Sponge filter in small salt water tank?

[Daeorn]

Hey guys, potential stupid question.

I just started a 5gal tank for a very small mantis shrimp I picked up from some live rock at my lfs.

I put a small half pound of live rock in the tank to help cycle, and the water is at 1.019.

But I have a filter question, for the time being, is it possible (for a day or two) to use a sponge filter on this tank?

I want to eventually have a good amount of live rock, like 1.5-2lbs and let it just filter itself with a small power head... but, I'm huge noob when it comes to salt water filtration.

Any suggestions?

 

[bromie88]

Hey guys, potential stupid question.

I just started a 5gal tank for a very small mantis shrimp I picked up from some live rock at my lfs.

I put a small half pound of live rock in the tank to help cycle, and the water is at 1.019.

But I have a filter question, for the time being, is it possible (for a day or two) to use a sponge filter on this tank?

I want to eventually have a good amount of live rock, like 1.5-2lbs and let it just filter itself with a small power head... but, I'm huge noob when it comes to salt water filtration.

Any suggestions?

the tank should really be cycled before you put any livestock in. as inverts are particularly sensitive to water quallity. also raise the SG to around 1.022. inverts dont normally do too well below this level

also i would do some research on mantis shrimp to find out what species you have. some get big and need a tank of about 40ga.l so his time in the 5gal may be limited. smaller tanks are a pain in the arse to keep in check too, as they go bad quick, and are tough to keep stable. so you gotta put the effort in.

id get some fully cured LR and add it to the tank (once at 1.022). about 1.5lbs per gallon so around 7.5lbs in total. even more than this wont hurt. and also increse the depth of the substrate. if you can have like 4" do it. it will help with filtration, and your mantis will be a lot happier.

the sponge filter will be fine for a while. but get the LR as soon as possible.

 

[Daeorn]

Thanks a ton for the info. I'll try to post some pics of the little guy soon.

To give an update, my 5gal now has about 5lbs of fully cured live rock, and is at 1.022.

To help with the cycling process I added some bio spira.

Tomorrow I will look to get a cool 5-10lb bag of live sand for the tank.

As for the shrimp, I know it definitely won't life in a 5gal, and I have several tanks I can upgrade him to when the time comes. For a bad description, it's a dull orange/greenish mantis. No markings, just one shade of orange-green.

Seems to love being tong-fed clam at the moment.


To keep the tank within proper water parameters I will be doing small water changes weekly. What type of filter could I get away with? With 7-7.5lbs of live rock could I just have a power head to circulate?

 

[bromie88]

yep. just a powerhead and and a deep sand bed. obviously the more rock the better, but no one wants a tank with just rock in it...

you could run a little internal filter if you like, use the sponge and some floss to get rid of the particles in the water. but keep it clean though, cos it may become a nitrite factory. but i dont know for definate, no one seems to... i use one on my tank, but my tank is still new. there doesnt seem to be anything out of the ordinary happening though. had the diatoms and a bit of algae, starting to settle now though.

people seem to get rid of internals as they get more 'advanced' forms of filtration when they are still keeping FW fish, and then modify their 'advanced' filters for SW use. so most SW keepers havent used an internal for a while. and thats why most people will not be able to give you an answer.

but just in case, keep it clean

 

[micstarz]

put some macroalgae in there...

I have two mantis shrimp. One of them I only bought today. The bigger one (yet to be ID'ed) Is in a 10 gal with 6 Lbs of lR, two HOBs and a skimmer.

Attached to it is a 5 gal refugium with a 1.5" N. Wennerae.



Post pics please!! I love stomatopods.

 

[Daeorn]

Pics to be uploaded when the tanks a little less foggy (added some more lr).

Ok, so, now there is approx. 7lbs of live rock in the tank.
Some already is growing stiff, stringy algae as well as nice purple coraline growth.

As for filtration I picked up Marineland Duetto 50 power filter. It was really thin and powerful and looks great in my tiny tank.

My LFS even gave me a small piece of xenia coral as well as a damsel to try out. Basically wanted just to experiment and see how the shrimp would take to them.

I know the damsel being in there is iffy at best... but we'll see how it goes.

 

[micstarz]

Looking forward...I love mantis's!

 

[bromie88]

Pics to be uploaded when the tanks a little less foggy (added some more lr).

Ok, so, now there is approx. 7lbs of live rock in the tank.
Some already is growing stiff, stringy algae as well as nice purple coraline growth.

As for filtration I picked up Marineland Duetto 50 power filter. It was really thin and powerful and looks great in my tiny tank.

My LFS even gave me a small piece of xenia coral as well as a damsel to try out. Basically wanted just to experiment and see how the shrimp would take to them.

I know the damsel being in there is iffy at best... but we'll see how it goes.

the damsel is toast... id return it if you can.

if its pulsing xenia i think each polyp will need regular feedings of phytoplanton or brine shrimp. if its not, it may need light as it will get is food from its symbiotic zooanthelle algae.

somebody please correct me if im wrong, im relatively new to the whole coral thing. learning though...

 

[Daeorn]

Yeah I got DT's phytoplanton for the corals.

I just also picked up 20watt coralife 50/50 bulb.

I had checked my parameters and they had checked out fine... 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, ph at 8.0 (a little lower than I wanted).

I got some more free coral, two small shrooms - which are now in the tank. The pulsing xenia still hasn't really come out. I will take a sample to work tomorrow to retest the tank... while the mantis and damsel are currently fine... I feel there's something off.

 

[bromie88]

Yeah I got DT's phytoplanton for the corals.

I just also picked up 20watt coralife 50/50 bulb.

I had checked my parameters and they had checked out fine... 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, ph at 8.0 (a little lower than I wanted).

I got some more free coral, two small shrooms - which are now in the tank. The pulsing xenia still hasn't really come out. I will take a sample to work tomorrow to retest the tank... while the mantis and damsel are currently fine... I feel there's something off.

that'll be the mantis luring the damsel into a false sence of security, and will strike when the time is right. my cats do it to feathers all the time.

free coral is the best kind of coral, assuming you can take care of it... you may come across some issues with the mantis though... in general corals need light, and mantis shrimps dont really like light. so id make some more caves for it in the tank, watch your fingers though... and i'd raise the mushrooms as close to the light as you can. and over a period of time move them down. find the level at which they are happiest.

oh... one more thing... PICS!!!