nanocube 12g Mantis tank

phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
Here is my 12g nanocube that I have had setup with a frogfish but decided to change it up a bit. I moved the frogfish to a much larger home and now put a small G. Viridis Mantis Shrimp in here. So far the only problem with the tank was i've been getting some green slime algae and have done several water changed, but to no avail has it changed. I usually just swirl around the substrate and it looks fine, but it grows back very quickly. Any idea what's going on here? thanks
In the tank is this:
1-Gonodactylellus Viridis (mantis)
3- bluelegs
5-snails
1-zoo colony
4-leaves of caulerpa
~3-5lbs LR
-Danny
The little mantis

Bad pic, but you can see some of the algae starting to grow on my caulerpa.

Another pic of the mantis in his new home.
 
bonebrake

bonebrake

Active Member
What are your water parameters?
Do you use RO/DI water?
What is the TDS of the water you're using?
How long has the tank been established?
:joy:
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
I'm going to get a water check tomorrow, but they have been fine for what I know. I've been buying SW from this store near me for .50$ a gallon and it's the water they use in their tanks and their tanks look great. I'm also not noticing this algae in my 150g, so I'm pretty sure it's not their water. Yes, if I can remember correctly they use reverse osmosis water. What is TDS btw? The tank has been established for quite a while now. I had a frogfish in this tank for roughly 2-3 months prior to the mantis. Here is what it used to look like.

Brain,2 zoo rocks, anemone, Xenia, small softy frag. All was doing great and then they all died. :( I checked my water and everything looked fine, I can't explain what happened. But it was pretty recently that all this happened. I managed to save one of my polyp rocks by moving it into my 150 on a top rock to get as much light as possible.
 
the j.o.p.

the j.o.p.

Member
thats great!!! i'm setting up a 15gal. for a mantis. does it mess with the zoos? i would like to get some to add a little color to the tank. i will post pics when i get him.
j.o.p.
 
bonebrake

bonebrake

Active Member
Have the LFS give you exact numbers when they test your water.
TDS stands for total dissolved solids. A RO/DI unit should read as close to zero ppm as possible. Most tap water is between 50-250 ppm. When a RO/DI unit needs serviced the TDS reading will start to rise. TDS is nonspecific and can be any element or compound (calcium, phosphate, nitrate, heavy metals, etc.). Ask the LFS what their TDS reading is for their RO/DI water, if they are worth dealing with they should be able to tell you.
Have you been feeding the tank more than you used to?
Is the tank getting any direct sunlight?
What is the light cycle?
 
bonebrake

bonebrake

Active Member
Originally Posted by PhoenixOfThePyre
Brain,2 zoo rocks, anemone, Xenia, small softy frag. All was doing great and then they all died. :( I checked my water and everything looked fine, I can't explain what happened. But it was pretty recently that all this happened. I managed to save one of my polyp rocks by moving it into my 150 on a top rock to get as much light as possible.
If all of that stuff died recently the algae is present because it is consuming the remainder of the decaying matter. It should pass as it consumes the remainder if you have a decent clean up crew and keep up on the water change routine.
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
Originally Posted by The J.O.P.
thats great!!! i'm setting up a 15gal. for a mantis. does it mess with the zoos? i would like to get some to add a little color to the tank. i will post pics when i get him.
j.o.p.
Sweet j.o.p. I love mantis. Nope none of my mantis have ever messed with corals or fish. But they love the inverts. Also I'm getting another mantis in tomorrow, thinking about putting him in my main tank, 150g FOWLR, until I can buy a small tank for him. :D I have kept a mantis with fish before and never had any deaths. Key is to keep the mantis fed well and he'll be fine. Unless something provokes him.
Originally Posted by Bonebrake
It should pass as it consumes the remainder if you have a decent clean up crew and keep up on the water change routine.
Cleanup crew is the biggest problem for me because the species I have is a smasher and will take all the crustaceans he can get to. I'm getting some more small hermits for my tank and will keep up on the water changes. I will have an exact water check for tomorrow so be ready Bonebrake :)
 
the j.o.p.

the j.o.p.

Member
i'm cycling a tank for one now. my friends tell me not to even bother and throw him in there and he will survive the cycle. what do you think. the LFS will only hold him for me a few more days.
thanks
j.o.p.
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
Do you know the mantis species? Many mantis shrimps are very hardy and can survive through quite a bit, except for changes in salinity. If your LFS cannot hold him for any longer and you have sand/rocks in the tank and everything looks good, go ahead.
 
the j.o.p.

the j.o.p.

Member
it's a peacock. all my parameters tested good yesterday so i think i will give it a few more days and pick him up on sunday:cheer:. thanks
 
ice4ice

ice4ice

Active Member
Mantis shrimps do get large over time and much more aggressive ! They have been reports of them breaking or cracking aquarium tanks. Especially if they see there own reflection. They will attack its own reflection thinking he has a rival in his tank. Oh yeah they can do damge to your fingers and hands if you're not too careful. Invest in a larger tank once he gets bigger.
 
the j.o.p.

the j.o.p.

Member
yep i heard that. i'm going to make a custom acrylic tank for him before he gets too big. thats why they call them "thumb splitters"
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
Originally Posted by Ice4Ice
Mantis shrimps do get large over time and much more aggressive ! They have been reports of them breaking or cracking aquarium tanks. Especially if they see there own reflection. They will attack its own reflection thinking he has a rival in his tank. Oh yeah they can do damge to your fingers and hands if you're not too careful. Invest in a larger tank once he gets bigger.

No he will not get large. This species is a G.Viridis max length is 55mm or about 2.1 inches. Those reports of large mantis breaking the glass are probably Large 6-7" Odonotodactylus Scylarrus or maybe a large Lysiosquillid since they get the largest of mantis shrimp, ~14-15inches. The suggested tank size for my species is 20liters or ~5gallons so I'm good. Trust me I've done ALOT of research on mantis shrimps and have kept a few.
 
phoenixofthepyre

phoenixofthepyre

Member
Originally Posted by The J.O.P.
14-15 inches!!!!:scared: i would love to see one of those! i think they are fascinating creatures.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthrop...ame=l_maculata there it is if you wanna look at it.
the Test results are as followed:
Salt- 1.025
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
pH- 8.0
Phosphate-0.2
Calcium-440
Alk- 11.2
I'm going to leave my lights on for only ~8 hours a day rather to the usual 10-12. He said it may just be how long I leave the lights on and the temp of the tank.
On a bad note, my mantis is acting weird. He is just curled in a ball and does this in and out of his home and its scaring me. Updates on his status will continue.
 
bonebrake

bonebrake

Active Member
Originally Posted by PhoenixOfThePyre
On a bad note, my mantis is acting weird. He is just curled in a ball and does this in and out of his home and its scaring me. Updates on his status will continue.
Don't worry. That is what they do.
It sounds like perfectly normal behavior.
:joy:
 
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