Dual Mantis tank

[Seahorsedreams]

We moved from an apartment to a house last month and we have plans to consolidate some tanks. We had 12... it was just too many.

The first project was to move the O. scyllarus and the G. chiragra from their single tanks into a shared tank. Now, of course, you can't put two mantis' together so we had a tank modified with a black divider. Hope to have it up and cycling this weekend... here's the project so far.

I had the stand custom built so that it would be extra tall abotu 36" I think. The tank itself is a 40 long and if we just got the normal height stand we would have to get on our knees to look in.... I HATE that.

So we set it up and something wasn't quite right. The tank looked so squishy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/fulltanklow-1.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

It was sitting too deep in the stand.

Check out the clear for life sticker....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/noclearforlife.jpg

and the arrows indicate the loss height......

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/heightloss-1.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

So we thought maybe we would get a sheet of 3/4" plywood and cut it to fit under the tank. We had to cut the area in the back out for the overflow.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/plywoodcut.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Fits like a glove.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/plywoodinplace.jpg

We also took a sheet of styro to cut the same to go onderneath the plywood to help with any uneveness.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/styrouncut.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/styrocut.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

NOW look at the clear for life sticker!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/Clearforlifeup.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

And here is the outcome! I think it looks a whole lot better. I bet some of you are saying "What's she talking about...... it looks the same".

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/heightcomparison.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

So, the tank itself is custom because it is going to house 2 large Mantis'. The key is the blackdivider.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/dividerbluearrow.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/oneside.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/tankfromtop.jpg

There's nothing like a shiney new tank to make ya shiver.

I just got back from Lowe's.... of course there is going to be plumbing pics.

[Seahorsedreams]

Any suggestions/criticizisms (besides my spelling) thus far?
I am a little concerned over the head loss due to the tall tank. Thought about raising the sump up... but that sounds like a hassle and with our recent move we have multiple tanks to get up. I guess it can be done at a future date if need be. *you know I'll be kicking myself over that one if I have to do it in the future*

[Seahorsedreams]

Here's a pic of the peacock. I won't have any of the chiragra until we move him.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/newmantis15.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Aw man.... I've been thinking about this more and more. I should probably put a shelf half way up the the stand so shorten the head, shouldn't I. The pump we are using is only a Mag 7.

[Astrivian]

This is cool. I have always been interested in the mantis' how big do those things get?

[Seahorsedreams]

The mantis in the pic is about 4 - 5". He will get up to a max of 7. I have 3 mantis' so evidently I think they are super cool. But the peacock has totally become my favorite tank buddy. He molted this week and I tell ya, I was STRESSED!! Like an expectant father pacing in the waiting room.

Come on! get one!

[CarmieJo]

Hi Renee! Cool tank and I love your peacock.

[Rob]

awesome tank renee, and great walk through on the setup...
i too fine these critters very fascinating, but have never had the chance to keep one..

we should do a podcast show on them.. :)

[Seahorsedreams]

Thanks!

Do you think a long spine urchin will climb over the divider?

He's Peacock safe but not chiragra safe.

[PSH]

I think the Mag 7 will be enough flow through the sump. @ 6 foot of head its still pushing 400 GPH. Not sure how much your overflow can handle, but I don't usually run more than 600 GPH through the sump.

[Astrivian]

I am curious about the intertank setup here. Mantises like a lot of caves and stuff right? What about sand? Do you go BB?

Yea i am interested in a mantis...if i can convince my wife that we need another tank :) Not sure if that will happen. Although, a friend of mine (possibly soon to be brother-in-law) just bought a 75 gallon acrylic w/o any research into marine keeping. I asked him what fish he was thinking of getting, and he said "Oh, just a clown." When i pointed out that he cannot use tap water to fill it, i noticed some serious panic in his eyes. :o So, maybe i will end up buying the tank off of him :) Perfect for a peacock!

Now, i heard they learn to recognize you and become quite tame. Is this true?

