M@'s Key Lime Pico

M

M@

My Key Lime Pico is going to be built around a Florida Wennerae Mantis shrimp with all green corals. The tank is a 5.5 gallon with a 1.5 gallon AIO section. Lighting will be a budget build DIY setup.

[[<u>The Tank</u>]]
5.5 Gallon $15
Piece of Acrylic $5 value, free from F1SH, thanks!
Pump $15
Used Locline Pieces $5
Silicone 1/2 Tube $3
Krylon $1.5
Sand ≈ 2lbs $2
Rock ≈ 2lbs $6
JBJ ATO $40 (Paid $10 but $40 seems more of a fair market price)
Toms Aqua Lifter $15
Total $107.50

[[<u>Lighting</u>]]
DIY LED
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Ebay Driver $16
Bridgelux LEDs (4 RB, 1 W, 1UV) $8
Luxeon LEDs (2 CW) $6
2 CPU Heatsinks $2?
Total $32.00

[[<u>Livestock</u>]]
Wennerae TBD

[[<u>The Build</u>]]
Tank De-rimmed and False Wall
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Pump Installed
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Aquascape
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Sand in and Media Rack
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Wet and ready for Lighting/Livestock
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[[<u>May FTS</u>]]
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Looking good so far! Similar in design to what i did, so of course i like it :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks, great minds think alike! You're glass thickness looks much better though. I want to test the theory if a Mantis can shatter glass in my 1/8" inch pico.
 
Got the lights installed. Mounted them under a shelf in my cube. Used PVC rain cutter to hold the headsinks. Iphone pic doesn't look the best but it looks great in person.
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Thanks! Placed the order for my mantis today. I hope they ship tomorrow, if not I'll have them wait until Monday.

I also added a few zoa frags today, I'll grab some pics tomorrow.
 
Was able to grab some better pictures today.

Got some better pics today.

Zoas - Green ring, purple head, yellow mouth, name?
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More zoas
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Nuc Greens
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Peppermint Shrimp - dinner when I get the mantis. :)
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FTS
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Scored this for $10 at the Exotic Aquatics anniversary sale. Think it will work much better than the drip system I had setup. [smilie=devil.gif]

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The Mantis has arrived!

About to leave the bag
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The peppermint doesn't know what he has coming!
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He's already started making his cave. I'm going to leave the lights off today. Hopefully I can grab some better pictures tomorrow with the lights.
 
Looks real good man, and nice score on that ATO!!!!!


I have your ORA GBN frag here, will you be out this weekend?
 
Make sure all your frags and such are glued well. My mantis will even pull glued items into his cave, guess he wants some interior decorations in is home and not just to have the outdoor garden looking good....
 
Thanks Nate and I'm always available for frags!

I just have the frags gel'd down. I guess I should putty them too. Little scared to put my hand in the tank now though. :)
 
@etphi wrote:
Beautiful! What species of mantis is it? I sure miss my mantis. said:
Thanks, it's an N. Wennerae. You should definitely get another one. I had an Oerstedii a couple years ago and can't believe it took me this long to get back on the Mantis train. They are by far the most entertaining marine species I've owned. I got him from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Their customer service was beyond top notch! Richard followed after it was shipped to see how he survived. Then asked me to keep him updated on how he's doing. I was pleasantly surprised!

Here he is in his new cave. He found this crevice with in 10 minutes of putting him in the tank. Now I just need to wait for him to stop plotting my death and start tearing up the tank!
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Also added another zoa frag, thanks Kron!
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@M@! wrote:
Thanks Nate and I'm always available for frags! I just have the frags gel'd down. I guess I should putty them too. Little scared to put my hand in the tank now though. :) said:
Yea, mine got me once...ONCE...when I wasn't looking..hurt like h3!!..no blood. now I distract him with a tool in one hand and work with the other..
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@pjracer wrote:
Now that's what I'm talking about. D.I.Y led. Loos like a rain gutter housing. Love it. Good job on the build. said:
Thanks, good eye on the rain gutter. I had some laying around and my heat sinks fit perfectly in it. I love when DIY comes together from random pieces. [smilie=smile.gif]


@cabo wrote:
Yea said:
Ouch! Distraction seems like a great idea. I came to work today to a demolished Peppermint shrimp laying on the bottom of the tank. At least I know he is eating now!

I think my light might be too bright for him. Cutting the light cycle down to 4 hours a day and will probably just slide the tank forward a little but to minimize the intensity.
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