FlowerMama Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 As you all know if you've read my thread I had wonderful creepy crawlies that came in with my Uncured Live Rock from KP Aquatics on Halloween. I wanted uncured because I wanted some critters. There were 3 in my rock. That was just fantastic. Here they are. The green is .5 inches. This is an excerpt about it from someone on the internet. They are the most common species that hitchhikes in on live rock. They change color depending on environment, and can range from bright green to brown to maroon. They only grow to about 3", and are relatively peaceful for a mantis. They can't hit hard enough to break thick-shelled snails or hermits. They are also more active than the chiragra species, and are often out exploring the tank. She loves to eat krill from a bamboo skewer. Now my latest pics. Blown up because it's only .5 inches. This one is 3/4". It may very well be that the this one is also the same variety as it can be maroon also. I also gave the same coloring and 1" to FlCandy who helped me unpack my rock and also found some bad isopods. Here is their future home. It's the 20g that I couldn't use as a sump/fuge for the 34 as it wouldn't fit the stand it came with. The 34 also came w/ a suction cup led light which I'm using for this tank instead. Currently though they are in their own 1 c container floating in the Evolve 8 tank. Ever 2 days I change out 2/3 of the water in the container for established water in the Evolve to keep them healthy. I've given them a small scrape of frozen Reef Frenzy from LRS as it has a variety of foods. I can't tell if they're eating it though. I have 10 lbs of rock in each side, only an inch so far so I need to get another inch in there. I did buy some pvc elbows or whatever they're called but the mantes are too small to put that in there. There are small pieces of live rock that they can crawl under and larger shells if they wish to crawl into those. Each has 50W heater and I just ordered an AC30 for each side as those AquaClear filters are rated for 30g a piece- I can shave down the propeller if I need to but Tamberav made a good point that I need to be able to stick inside what I need to and to have that space. The suction cup light has to sit inside the tank under the ledge and it takes up 2" of space so that is why 1/4" acrylic divider couldn't go all the way up. But anyway, probably is good if there's some space before the top of the tank as I know they can leap/swim. I still have to do something for a lid. The light has the 50/50 led and then flip to blue setting but with the turn of a knob you can put a covering over the light so it can still dim it . I'm going to put some macros of different colors and some mushrooms more than likely. I will be growing gsp and purple clove polyps hopefully (have to buy them still) on the divider between them. Too cold to spray paint so I didn't paint the back. I can always stick the black side of those tank back wall covers on it if it bothers me. It's dark in the hallway. Link to comment
1.0reef Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Woot! I still think the divider should be covered in rubble, send me the dimensions and half the rubble and I'm sure I could make something if you want Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Woot! I still think the divider should be covered in rubble, send me the dimensions and half the rubble and I'm sure I could make something if you want Thanks for the suggestion. My concern with rubble is it would give them too good a grip for them to climb it and out into the other chamber or out of the tank. I'll do a flowy wall. My little Evolve is doing really well with the gsp on the wall. I was thinking I could do opposite colors. Do GSP for the maroon one. Do Purple Clove Polyp for the green one. I want to stay away from Xenia as I hear it just takes over too quick. Link to comment
1.0reef Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Very true! Softies covering the wall would be just as awesome Link to comment
zeke2020 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Nice score on the mantis!! Sounds like it will be an awesome species tank. Don't worry when you hear the clicking.. thats just them talking in morse code to each other!!.. lol Link to comment
Sunar357 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Looks good! Will be fun to see when it's all together! Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share Posted November 5, 2013 Gave the mantis new water. I put a little food in there 2 days ago and either they ate some or didn't and it started decaying so Ammonia was high. I dumped the water they were in into the 34 to keep the cycle moving. It was only 2 cups but whatever will help. I added in cycled water from the Evolve. Link to comment
ll_maynard_ll Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 So happy for ya that you got some critters, and good ones at that. What a score! I'm setting up my mantis tank also, can't wait, the little girl should be here in a couple days. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 5, 2013 Author Share Posted November 5, 2013 So happy for ya that you got some critters, and good ones at that. What a score! I'm setting up my mantis tank also, can't wait, the little girl should be here in a couple days. Cool, going to your thread now. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 Well, I got another sliver of acrylic cut for this tank because I then wanted the divider higher. One so it has less of a likelihood of jumping/crawling out and two, I could add some more water so now I barely hear a water fall behind my recliner. I can't trust the suction cup light to stay and I don't need salt getting into it so I'll be somehow creating something to hold the light. But, for now I put it on top of the AquaClear 30s that came today. I'm glad I got the 30s and not the 20s judging by the flow. Now I'm wondering if I'll need some cheapo Koralia for flow in each one. May be too little, I dunno. I did add some live rock from the nearby lfs, found a evergreen brittle, went to put him in the 34 but he died, I turned a rock over on the right side and found a large brittle- 2 inch long legs. I took the rock over to the 34, shook it about but it didn't come up so mega tweezers came out. They totally turn stiff when you move them, defense mechanism I take it. He'll be awesome in the 34. I added 4 more cups of sand to each side. As you can see I still need to add more water. Need to make some more tomorrow. OH, and big question, for a lid can I use one of those mesh lids for reptiles for this 20L? it'll be 2 inches above the water and there's no splashing in the tank of any kind. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Not time yet but I wanted them to get used to seeing a little, don't know if they can really see through the plastic though...I need more décor. I know they can't move a piece of rubble right now but by the time they can I'll make sure I buy some and have it in there. Both rocks have holes for them to also climb into, remember that big 2" legged brittle star was in the right rock. On the right side is also a 3/4 brittle worm. Haven't seen anything in the left. But, I heard for the first time this evening the "click". I was in the living room looking at the 34 and I heard it. A couple times. I walked over to see if I could tell which one. Though I didn't see it I believe it is the maroon one. He did it again so I came over again and of course nothing, I thought even though blurry maybe I could see the windup. Nope and he didn't make a sound. I sat down. CLICK! I go over again and it hits me, Crap, it's got me trained!!! I moved from the front facing view to the side view. He turned and followed and was looking head on. I moved then back to the front, he moved back. Ha! BUT>>> I decided I better not respond to any more clicks because if he clicks and I run I worry those clicks will be his dinner bell and he'll click louder. Has anyone really had one hit the glass and have it break?? Left side. Right side. So I'm going to have to go to Lowes then I guess and get the screen making kit I guess. My concern is that they will climb up the intake tube into/and perhaps out of the AC30. Or maybe they climb up the heater? I'm going to have to see about getting some black paper from the craft shop or something to secure on the back- I hate the cords. Oh, and right now I have the waterline at the division between the 2 pieces of acrylic, where I added the piece yesterday- because of that you can't tell. I don't have anything yet w/ a cycle in the mantis tank. I put some brine shrimp in there maybe help out. Link to comment
MarieH Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Another one? lol. OK cool, I'm not big on the mantis thing but ok, lets do it! Watching. You can get a double t5 odyssea that would span that tank, cheaply on ebay. Just sayin. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Decided I'll have to measure the 20 and cut 1/4" acrylic for the top as a lid and cut out the spot where the filters sit. Also, I haven't seen any cycle yet after I put some frozen brine shrimp in small amount in there yet the nitrate tested 2.5 for salifert, no ammonia and no nitrite. It was very little live rock and the Carib Alive Reef Sand. It's had that in there since the 3rd so it's only been 5 days. Weird. Link to comment
Lamilvelo Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Another Mantis build to follow! Like the look of the setup Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 I need to get more rock in there but I'm still wondering about putting some leftover 1/4" and 1/8" acrylic in the bottom of each side. If I do that I'd have to take out the sand first, put it in and then cover it up again. I haven't heard any clicks yesterday or today. Only 2 days ago from the bigger one. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Nitrates have been 2.5 for couple days now so when Randi and her hubby came over, they'll check on my tank next Sun for me, she said put 'em in!!! So, I did. They very soon found their rock homes and I haven't seen them since!! Wonder if I'll hear any pops tonight. I haven't heard any since that one evening and I know it was the maroon one. I don't know what gender they are so I'll have to be creative w/ the names. Maybe I should pick names that go both ways? I don't have a lid yet but I'm going to measure it tomorrow I moved the two filters to the center so I can cut the lid out easier. For now they're doing nothing but hiding. Tomorrow I will also pick up some superglue and starting with the bottom of the glass I'll start planting gsp plugs on the bottom 3 inches I think I'll just put gsp on both walls. It's the easiest to grow and I can keep making plugs from the gsp from the Evolve. I love it ,the gift that keeps giving. I'm hoping then after that once a month I can add a little more until I'm at the top. I figure I can space them alternatively like brick 2 inches apart. I figure do it now while I can put my hand in there. I'm going to see if they're out at all, they just have the actinic on right now. I will be decorating w/ macros and a variety of mushrooms. I'm also going to hit the craft shop and see if they have any dark, paper to at least tape on the back. It'd driving me bonkers seeing the cords. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 In 9 hrs it'll be 24 hrs since the duo have been in their tanks. Currently are very reclusive. Here's the newest clearest tank shot. Going to the craft shop to find some backing that I can tape on and then the nearby lfs to get some rock to hammer/chisel hopefully in half. Get two of them. Feel I need 2 more pieces each in there. Side shot. Left apartment for the green one. Right apartment for the maroon. Link to comment
Sunar357 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Coming along nicely! Love this idea. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Coming along nicely! Love this idea. Thank You. I topped off so the water level is a touch higher but not going over the divider. Wish I knew what their genders were so I could name them. I think I'll just have to name them something based on their color. I know how you can tell but until they get larger I'm not going to see their undersides. Off to the store. Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Man, those bubbles from the water falling a couple of inches into the displays would drive me batty. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Awesome! Are you planning on anymore rock? Link to comment
ll_maynard_ll Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I really like how you've thrown together two good homes for your unexpected hitchhikers so quickly. I know you said someday you would like to get them real homes instead of apartments but in the meantime I think the will be happy. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 I just came back from buying more rock!. I'll have pics up a little later when it's unclouded. Man, those bubbles from the water falling a couple of inches into the displays would drive me batty. Actually, it's completely quiet, don't hear a thing. I hear the refrigerator in the kitchen though. Link to comment
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