How does my plan sound?

harleychic · 08/31/2014, 07:53 PM

I have a 5.5 gallon, some aragonite, an Aquaclear20, and 4# of really aged LR in a holding tank. I would like to add a few pounds of dry rubble, a hydor theo 25watt heater, and a lid. I also have a few lower wattage led bulbs I can use. How does this sound for a smithii (if I can find one), or a wennerae? I would add a clean up crew for snacks, of course. Would 10%-20% waterchanges weekly be enough if I used floss in the ac20 and swapped it every other day? Any help appreciated!!

Islandoftiki · 08/31/2014, 10:33 PM

Sounds like a good combination to me. Personally, I'd probably go with the largest hob filter that will fit and a media rack so you can run purigen and carbon and a little GFO. Would an AC70 fit on the tank? I ran an AC70 on a 7 gallon tank and it worked perfect.

nmotz · 09/04/2014, 01:04 PM

The only thing I would add is that if you have to be careful about changing out the filter floss. Useful "nitrogenating" bacteria will grow on it and when you remove it there might be the chance of a "mini-cycle" or ammonia spike. The best advice I've seen is to just rinse off the detritus in saltwater after you do a waterchange and put it back in. Then when the floss is about to fall apart (usually after a few months), put another bunch of floss in the tank to let bacteria grow on it, then change them out after another week. That way you can preserve the beneficial bacteria colonies.

Islandoftiki · 09/04/2014, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmotz

The only thing I would add is that if you have to be careful about changing out the filter floss. Useful "nitrogenating" bacteria will grow on it and when you remove it there might be the chance of a "mini-cycle" or ammonia spike. The best advice I've seen is to just rinse off the detritus in saltwater after you do a waterchange and put it back in. Then when the floss is about to fall apart (usually after a few months), put another bunch of floss in the tank to let bacteria grow on it, then change them out after another week. That way you can preserve the beneficial bacteria colonies.

This won't be a problem if changing it every three days or so, which is what I'd recommend. There won't be time for much bacteria to colonize it. Filter floss left longer will probably start to become an unwanted source of nitrates.

harleychic · 09/04/2014, 02:00 PM

Thanks everyone. I haven't looked to see if an ac70 would work or not, I already have an ac20, thats why I asked about that particular model. I will find out though. Does everything else sound good?

Islandoftiki · 09/04/2014, 02:11 PM

Another thought. Although the Hydor Theo is a good heater, take a look at the Cobalt Neotherm--it's bullet proof (and mantis proof!), has a solid state thermostat that is much less likely to fail, and generally when solid state thermostats fail, they fail in the off position which is much less disastrous for your tank.

harleychic · 09/04/2014, 07:49 PM

Thanks again! The heater was definitely a concern. I will go with the cobalt neotherm!

harleychic · 09/12/2014, 06:40 PM

One more question, I almost forgot. What size pvc pipe should I use?

Calappidae · 09/12/2014, 07:01 PM

EDIT: NEVERMIND thought this was reguarding O. scyllarus...

But as long as the animal's legs touch both sides of the pipe evenly you should be good. N. wennerae in particular with mine out their own cavities in rock IME.

harleychic · 09/12/2014, 07:08 PM

The only smithiis I have come across for purchase are around 11/2" long. Obviously I need to set up the tank first. Did you mean to say wennaraes cut their own tunnels? I want to do pvc if I should, really want a happy mantis!

08/31/2014, 07:53 PM	#1
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	How does my plan sound? I have a 5.5 gallon, some aragonite, an Aquaclear20, and 4# of really aged LR in a holding tank. I would like to add a few pounds of dry rubble, a hydor theo 25watt heater, and a lid. I also have a few lower wattage led bulbs I can use. How does this sound for a smithii (if I can find one), or a wennerae? I would add a clean up crew for snacks, of course. Would 10%-20% waterchanges weekly be enough if I used floss in the ac20 and swapped it every other day? Any help appreciated!!

09/04/2014, 01:04 PM	#3
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	The only thing I would add is that if you have to be careful about changing out the filter floss. Useful "nitrogenating" bacteria will grow on it and when you remove it there might be the chance of a "mini-cycle" or ammonia spike. The best advice I've seen is to just rinse off the detritus in saltwater after you do a waterchange and put it back in. Then when the floss is about to fall apart (usually after a few months), put another bunch of floss in the tank to let bacteria grow on it, then change them out after another week. That way you can preserve the beneficial bacteria colonies. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank Last edited by nmotz; 09/04/2014 at 01:04 PM. Reason: edit content

09/12/2014, 07:01 PM	#9
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	EDIT: NEVERMIND thought this was reguarding O. scyllarus... But as long as the animal's legs touch both sides of the pipe evenly you should be good. N. wennerae in particular with mine out their own cavities in rock IME. __________________ Joe

08/31/2014, 10:33 PM	#2
Islandoftiki Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,037	Sounds like a good combination to me. Personally, I'd probably go with the largest hob filter that will fit and a media rack so you can run purigen and carbon and a little GFO. Would an AC70 fit on the tank? I ran an AC70 on a 7 gallon tank and it worked perfect.

09/04/2014, 02:00 PM	#5
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	Thanks everyone. I haven't looked to see if an ac70 would work or not, I already have an ac20, thats why I asked about that particular model. I will find out though. Does everything else sound good?

09/04/2014, 02:11 PM	#6
Islandoftiki Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,037	Another thought. Although the Hydor Theo is a good heater, take a look at the Cobalt Neotherm--it's bullet proof (and mantis proof!), has a solid state thermostat that is much less likely to fail, and generally when solid state thermostats fail, they fail in the off position which is much less disastrous for your tank.

09/04/2014, 07:49 PM	#7
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	Thanks again! The heater was definitely a concern. I will go with the cobalt neotherm!

09/12/2014, 06:40 PM	#8
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	One more question, I almost forgot. What size pvc pipe should I use?

09/12/2014, 07:08 PM	#10
harleychic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 371	The only smithiis I have come across for purchase are around 11/2" long. Obviously I need to set up the tank first. Did you mean to say wennaraes cut their own tunnels? I want to do pvc if I should, really want a happy mantis!