[Seahorsedreams]

But then I still have the plumbing to consider. There are two 90s and two 45 degree angles. I'm only using a single 1" bulkhead so it wouldn't be able to handle more than 600 anyway. Putting in a powerhead at a future date is not an option.... I don't do powerheads. I guess my main concern is the potential for nuisance algae with a low flow (it will be about a 10X turnover) and no clean up crew.

[Seahorsedreams]

We must have been typing at the same time..

A 75 gallon would be huge for a single mantis. The peacock right now is in a 24 and it's actually quite comfy for him. He has one main rock and then remodels it with other rocks. It is quite elaborate at the moment because he just molted and closed himself up in there. I'll have to find the old pic of him in his cave. Sand is a must.... as deep as you can safely pile in and maintain it. They tend to be less active if they don't have anywhere to dig.

They definately recognize the hand that feeds them. He knows the difference between my boyfriend and I. He's not shy at all and you can watch him dragging rocks around the tank and playing football with the hermits. He positions them just so in the sand, steps back and then runs and punts the shell. I use empty shells most of the time and put frozen food in there. Keeps his smashers strong.

[Seahorsedreams]

Here he is about a month after we got him.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/newmantis16.jpg

We since have put in a long spine urchin to clean up the hair algae. I guess that's my biggest fear with this tank.... out of control hair algae.

[Seahorsedreams]

This was him after acclimation... he didn't want to come out of the net. He was quite content just sitting there and looking around.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/newmantis8.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Okay, now you have me started....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/newmantis12.jpg

[JustDavidP]

Renee,

I used a Mag7 for this bad boy:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/75G.jpg

It too is a DIY, tall stand (I'm too darned old to get on my knees ;) )

I DID use powerheads, but still, that was for a 75G system. You should be okay.

Dave

[Seahorsedreams]

This is his booty.... what a pretty booty it is!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/newmantis9.jpg

[JustDavidP]

You are killing me.. I think I have to set up a tank for a deca.... *noddin*

[Seahorsedreams]

Did you have the sump at floor level David?

[JustDavidP]

Yep...

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/runnin.jpg?t=1163776717

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/runnin.jpg%5B/IMG%5D

[JustDavidP]

You type faster than me!!!

[Seahorsedreams]

I have no shame in pushing these animals. David, I love this guy more than the seahorses..... yes that's right. Don't have a heart attack. I think I would keep him over all of my lions and the reef... seriously. Now, he may have a little competition when the Imperorer angel gets here..... but I don't know.

[Seahorsedreams]

Come on now! You should be typing faster than me! I haven't had any coffee yet!

That's a nice little setup you have there. Ya wanna describe it for me a little?

[JustDavidP]

It's my standard "Sump-fugium" design that I use and make for others. The overflow gets split and controlled with a ball valve, letting water fall left (skimmer chamber - Euroreef 5-3) and right (fuge). Both extreme chambers overflow into the center (refugium by way of spillway, skimmer chamber by way of baffle track) into the center chamber which, in this case, housed a Mag 7 return pump and a Kent float valve that controlled my gravity fed, auto top off. The lighting for the fuge was the good ol' Lights of America Power Compact system. I also kept the heater in the sump with another "emergency" heater in the display, behind the rock work. It was set 3 degrees lower than the sump (prime) heater.

[JustDavidP]

It's the same design/concept I used for "Sump-zilla" my 75G sump and refugium set up.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Fuged.jpg

[JustDavidP]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/SUMP.jpg?t=1163777869

[Seahorsedreams]

O.O

Now that's impressive and well thougth out. You'll have to help up with the sump for the 100.... it was originally for the 240g but we want to rework it for the 100.

[saxman]

Dave,

the fuge on this tank is pretty small...just a home-rolled 10 gal. i think we're just planning on LR and macro in it...no LS, but we'll see. it has a corner inflow baffle and just a simple single baffle to the pump bay. we wrestled with the idea of whether we needed the space a bubble trap takes up and opted for more fuge space...hopefully if it's stacked right with LR, we can pull it off.

i second Renee's opinion...if anyone has ever considered keeping a stomatopod, peacocks are VERY entertaining as well as interactive. our other mantis species are very cool, but the peacock is "the one".

