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.
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*
__________________ Renee
Last edited by Seahorsedreams; 11-16-2006 at 06:34 PM.
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.
This is cool. I have always been interested in the mantis' how big do those things get?
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
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.
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.
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. 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?
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
So, maybe i will end up buying the tank off of him