waste in the water column until the skimmer gets it."

How would I set up the tank flow, one at the back of the tank pushing flow to the left and one at the front of the tank pushing flow to the right, like a circle? Or do I put a k2 on each end and push the flow toward the middle? Do I aim the flow towards the skimmer itself?

Sorry for all of the newb questions, but with this kind of money involved I'd like to make sure I do it right.

PS - How long does it typically take a tank to cycle if you already have live rock that is cured to put in the tank?

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by jonebone

Do you mind elaborating on this answer: "The MJ1200 wont make flow, it pushes the water into the skimmer. 2 K2's would insure that both sides of the tank get flow and will keep waste in the water column until the skimmer gets it." The MJ1200 takes water from your tank and pushes it into the skimmer, not the other way around so it wont cause much turnover in your tank.

How would I set up the tank flow, one at the back of the tank pushing flow to the left and one at the front of the tank pushing flow to the right, like a circle? Or do I put a k2 on each end and push the flow toward the middle? Do I aim the flow towards the skimmer itself? Just adjust them until you like it and have no dead spots. Id suggest putting one on each side and aiming both towards the middle.

Sorry for all of the newb questions, but with this kind of money involved I'd like to make sure I do it right. No worries, you made a good choice

PS - How long does it typically take a tank to cycle if you already have live rock that is cured to put in the tank? With cured rock, the cycle shouldnt be long at all, probably around 3-7 days, depending on how long the rock is out of water for.

[jonebone]

And how do I know if I have dead spots in the tank?

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by jonebone

And how do I know if I have dead spots in the tank?

You wont see any flow there haha just arrange them in the best way possible to cover as much of the tank with flow as possible. For a 20 gallon tank id go more for at most 30 pounds of rock instead of 40. 30 pounds will be more than enough.

[jonebone]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up! I'm leaning towards 20 gallon to save on costs, and this guy apparently had a Peacock in there no problem:

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pics/ajones_odsc.htm

As for the live rock, I found some good ones at PremiumAquatics. Which one of these two would you recommend, Fiji or Timora?

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=Liverock

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=Liverock

[Reeftanker3295]

Depends on what you want.. Seems like the timora has more macro algae (thats good algae not bad despite algae in the name, so you want that ) and the fiji in my eyes is more porous and will probably be better for the tank and aquascaping, so id go with fiji.

[jonebone]

Thanks again bud! I was just checking out your builds and wondered if it'd be possible to house an eel with a Mantis? I heard that the Mantis pretty much kill anything, but I've seen some youtubes where they share a tank with a Clown fish. Apparently if you keep the Mantis well-fed and the other fish is big enough, it may leave them alone.

Just curious, the Mantis is my main priority but I'm sure I'd like to mix up it at a later date.

[Reeftanker3295]

I wouldn't even consider it... My wennerae is not half the size as your peacock mantis will get and it kills huge crabs with a strike of its raptorial appendages breaking its shell easily... Peacock mantis' are even more aggressive, stronger and larger, i wouldnt keep anything but food in the tank with it.

[jonebone]

Oh, and would I need a filter? I just stopped by my local Petco after work and they actually have a 30 gallon acrylic tank in store discounted to $149.99 since it was an online in-store return. Might have to go with the 30 gallon tank after all!

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by jonebone

Oh, and would I need a filter? I just stopped by my local Petco after work and they actually have a 30 gallon acrylic tank in store discounted to $149.99 since it was an online in-store return. Might have to go with the 30 gallon tank after all!

The skimmer is your mechanical filter and the live rock is your biological filter. And thats great about the bigger tank! With that tank you could deffinetely go with your 40 pounds of rock.

[jonebone]

Does the thickness of the arcrylic tank matter? It seemed fairly thin, I'd have to actually measure it but it seemed like 1/4" or smaller. I've heard people going as thick as 3/8" or 1/2" when getting a Peacock Mantis.