[Seahorsedreams]

See? He was at work while I was typing that he would soon be over here! Knew he'd come sniffing around.

[JustDavidP]

YAYYYYYYY :) Good morning Mr. Greg..and welcome to my home!

I've used rubble as bubble traps before! Me and a buddy just worked on yet another sump that was simply a "tank". The new owner was going to use LR as baffles too. You are right.. if done properly, you can pull it off.

Dave

[saxman]

See? He was at work while I was typing that he would soon be over here! Knew he'd come sniffing around.

hey...don't i know you from someplace? once upon a reef, perhaps?:love!:

[Seahorsedreams]

Oh Lord! There goes the neighbourhood!

[JustDavidP]

neighbourhood?? Boy...you can drag the girl around the US and eventually to Cali...but can't get the Canadian spelling out of her eh?

[Seahorsedreams]

I couldn't stand the unecessary head loss. So I bit the bullet and have saw dust flying on a Sunday morning.

This is the height before

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/headloss.jpg

Pics of the "after" hopefully here in a bit... where's my drill...

[Seahorsedreams]

LOL... I found the drill...... with help from the pic above!

[Seahorsedreams]

K, built a little shelf and from the front you can see how high up it sits. Sweet.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/noheadloss.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

And I put up the lights, a power bar and my little trusty American DJ light (now outlet) controller. These things are great!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/DJ.jpg\

No, the pic is not upside down. Water can't drip upwards :-) *hears a gasp of disbelief from the crowd* so ya have to hang it that way.

Off to finish the plumbing.

[Seahorsedreams]

OMG..... here we go.... one more piece and I can add water......

WAIT! Where's the two-45 degree angle fittings.....

*&&^%#^&(*&*()&%#@%

Once again completion is delayed. I'm so ticked.

[JustDavidP]

I think you'll be happier with the raised sump. It'll make siphoning etc. much easier.

D

[Seahorsedreams]

I'm glad I did it... I would have blamed every future issue on it..... whether it was the cause or no.

I'm going to pick up the piece of plumbing tomorrow after I get off of work in the morning. Hopefully I'll have water in it that night. Right now the mantis tank is sitting on the fireplace ledge and I want it off of there my Christmas!

How is Santa going to put stuff in our stockings if he has to lean over the mantis!

[JustDavidP]

How is Santa going to put stuff in our stockings if he has to lean over the mantis!

V-E-R-Y Carefully ;)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/ouch.gif

[saxman]

:eek: :) :rotfl:

[Seahorsedreams]

LMAO!!! Too funny!

[Rob]

wow.. great thread, good to see stuff coming along.. when you have the right parts.. ;)

now, i know there is no way i will be able to keep up with everything.. too many posts... ahhh....lol.. but its all good.. :)

[Reefbaby]

Renee - I wish I had known you two and half years ago and you had lived closer....I could have donated my mantis to you! Because he scared the be-jeebies out of me!

[Astrivian]

A little off topic, but can someone remind me what the baffles are for?

Also, David, i was looking at the pic of your sump/fuge and i was wondering which way the water flows. Does the water start on the left (with the macroalgae) and move to the skimmer last? I thought you typically wanted to skim the water first.

[Rob]

baffles are the dividers in sump/fuge.

the flow in Dave's tank goes from the outsides in wards to a center compartment, to make sense of this check out his sumpzilla thread, i think he has a diagram in there on how the flow works

[Seahorsedreams]

Baffles also help in keeping bubbles from entering the pump bay when 3 are placed together like that.

I have the parts and I just woke up.... time to finish her off!

[Astrivian]

Oh okay i see. So the split is to divide the denutrification work between the algae and the skimmer? That makes sense now.

[Seahorsedreams]

Okay, she's ready for water..... once we figure out where on the wall we want to place her... in the center... off to one side. Decisions Decisions.

K, I got my standpipe all built.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/standpipe.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Here it is in place with the split return.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/plumbing.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Here it is all plumbed... oh happy day.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/allplumbed.jpg

[Reefbaby]

Wow! You're fast! Wanna come over to my place?!

[JustDavidP]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Mmmm_Sump.gif

Mmmmmmm SUMP!

