Hobbesaurus Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 So today I've done some work on the rocks I'll use to cover the PVC ends... After a couple of hours with the chisel and mallet coupled with a few split pieces of dry rock I decided to compliment my methods with a Dremmel First working on another piece of dry rock I managed to carve a tunnel into the middle of it a little more than 1" diameter... Top: Bottom: After that I started in on the barnacle that came with my Vitarock Top: Bottom: All together with the centerpiece... Link to comment
BadCrab Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Dude. Nice! Such a spoiled mantis. Make sure you leave enough room between the rockwork and the glass for your mag cleaner and scraper though Link to comment
RollaJase Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Very nice work on the rock scape, looks great. I'm sure the mantis will love its new home. Link to comment
Deleted User 4 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Not the fake barnacles again.... Link to comment
jcusmarine Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I really like the PicO III man. Coming along nicely. May want to look into the Two Little Fishes Nano Mag Cleaner so you can easily clean between your scape n' glass. Link to comment
Deleted User 4 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Yeah, if I had to start over again, I would go with picO III. Shallow just isn't for me anymore. Link to comment
Deleted User 4 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Nothing is for you, Illu. You're soo right.... Nonononononon nothing for me. Link to comment
CrazyEyes Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 First, this is going to be badass. Second, and I only ask this out of lack of knowledge. I know mantis shrimps pack a serious punch. Are you in anyway worried about him striking the glass and causing damage to the tank? Link to comment
Hobbesaurus Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Dude. Nice! Such a spoiled mantis. Make sure you leave enough room between the rockwork and the glass for your mag cleaner and scraper though I really like the PicO III man. Coming along nicely. May want to look into the Two Little Fishes Nano Mag Cleaner so you can easily clean between your scape n' glass. Shouldn't be too much of an issue since I can probably still take in the PVC tubing on the barnacle side about 3/4"... with that added space I should have clearance. Currently have the Vertex triplex cleaning magnet, which is about 1/2" thick on the internal side... if I shorten that end I should be able to have clearance all around, Thanks for the feedback! As I mentioned earlier I'm interested in getting some SPS in there for a more natural habitat that the mantis can customize... Does anybody have any suggestions on an SPS that may be a little easier to care for than the rest? Maybe one the mantis would enjoy more than another? First, this is going to be badass. Second, and I only ask this out of lack of knowledge. I know mantis shrimps pack a serious punch. Are you in anyway worried about him striking the glass and causing damage to the tank? It'll be in the back of my mind however based on the community in this forum and those in reef central it seems to be a 'few and far between kind of occurrence' and not something to actively worry about With that said, no doubt I'll be on edge for the first week every time I hear that clicking noise Link to comment
CrazyEyes Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Monti is pretty easy as far as SPS goes. Whether it's cap or digitata, birdsnest also isn't too difficult. Link to comment
Deleted User 4 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Won't the mantis try chopping your hand once you start placing your corals in there? Link to comment
Hobbesaurus Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 Monti is pretty easy as far as SPS goes. Whether it's cap or digitata, birdsnest also isn't too difficult. Well I would definitely look for a branching SPS over something like the monti... I'll probably take a good look at birdsnest over the next few weeks and see if I can find something Won't the mantis try chopping your hand once you start placing your corals in there? I guess I had better work on those quick reflexes, huh? No, but seriously, I plan to have most this stuff in the tank before introducing the mantis. Next matter of business is coming up with a cool name... Had joked about "Chris Brown" because you know, beating things... But other than that, I need to think up a good one... Link to comment
CrazyEyes Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 SPS whether it's easy or difficult or not though, it's still SPS. They more than likely will not tolerate swings as well as any soft,zoa or LPS coral. There was a discussion on here whether to do an SPS tank or mantis tank. Now, I know nothing about mantis shrimp except they're badass but, from what I read they can suffer from something called shell rot when exposed to high light which, I don't know what high light to them is but, that is almost a requirement for any SPS. Link to comment
Deleted User 4 Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Had joked about "Chris Brown" because you know, beating things... LOL That's definitely one of the top on the list. I hate that sob!!! Never really liked him lol. Link to comment
