? On Beginner Marine

[pcfriedrich]

Right now, I only keep freshwater fish, but would one day (when I have more space and money) like to get into marine. In the mean time, though, it seems like a mantis shrimp would be a great way for a beginner to learn about marine aquaria. what is the minimum size aquariumneeded to keep a single peacock mantis, and how deep should the sand be for him to burrow? I was thinking a 29 would probably be good, with 4-6" of sand?

any info/advice would be appreciated.

 

[BIGgourami]

a 29 would be good enough for one...

get one or two larger peices of LR and arrange them tee-pee style. with a few fist, half-fist and gravel sized peices for him to move around and sculpt as he wishes..

coral usually doesn't fare too well, but maybe a few zoo's or shrooms..
macro algea is a good way to decorate..

and for some reason striped fish seem to have some kind of luck when being kept with mantises... like 3-4 stripe damsels, clown etc... (do ot EXPECT them to live, just hope.)

 

[pcfriedrich]

a 29 would be good enough for one...

get one or two larger peices of LR and arrange them tee-pee style. with a few fist, half-fist and gravel sized peices for him to move around and sculpt as he wishes..

coral usually doesn't fare too well, but maybe a few zoo's or shrooms..
macro algea is a good way to decorate..

and for some reason striped fish seem to have some kind of luck when being kept with mantises... like 3-4 stripe damsels, clown etc... (do ot EXPECT them to live, just hope.)

thanks. how deep you recomend the sand? I might try adding one or two fish, a 29 does have a little head room. gotta keep the mantis well fed, no doubt.

 

[BIGgourami]

4-6'' would work great, he'll dig out some and pile up in places so as long as there is enough mass depth isn't really important...

and definately stick to cheaper fish.. maybe a few chromis would work, they tend to surface dwell

 

[pcfriedrich]

nice. thanks, I'm sold.

I have no room for any other larger tanks right now.

I was always under the impression that you needed at least a 75g, and $2,000 invested for ANYTHING marine.

 

[BIGgourami]

hell no...
i set up a 10 gallon for $120...

got a pipefish and T5 lights that ate up most of the budget...

 

[pcfriedrich]

hell no...
i set up a 10 gallon for $120...

got a pipefish and T5 lights that ate up most of the budget...

sweet. I may go ahead and pick up the tank and filter today. I assume you can cycle the tank with the live rock/live sand?

 

[BIGgourami]

yup... cured rock cycles faster but also costs more... and LS is a booming ammonia source

 

[pcfriedrich]

what else do I need? protein skimmer?

 

[Savior19]

i have a 10 gal full marine and i have 2 clown fish the smaller spicies and 1 coral banned shrimp and a snail and i only have a aqua clear 20 filter and a 25 watt heater anda 15 watt light fixtur and it is doing fine...got som live rock in it too its preety selfsuficiant