Low Budget, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Soft Coral - Combo!

André Brasil · Jan 17, 2017 11:59:17 am

I see @Marty - considering my setup idea (low light soft corals near the top of the tank, mantis below) any guidelines on model, or watts for a led fixture?

fr499y · Jan 17, 2017 2:08:08 pm

budget plays a big part, what sort of money are you looking to spend?
are you planning on going LPS/SPS at a later date?
What sort of fixture are you looking at? Single unit/multiple units?
what style? pendant etc?

All plays a part on recomendations.

André Brasil · Jan 17, 2017 3:01:05 pm

Quote from: fr499y on Jan 17, 2017 2:08:08 pm

budget plays a big part, what sort of money are you looking to spend?
are you planning on going LPS/SPS at a later date?
What sort of fixture are you looking at? Single unit/multiple units?
what style? pendant etc?

All plays a part on recomendations.

Budget: as much as is needed for a minimally adequate fixture

Future: Just looking to keep low maintenance corals such as:

Green Star Polyps
Toadstool Leather Corals
Kenya Tree Corals
Mushroom Corals
Button Polyps
+
Peacock Mantis

Type: I assume single unit is cheaper than multiple?

Style: Open to all sorts. Really looking for substance over style.

Carol · Jan 17, 2017 3:24:03 pm

I have kept a range of soft corals as you mention in a 4X2X2 foot tank with a T5 unit that had 4xT5 tubes two blue and two white. You can get hybrid units that have T 5 and LED tho these are more meant for hard corals.

Thing is whats cheap to buy is often not cheap to run . Remember tubes need replaceing about every 9 months .If not you will be loused out with all sorts of algae as the gas wears out.

fr499y · Jan 17, 2017 3:52:29 pm

I've used Zetlight ZA-1201 over a 110L and 240L ( with extras ) which would easily support soft corals. They do a new version which is the ZA-1201L. You would need two of these for a 100cm wide tank.

Arcadia stretch, simple on and off.
Evergrow units are good but a bit more money.
LEDZeal Malibu S120 <-- again, a bit more money but good LED units.
There are always units like the AI Prime, EcoTech Radeon, Zetlight UFO but for soft corals i find it a waste of money.

André Brasil · Mar 31, 2017 7:23:16 pm

Thanks for all the great input @Carol and @fr499y.

Feel bad for disappearing for a big while.

Took some time to think about your suggestions and evaluate my goals. So, I made some adjustments!

The mantis shrimp is not going to be a peacock, but a G. Smithii. That will allow me to have corals and not worry about my mantis getting shell rot.

I got a value led fixture (should arrive Monday):

MarsAqua Dimmable 300W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum Reef Marine Coral Lamp | eBay

So far I have not had any luck finding a G. Smithii, but have gotten a few things from the ocean...here are some pictures:

HK_Fuey · Mar 31, 2017 9:01:41 pm

Erm, a mantis will kill most if not all of the creatures above

www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=2&pid=1224&cid=84

André Brasil · Apr 1, 2017 9:20:27 pm

Well, the species above were added to the tank to give it a bit of life while the permanent residents don't arrive.

A G. Smithii is kinda small though; not sure he would be able to kill the fish or the urchin.

Will that led be adequate for my setup?

HK_Fuey · Apr 1, 2017 10:17:54 pm

Yes, I'd think it would be fine. The link I posted was for G.Smithii specifically. It recommends no fish. Up to you of course.

Low Budget, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Soft Coral - Combo!

Low Budget, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Soft Coral - Combo!

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