CrazyEyes Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Digi is a branching monti coral. They grow pretty f*cking fast for SPS. Link to comment
Hobbesaurus Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 SPS whether it's easy or difficult or not though, it's still SPS. They more than likely will not tolerate swings as well as any soft,zoa or LPS coral. There was a discussion on here whether to do an SPS tank or mantis tank. Now, I know nothing about mantis shrimp except they're badass but, from what I read they can suffer from something called shell rot when exposed to high light which, I don't know what high light to them is but, that is almost a requirement for any SPS. The type I'm getting is a Gonodactylaceus Ternatensis which according to the page... Habitat: Live coral specialist, usually in finely branching corals Depth: Low intertidal to 10 m; usually found in bright, shallow waters I'll still need to tone down the Sol I'm sure, but it shouldn't be quite as prone to shell rot as one like the more common peacock Link to comment
CrazyEyes Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I definitely think Digi is the way to go. A buddy of mine has some in his 20g with no sump, no skimmer, Par bulbs and it grows great. Link to comment
Veng Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 My interests are piqued. Which doesn't happen too often. Looking forward to seeing this build come together. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 As for tankmates to start I'm thinking a couple damelfish and a turbo snail (lol, we'll see)... My suggestion to you about having a "couple of damselfish" would be a big no. Two damsel fish is like two Irishmen after a night at the pub... It's gonna be a fight. I would go with one damsel and one sixline wrasse or similar temperament fish. Get an azure damsel if at all possible. A clownfish would also be a good choice, except that the wiggly movement of the clownfish seem to excite mantis shrimp. Your setup looks great. It will kinda force your mantis to be interactive. My rockscape has too many places to hide and Chuck (my G. Ternatensis) just hangs out where you can't see him most of the time. I only see him at feeding time these days. Hopefully your G. Ternatensis will be more interactive than mine! If your mantis is anything like Chuck, most cleanup crew will be safe. Snails, hermits, etc. are safe with my G. Tern.. My new O. Scyllarus will kill any form of hard shelled critter within a day, so no CUC in her tank at all. My G. Tern doesn't build or use rubble in any way shape or form. whereas my O. Scyllarus can't get enough rubble to build with. I've ended up taking most of the rubble out of Chuck's tank and putting it in the peacock tank. Your tank is shaping up to be an epic build! I can't wait to see it go wet and get cycled! Link to comment
Hobbesaurus Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 My suggestion to you about having a "couple of damselfish" would be a big no. Two damsel fish is like two Irishmen after a night at the pub... It's gonna be a fight. Hah! Point taken.. In that case I'll probably limit it to one damsel and maybe a clown... I'll watch it after introduction and try to gauge it's interest in the clown. Do you have any recommendations on SPS branching coral types for the G. Ternatensis? Anything Chuck is into specifically for hanging out in? Once again, thanks for input, much appreciated. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Hah! Point taken.. In that case I'll probably limit it to one damsel and maybe a clown... I'll watch it after introduction and try to gauge it's interest in the clown. Do you have any recommendations on SPS branching coral types for the G. Ternatensis? Anything Chuck is into specifically for hanging out in? Once again, thanks for input, much appreciated. I don't know on branching corals. The colonies would have to be massive to house a mantis of Chuck's size. His tank is populated entirely by discosoma mushrooms. Chuck hangs out in one or two places in the rockwork, away from prying eyes. You can usually spot him, but he's normally pretty shy. Every once in a while, you catch him peeking out at you. I went with mushroom corals because I can keep the light level lower since G. Ternatensis is susceptible to shell rot like the peacocks are. If you can keep the water quality extremely high, like would be needed for growing SPS successfully, you'll probably be ok with brighter lighting. G. Ternatensis does come from brightly lit intertidal areas. Link to comment
BadCrab Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Brad, While I don't know which species of branching SPS they prefer as a host in the wild, the easiest and quickest to grow will be Birdsnest (Seriatopora sp.) The problem is that when they get larger, the topmost branches shade the bottom half and RTN happens. Or your mantis Chris Browns all over his house and keeps it fragged for you. Other attratctive branching sps are Stylophora sp. and Pocillopora sp. Link to comment
Islandoftiki Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 Oh, yeah... G. Ternatensis usually live in Pocillopora according to Dr. Caldwell. Link to comment
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