links dead for pics

Kyle

Power Costs
 

Must have been a temporary problem with Photobucket. Seems ok now.

I've just received my first electrical bill since I fired up the system. It would seem that the tank is "currently" using about $50/month in electricity...actually better than my expectations, although I plan to run the lights for a few hours more per day than I am presently.

Mantis observations
 

I have now seen the mantis within reach of a small fish on many occasions. The mantis has never shown any interest in attack. (Mantis and fish are about equal in size - 1.5") One time, the fish landed right on the back of the mantis. The fish has also evicted the mantis from one of his holes, so it would seem that the fish is the boss.

Last night, I also watched one run right into a group of a dozen camel shrimp. I expected to see some real natural hunting behaviour but....They were nose-to-nose for a few minutes before the mantis decided to move on. The shrimp didn't seem the least bit concerned about him.

I hear them hunting, but I have yet to see what they are eating. I suspect that they are taking hermit crabs and snails.

OK, here's a tank shot to keep people's interest up...

I'm still not finished. I think I'll move a large piece from the right to the left and from the left to the right. If there is anything nice about aquascaping this tank it is that each piece weighs 30lb - 50lbs...no cement required!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/100_0250.jpg

Soon...I get to add the sponges. Here they are, in the sump waiting.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...100_0225-1.jpg

tank is coming along quite nicely! so you're one of the few who still use bioballs huh? make sure you rinse those once in a while... though im sure you know that already.

weird about the mantids. do you feed them other stuff intentionally? maybe you just have hippy mantids!

Wow that's a lot of sponge! Where are they from? What's their care requirements, I thought they were phytoplankton feeders? Or is it zooplankton?

Nice to see most if not all of the gorgs are still with us! :)

reply
 

You're really going all out with this tank! If you are putting this much into your softies already I can't wait to see what SPS peices you come across.

The bioballs were placed to create some first bio filtration so that the rock would have an easier time when it first entered. I've actually been removing the bioballs slowly over the past few weeks. As of yesterday, they are all gone.

I do feed the mantis, because it is fun!

Yes, the photosynthetic gorgs are doing great! I'm less positive about the others...

The sponges are part of the TBSaltwater rock shipment. As for sponge care requirements...good questions that I can't find an answer for. One source suggests that they feed on bacteria. I am feeding a huge variety of phyto, zoo, fine particulate food etc...but the survival rate for sponges of this kind is very low.

A little excitement in the tank...
 

Always have a camera ready by the tank...

Last night as I was watching TV, there was some very loud "whacking" and I could see a blur of movement across the front of the tank.

It seems that one of the mantis found a crab and was in pursuit. I managed to snap a couple of photos of the brief battle, which was front/centre of the tank out on the open sand. The crab withstood only 3 blows. The mantis then grabbed his prey up and swam away back to his favourite hole.

Now I know what their primary food is. (This might be a good time to mention that I've also allowed the dozens of gorilla and other crabs to stay in the tank along with the mantis)
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/100_0255.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/100_0257.jpg


At the end, I shot a quick video. Unfortunately since the Sopranos was on TV, the background audio portion of the video is...well...not postable here....

I would say the sound track would be perfict for someone getting "wacked" :wink: