Biocube 29

[nano29]

Hello, this is fairly new, about 5 weeks. So far, every inhabitant is doing fine and all readings are on the mark. The corals are; Hairy mushrooms, Xenia (pulsating), Leather toad stool, Sun coral and a couple of feather dusters. The live rock from Tonga was cured when bought, but a lot of cool creatures started to come out, mantis shrimp, serpent stars besides the coral growths and sponges.
I'm looking to add a few more pieces of coral, but haven't decided which types would benefit from being in the tank (kinda small). The crustaceans/fish ... 6 line wrasse, cleaner shrimp, emerald crab and some turbo's and hermits. I bought other fish that have mysteriously disappeared; fire fish, royal gramma and a pearl jawfish (they did not jump out).
All thoughts and feedback are welcome as my experience level is moderate, but still learning. Thanks! :happyfish

 

[mandarin w]

If you still have the manis shrimp in there, you will loose your snail population. That might be what happened to your fish.
But if your tanks is only 5 weeks old, you need to slow down on adding things. You are adding too much to fast to a imature tank. Your tank at 5 weeks, is unlikly to have the bio filtration needed to handle that much bioload so fast. You are going to make your tank crash. Slow down, and let your tank catch up to what is in there. Also with that much coral in your 29,(which isn't even 29 gallons) you are not leaving yourself much room for fish.
Your tank does look nice, but be careful, it can go back overnight.

 

[saltn00b]

agreeing with the above. Definitely your mantis shrimp killing your fish, who were probably already weakened by being dropped into an immature system. do you quarantine? do you acclimate?

 

[azfishgal]

I agree with the others, you moved to fast (unless you are not telling us something). Even for a freshwater tank, that's to much to soon. I will say a prayer your other marine life will survive the cycle. I for one won't add any coral until my tank is at lest 6 months old. But that's just me.

(With all that said you tank looks really pretty.)

 

[azreefgirl]

Looks great!

 

[nano29]

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't mention the mantis shrimp (if it is a mantis?) is only 3/4" . I see where it hides & notice it when I feed the inhabitants MYSIS. I'm on a mission to remove it without much demolition.

 

[nano29]

Yes & yes. ... the mantis is 3/4" ... and very timid, but will be removed. Thanks

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by nano29
Yes & yes. ... the mantis is 3/4" ... and very timid, but will be removed. Thanks
I am glad you plan to remove the mantis. Just so you are aware, they look timid durring the day, but hunt at night

 

[nygel]

I think i MAY have a mantis, i never thought about it until last night, but my tank makes an occasional click here and there... ive never seen it though, but i have seen a few tiny baby shrimp (i have sand particles as big as them, so it cant be them) but i recently lost my jawfish (i have convered tank) and i suspect possibly the mantis to be the culprit (assuming it exists)

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by nYgel
I think i MAY have a mantis, i never thought about it until last night, but my tank makes an occasional click here and there... ive never seen it though, but i have seen a few tiny baby shrimp (i have sand particles as big as them, so it cant be them) but i recently lost my jawfish (i have convered tank) and i suspect possibly the mantis to be the culprit (assuming it exists)
Do you have a red light? You can also take a red cloth and put it over a flashlight to look in your tank after the room and tank have been dark for a few hours. The clicking is a good indicator that you do have a mantis.

 

[nygel]

I occasionally take a normal flashlight and go through it at night, Its not a very constant click, i just heard it twice the other night, but i ahve heard it alot before, i thought it was noises from the stand. Couldn't it also be a pistol though? (even though thats unlikely)

 

[nano29]

I do appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I was listening for sounds that might indicate there was an active mantis shrimp on the prowl a few hours after the moon lights went off. The sound that I heard led me to the sump (rear of the biocube), aha ...found the jawsfish (still alive), but still missing 2 others. ... The mantis shrimp was caught using a vacuum type trap that I made (very effective) and given its own tank.

 

[kayak385]

Originally Posted by nano29
I do appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I was listening for sounds that might indicate there was an active mantis shrimp on the prowl a few hours after the moon lights went off. The sound that I heard led me to the sump (rear of the biocube), aha ...found the jawsfish (still alive), but still missing 2 others. ... The mantis shrimp was caught using a vacuum type trap that I made (very effective) and given its own tank.

How did you make a vacuum trap and do you have pics of it(trap and shrimp)?

 

[greenwolf52]

stop adding things. you'll be lucky if everything you have in there survives. if it's only been 5 weeks, you went way too fast. don't get me wrong. it looks amazing, but if you had done it right, it should have taken 6 months(minimum) to get a nano looking like that. i hope you did not cause any irrepairable damage to anything although i'm almost positive you have. looks good now, but it may not in the very near future.
good luck