[saxman]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/Mmmm_Sump.gif

Mmmmmmm SUMP!

DOOD! you slay me! LMAO!

[JustDavidP]

Hey... ya gotta have fun...right? Between my career, kids, and life in general, if you don't take the time to laugh...yer lungs will crystalize ;)

Dave

[JustDavidP]

BTW...ask yer better half if she got my pleading email.. I NEED you two to help me with a project. I want to do this so bad I can taste it.. and I want to let Rob know if it is a "yeah" or "nay" soonest.

C'mon..it'd be fun

D

[Seahorsedreams]

I haven't checked my email in a couple of days... I'll go look.


Wow! You're fast! Wanna come over to my place?!

We have to.... there's a mantis on my mantle where the stockings and the poinsetta are suppose to go. Hopefully it won't take too long to cycle. He is going to be so bloody mad!

[Reefbaby]

why don't you just wrap a gold boa around him and stick a lightbulb on him and call it Xmas! :D

[Reefbaby]

well....almost...I couldn't find a mantis SHRIMP!! :D
http://static.flickr.com/9/74911747_5d26e609c2.jpg?v=0

[Seahorsedreams]

Y'all are starting to scare me.....

[Seahorsedreams]

Okay before I fill it with water I have to decide where of the wall I want to set it.... to the left of the center or centered. When you walk into the house there is a long half wall divider where the TV/sofa stuff is and to the left there is a shorter full wall where the mantis tank will go. So both "rooms" are actually open.

So here is the tank to the left of the center...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/totheside.jpg

Would fill up the space to the right of the tank with something..... maybe just some fish pics and a plant/decor... something.

You are also looking at it dead on when you come in the house and and walk past the small wall.

[Seahorsedreams]

When you put it in the center you can't look at it dead on from the entrance way. But maybe it is still better that way?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/inthemiddle.jpg

*wide angle lens so it looks a little warped around the edges*

[Seahorsedreams]

The room..... with the tank to the left of center.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/theroom.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

The room with it in the center.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/secondviewofroom.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

The mantis room in relation to the TV side.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/otherroom.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Would love to hear some opinions before I fill that bad boy up!!

[Reefbaby]

are you planning on having any couches or chairs in front of the fireplace or in that room?

have you thought about having it to the right of the wall (towards the window) and putting some kind of lounge chair to the left of it, kind of facing towards the fireplace?
I love decorating houses and rearranging furniture! but, I agree, with aquariums, it's nice to have it figured out from the beginning!

Btw, love the look of the fireplace! :D

[Seahorsedreams]

are you planning on having any couches or chairs in front of the fireplace or in that room?

Don't think so. The wall that you don't see that is opposite the fireplace will be the spot for the 240 gallon. It's packed up with moving boxes that we are still trying to get through.


have you thought about having it to the right of the wall (towards the window) and putting some kind of lounge chair to the left of it, kind of facing towards the fireplace?

If it were to the right it would be in the way of the sliding door.

Don't ya just love the look of the tank on the fireplace. I can't wait until this sucker cycles and we can get rid of "the temps"!

[Reefbaby]

oh okay...didn't realize that was a sliding door...thought it was a window. yeah, then I guess it would be in the way, huh?! :D

In light of no chairs/couches and the other tank going on the opposing wall to the fireplace, then I would put the mantis tank in the middle of the wall...I think it would look more balanced.

So, when do we get to see pictures of your other tanks?! :D

[Seahorsedreams]

My other tanks are SO not pretty at the moment. After I get this up we will be turning our attention to the 100 gallon and will be moving the animals in the temp 60 gallon over to it. Nothing in there is permanently placed.

The 24 gallon volitan tank is cycling. He's in a 6 gallon at the moment!

The 17 gallon juvie seahorse tank is cycling.

After the 100 gallon is up we are going to turn our attention to the 50 gallon H. reidi pent. It was a non reef ready tank that I turned into a reef ready with a closed loop. Drilled the heck out of it. But I'm having some difficulty with the back wall we installed to take out the back corner and make an internal overflow. Thinking about contacting the "professionals" and having them install it. It's so frustrating... I swear I filled and emptied that tank everyday for a month!

