Keith;121431 said:
So I dont know what kind of nano to get. I really like the 29 gallon Oceanic BioCube, but my local LFS has a really nice 20 gallon aquapod for $199.99 with a stand. Anyone have some suggestions for good nano tanks?
dwhatley;121438 said:
If you do decide to keep a dwarf, remember that you will need red lighting to be able to see them at all. One small advantage to the dwarfs is that they require a minimum of octoproofing. If you can lower the water level about 2 inches from the top (this may be a problem with some setups) and have an overhang of about 2" around the top of the tank, a locking cover is not needed.
Keith,
We currently have 5 of the Biocubes (two 29s, one 14, two 8s) and 1 Nanocube (12), and although I think they are great for reef and mantis setups (after a relatively simple modification of their hair-brained filtration scheme), I don't think they are the best choice for an octopus, particularly a merc.
1. It is difficult to proof the back chambers. There's just no practical way to screen them off and still be able to reach the filter. Also, you will effectively kill the normal surface skimming action by covering the water pass-through slits with screen.
2. You will have to operate with the water level right up to the top of the back wall unless you make some significant changes to the compartments in the back. This makes it easy for an octo to slip into the pump chamber or out of the tank unless you do some heavy octo-proofing which kinda ruins one of the best things about have a merc in the first place.
3. The lighting is built into the hood and makes it difficult to switch between normal white lights and the red filters that D and I both use. This will limit you to red LED spotlights which limit your vision and make mercs much less comfortable.
I would suggest saving yourself time, effort, and money by just buying a standard 30 gallon glass aquarium and a cannister filter and leave the water level about 3 inches below the top. Then get several layers of red vellum and cut them to fit under the fluorescent lighting hood. That has worked
much better for me than the Biocubes did.
Greg
dwhatley;121438 said:
Most of the little guys you will see for sale will be Mercatoris. I am not sure why but this seems to be the case even though both are supposed to be common in the Caribbean.
D, from what I've read, I
think the Joubini occur in deeper water than mercs, where collectors are less likely to work. (Correct me if I'm wrong anybody...)