40 Gallon Breeder w/Rock Wall, Mantis Shrimp Tank.

Upgraded my 20 gallon soft coral/mantis shrimp tank to a 40 gallon breeder. I got this setup from one the members on our boards. Thanks to Eric for making a rough trip over to Longview. I got the rock home and had to leave that night so I soaked the rock wall in a little bit of saltwater to keep it from dying.


The next morning I cleaned the glass some and since the rock wall floats I siliconed it in place.


The first problem was I had to move the 20 gallon out of the way before I could put the 40 in it's place so I drained the 20, moved the tank and the stand and filled it back up again while I set the 40 in place. The space I was trying to fit the 40 in was pushing the limits of a 40 breeder and the stand was even bigger than the tank so I wasn't even sure if it would fit. After a couple of attempts to place the stand I had to remove the 2 front doors and the side door that opened or there was no way to get into the bottom of the stand or get to the electrical outlet. Everything worked out nicely though. The tricky part was moving a mantis shrimp from one tank to another not knowing where it is in the rock. I decided to move the big corals in first and then move the rock that the mantis was usually in. I moved the toadstool, and when I went to move the Green Sinularia the mantis was in that rock. After debating for a long time how to handle the rock without getting whacked, I couldn't really figure out any good way so I just grabbed it and went with it. I still have all my fingers. I was nervous about it already because that morning I was using some Aiptasia X in the 20 and without me noticing him the mantis whacked the syringe in my hand while I was nuking an Aiptasia.

Barely fits!


The corals weren't too happy about the move but they have lots more room now. I need to do more work on the aquascaping but the water was too cloudy at first and I didn't want to stick my hand in there not knowing where the mantis was.






I'm trying out partially bare bottom for the first time to see how I like it. I need some rubble pieces for the mantis so I siphoned the sand really well to get the finer sand out and mostly just the larger chunks are left. With just loose areas of sand I figure it should be much easier to keep clean. If I like this then I will end up doing the same thing in my 75.

Looks good man ill be keeping up

Feeding time! He's getting bigger and nastier. He's not timid at all anymore. I see him all the time and since the move to the bigger tank he seems to be more active.

Sweet! :-)

Just way too cool...

New occupant from DiversDen.

That's nice. How large should it grow to?

Yeti wrote:That's nice. How large should it grow to?

The mantis or the fish?

3 inches on the mantis and 4 on the fish.

LOL.. the mantis looks to be a real handful, it was the Angel that really impressed me though with such vivid colouration.

The flame angels are my favorite fish. I had one for a long time before but I had to remove it because it was nipping at my corals. I couldn't stand it anymore and since I have this 40 gallon I ordered me another! He can nip at whatever he wants in this tank. I don't mind the softies being picked at but my stony corals have to be left alone.

Well, that went almost horribly wrong. I put the flame in the tank and it went to the back corner and just hung out there. The damsels chased him a little but not too bad. The mantis poked his head out and was watching the whole ordeal. Once the angel started to swim around the mantis came out and looked like a cat ready to pounce. The angel made a pass by the mantis rock and if I had not swatted the mantis back with a stick the angel was going to get it for sure. The mantis kept coming after the angel and I had to keep separating them with a stick. After I few minutes I saw that this was going to end badly so I caught the angel and put him in my 75. Cross your fingers for my corals now. I just hope I don't have to get him out later.

Hahahahaha. Thats classic. I love fish tanks. You never know what is going to happen!

Good luck with him in the 75!!!

You will never be able to put the Angel back in the 40G tank. Can't you see it, night time comes and all the others are there, "Did you see that, the prissy red angel comes here, stays for only a short while, complains about the neighbours and gets an immediate upgrade".

Lol. Damsels and mantis are cranky like that.

New pieces.

Neon cloves.


Red Brain.


I moved a bunch of LPS from my 75 to this tank. I'll get a FTS when I get everything organized.

I bought a JBJ Ocean Pulse Wave Maker. I hooked it up to 2 Koralia Evos. I really like the wave action it makes but the Koralias click a little when switching so it's a little annoying being right by my bed. Luckily there is a knob where you can adjust the pulse from constant on to 10 seconds to 90 minutes. I just turn the knob when I go to bed and it's no big deal. I don't think it would be a problem at all on my other tank in the living room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eerym19Ta8

I like that Brain, that red really jumps out.

Thats pretty sweet, Gabe!
I've been considering buying an apex jr... they would basically do the same thing correct?

matt_longview wrote:
I've been considering buying an apex jr... they would basically do the same thing correct?

I think so.

My Apex Jr will be here end of the week, first part of next. You all are welcome to check it out when it comes in.

Yeti wrote:You will never be able to put the Angel back in the 40G tank. Can't you see it, night time comes and all the others are there, "Did you see that, the prissy red angel comes here, stays for only a short while, complains about the neighbours and gets an immediate upgrade".

Oh, yeah? Flame Angel is in the 40 and put everyone in place. Even the evil blue damsel cowers in the corner when the flame angel unleashes his wrath. I guess I just needed to let the angel pack on a little weight and get back in there with the bullies, back for revenge maybe.

https://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee283/ritter6788/?action=view&current=28584674.mp4

While watching the video did you notice the aiptasia? This is what happens when you don't kill the one or two that pop up on your rocks when you first notice them.



This is way too out of hand for any chemicals or boiling water and I have a mantis shrimp that would kill a peppermint shrimp. My dumb brain came up with adding 20 peppermint shrimp and to distract the mantis for a while I also added 100 blue leg hermits. We'll see how that goes. My next attempt will be a File Fish if this doesn't work.

You could keep peppermints in the sump and move rocks down there from time to time. Just plan on the system pretty well always having the little things and continually move different rocks down there... I guess with that plan you're bound to put the mantis down in the sump one day though... lol

There is no sump, no skimmer, just tank, lights and powerheads. To be honest, the aiptasia don't bother me as bad as it does some people but I'd like to find a way to get rid if them just for the challenge of it. They don't bother the corals that I can tell and they do an excellent job of cleaning up excess food and waste.