After everything is set up we will then get working on the 240 gallon we have. But I want everything else up and running well before then because that will be a HUGE project for us. We even have to buff the darn thing.

[Reefbaby]

man...you're lucky you've got a partner to do this with! Are you both equally interested? I can only get my husband interested in the technical/building stuff, so I have to act like there's always stuff that I direly need him to do, otherwise he'll completely disappear from the picture!

[Seahorsedreams]

man...you're lucky you've got a partner to do this with! Are you both equally interested?

I am SO lucky. We are both totally into it. We met through the hobby. Actually we met through an online forum. Our backgrounds are a little different... we call it new school verses old school. I was SPS and high tech he was FOWLR and low tech (for lack of a better word). He has helped me loosen up and I have helped him tighten up.

We are both mods on a seahorse forum so that there is no such thing as spending too much time on the computer... we are both into it the same.

I admit we spend a good part of our time talking tanks.... but we both love talking about it so it doesn't matter!

[Seahorsedreams]

Well, we centered it and added RO/DI. Greg is over here yelling "It's alive! It's alive"

Now to convert to saltwater!

[saxman]

he was FOWLR and low tech (for lack of a better word). He has helped me loosen up and I have helped him tighten up.


it was actually a softy/LPS/clam/fish tank, but who's counting? ;)

Renee and i have definitely had (and still have on occasion) some rather "interesting" discussions and opinions about how things should go, but we've pretty much found "terms", and have definitely learned QUITE a lot from each other as well as together.

the only drawback i see is that there isn't that "other half" saying "no, you may NOT have another tank...isn't 12 enuff??" :D

Babe,

i love those pix of Griffin's backside! :rotfl:

[Seahorsedreams]

Well, it's all set up and cycling. The aquascaping isn't done but the rock is in there. Now it's the waiting game.

Let's get to work on the 100g!

[PSH]

what no pictures?

[Seahorsedreams]

LOL... cause there is 50 things in the way. Trying to get the freakin' frackin' tree up.

[PSH]

We did the tree thing weeks ago. Of course it's only 4 ft with fiber optic lights. Cats had it trashed by the time we got home from vacation.

[Seahorsedreams]

I never had a tree for years.... I'm starting to think it was the right decision all along.

[JustDavidP]

Bah Humbug!

[saxman]

Bah Humbug!

don't let Grinchy fool you...she loves the tree. she's talking about putting lights up outside now. :p

[JustDavidP]

I did that the other day...and tripped the GFI... and forgot that I have to reset both outlets out there when I do that... the Koi were pretty mad at me. :) They had no heater for a couple days...

D

[nanopodreefer]

I'm really interested all your tank setups. I think you should post a tour of your house in the tank journal. I know you've got a journal for your tanks specifically, but pics of your setups from afar showing your house with walls and how it looks when you enter the room would be cool. Anyways, just an idea.

[Seahorsedreams]

Ummm, can I clean the house up first :-) That is a very interesting idea. I wonder if more peeps would like to do it as well. I would at least need to put the pictures up on the walls (we moved recently and just put away the last of the boxes this week so we could put the tree up).

[CarmieJo]

I'm really interested all your tank setups. I think you should post a tour of your house in the tank journal. I know you've got a journal for your tanks specifically, but pics of your setups from afar showing your house with walls and how it looks when you enter the room would be cool. Anyways, just an idea.

I would really like to see this too. And you don't have to bother cleaning up for me. It can't be any worse than my house. :)

[JustDavidP]

There are some rooms I'm not even allowed in ;)

Kidding...that's a nice idea!

Dave

[saxman]

cycle-cycle-cycle-cycle-manTIS-manTIS-cycle-cycle-cycle-cycle...

[Small Fry]

the Koi were pretty mad at me. :) They had no heater for a couple days...

ok, so i gotsa question for you, is that a heater for the whole shebang, or a little floating heater that keeps a hole in the water, of course i cant remember where you live, all i know is my pond freezes over the winter and i just keep the water fall going and it works fine

[JustDavidP]

It's the ThermaPond heater. It is the floating heater type... it goes in as the temps get closer to freezing. It does a great job at keeping a hole in the ice

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/thermapond.jpg

I've tried keeping the pump going, but because I have a waterfall type system, it would freeze and I'd lose water. I disconnect the pump now, store it in a bucket of water, put in the heater, put nets over the ponds and call it a Winter.

I'm in New England..just a bit wee South of you up there in Ontario... I wonder if the Thermapond would even work up there... I've spent time in Ottawa/Hull during the Winter... I'd need Jack Daniels coursing through my veins to keep me from freezing up there :)

Dave

[JustDavidP]

This is my 120 Gallon pond... http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/120galPond.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

I love it David!

[JustDavidP]

The Koi do too :) Yeah.. I'm wicked fishy eh?

[Reefbaby]

man...are you addicted to water or what?! :D





it's beautiful though....wouldn't mind having one myself!

[JustDavidP]

He he he... I'm a "Cancer"... a crab... and I've always been drawn to water...

*singing* "I was born in a sign of water..and it's there where I feel my best.. the albatross and the whale they are my brothers...."

[Reefbaby]

yeah?! Well....I'm Aquarius....and I THRIVE on water!!!

*singing even louder* "When the moon is in the Seventh House, And Jupiter aligns
with Mars, Then peace will guide the planets, And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius"....

[Seahorsedreams]

Do I even need to say I'm a pisces? So is Greg!

[JustDavidP]

How did I know that?

'nee.... can you do me a flavor... can you send me an email addy (via my email) that I can use to coordinate with Sir Greg?

D

[Reefbaby]

Wow Dave! What does that avatar mean? I bet it has something to do with seahorses!!! :D

[Small Fry]

in ways of water, my pond owns you all.

But anyhow, we have had two thermopond heaters and they have both leaked and sunk, and they''re expecnsive down here. I just take it out if the middle of the pond freezes, but we have something like 10000 gph of flow so it doesnt completely freeze often.

I cant remember the volume but its about 16 feet by 20 feeet with 2 8 foot falls.

these are pics from last winter and pics of the fish. The fish pics are from last summer, they are about a foot long now, they're getting there :D

I OWN YOU

:D

[Reefbaby]

that's beautiful Josh! did you guys make it yourselves?

[Small Fry]

yess we did, it took us about two summers to plan, price everything and stuff, half a summer to dig (six feet deep in the middle, then 4 and a half, then two feet), then a summer and a half to put in all the rocks, and do the waterfall. So yeah, it took us at least $6000 and 4 years to complete. I believe its around 4500 gallons?? its written down somewhere i just dont know where. Last summer we've been battling string algae (resiliant sruff), but the baby koi (yess, baby koi in the first year :D) seem to like the stuff.

So yeah, lotsa time, energy and money put into this thing, but it was worth it.

[Seahorsedreams]

Wow! Canadians are good for SOMETHING!


:-) Don't beat me.... I'm a newfie......

[Small Fry]

Wow! Canadians are good for SOMETHING!


:-) Don't beat me.... I'm a newfie......

lol, ill let that one slide. as long as u know ur on thin ice. IF u even know what ice is (.........u americans...........)

[Seahorsedreams]

as long as u know ur on thin ice.

It's what Newfie's ride their skidoos over......

[JustDavidP]

My avitar simply means "Seahorse" :)

Nice LAKE Josh ;)

D

[Small Fry]

My avitar simply means "Seahorse" :)

Nice LAKE Josh ;)

Lol, thank you thank you.

So.............is this thread goin back to be a dual matis tank thread any time soon???

[Seahorsedreams]

So.............is this thread goin back to be a dual matis tank thread any time soon???


The rock is loaded with diatoms.... so we are getting there.

[Small Fry]

The rock is loaded with diatoms.... so we are getting there.

alright, well as long as we're getting the updates :p

[CarmieJo]

lol, ill let that one slide. as long as u know ur on thin ice. IF u even know what ice is (.........u americans...........)

WE know what ice is, it is what the Hurricanes play on! (And I wish they would start playing a little better. :) )

[C3.]

Here it is in place with the split return.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Tank/plumbing.jpg

Hi Seahorsedreams!!
really cool DIY tank!

I wanted to know if to do the plumbing that the pic shows i can use this parts
1. PVC tube
2. this
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD%5C150%5CFT4744.jpg
3. this
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD%5C150%5CLL1319.jpg
4. this
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD%5C150%5CLL1315.jpg

I want to do something like what you did in your tank...
i'll be using a SCWD
SCWD Wavemaker - Switching Current Water Director (Squid) - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=3Q1111)
so i think that al this should be done with 3/4" PVC

i'm right in my plans??

[Seahorsedreams]

Yup, that should do it!

[C3.]

thx a lot!!

[swiseman]

Wow! Canadians are good for SOMETHING!


:-) Don't beat me.... I'm a newfie......


A Newfie in California. Must be from Gander.

Very nice project BTW. I have a Mantis in my Refugium. He has been a model resident. Hasn't touched a Hermit Crab or a Snail in the few months I have had him in there. He does enjoy the silversides I deliver once a week.

[Seahorsedreams]

A Newfie in California. Must be from Gander.

LOL. I'm from St. John's thank you very much...... the relatives are from Gander :-)

Well. Mantis number one has made it into the tank. The ciliata is now in the right hand side.... after some convincing to leave the net.

I believe he was saying.....

"Yes, thank you. I appreciate the shiney new digs..... but I don't think so. I'm happy in the net."

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/no.jpg

[Seahorsedreams]

Followed by....

"Yes, thanks for the closer look at the gravel. But I still would just like to stay in the net. Oh? So, you think laying the net down and walking away will get me out? *yawn* Nite! I think I'll take a nap in here".

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/Mantis%20Shrimp/stillno.jpg

[JustDavidP]

Awe cuteness... he looks like the fruit in my drinks this weekend :) Purdy!

[Seahorsedreams]

Awe cuteness... he looks like the fruit in my drinks this weekend :) Purdy!
You had a better weekend than me!

I have the basic rock structures up and am waiting for him to pick his den before I place more. But guess where is is NOT.... in the beautiful black UTube PVC den I made for him. It doesn't have to be his favorite place, I guess. Just as long as he has a total black place to go when he needs to.

[Russel P]

Awe cuteness... he looks like the fruit in my drinks this weekend :) Purdy!

The first post I ever read on these forums was a post of yours that mentioned mentioned beer. I knew this place was alright! Then I saw the DIY of you guys with the obligatory plastic cups! I'm in the same camp. Alcohol makes DIY an adventure!http://i9.tinypic.com/2vwtz02.gif

[iglowce]

man i love all the ponds u guys have... i wish i have the space for it =]

[saxman]

that darned ciliata reminds me of a SH...give it all kinds of nice hitches (well, caves in this case), and it goes and hitches to the plumbing...

the ciliata isn't as outgoing as the peacock, but it IS kinda curious and comes out to see what's up if you're around the tank.

last PM, i was feeding the peacock and the food fell off the feeding stick, so while i was trying to re-spear the food on the tank bottom, the sucker decided to climb up the stick, out of the water, and up my hand...scared the CR*P outta me, cuz i wasn't expecting it. *blush*

[Seahorsedreams]

The ciliata is enjoying his new digs. He has molted since the move and has changed from a Mango to a Banana.... either color is just as hard to photograph, I've never met such a challenge. He is such an extreme color all detail is lost in most of the pics. Well, here he is.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y248/seahorsedreams/fish/oldyeller2.jpg

[Reefbaby]

Great shot! I love the black background!

Is it hard to keep the sand clean in a mantis tank? Does he stir it up much?

[Seahorsedreams]

Thanks.

You know, considering there is a lack of a cleanup crew in with the clubbers their sandbeds are pretty darn clean. They do kick sand around but I wouldn't think enough to actually "stir" it. The yellow guy is a spearer so he has snails to keep his yard clean. I'm a black back kind of girl. Hides many "sins".