Copepods...

[Waboss]

Yes, but there's a substantial difference between a 14Gal display and a 75Gal display. If he had a 65Gal 'fuge, he would probably be ok too.

Actually, he'd probably need an even larger 'fuge since the "grazing area" in a 14 isn't that much and you'd need a much more dense pod population in the display tank then to accommodate that. Easiest way, in my opinion, is a culture. BUT with that being said, I'm not trying to tell anyone how to care for their critters. As long as he/she's fat and happy.....life's good.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Whats the temperature range for phyto and copepods? My room (where they are) is usually around 65 farenhiet. What i have for the cultures is a 2.5 gallon bowfront for the copepods and a 2 liter soda bottle for the phyto, both have air pumps with a good amount of bubbles per minute. Today I go to the LFS to get live rock and macroalgae (if they have it).

 

[Waboss]

65 should be fine....Mine sit in my kitchen on a shelf where it's anywhere from 65-70.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Awesome, a heater would have made that a lot more complicated

 

[scardall]

Question : I have a 75g bare bottom mixed reef with a population of pods in my display tank. Could I support a mandarin from what is produced naturally in the display only?

 

[Velcro]

Question : I have a 75g bare bottom mixed reef with a population of pods in my display tank. Could I support a mandarin from what is produced naturally in the display only?

MAYBE with a big pile of rubble where they can safely breed, but probably not in my opinion.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

If you had a large time period inbetween the copepods introduction and the mandarins introduction then the copepods might be able to build up a good population, however, you would still need a good rubble pile.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Get yourself some decapped brine shrimp eggs off ebay. (they must say 'hatching')
That's the cure-all for a podless setup imo and mandarins.. I had great success with ruby reds that way and zero pods.

Otherwise the pods... Sand yes, smaller particulate foods yes. Instead of treating it as a culture (because they're pretty easy to crash) treat them like a new tank that you let get messy.

 

[scardall]

MAYBE with a big pile of rubble where they can safely breed, but probably not in my opinion.

These pics represent what I have for rock work.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

It would appear that the mandarin does indeed eat frozen mysis. Cultures set up and just waiting for the copes and phyto. Put some live rock in the copepod tank but they didnt have any algae.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Tried so hard to get him to eat reasonably. He only ate a few bites and is now starting to look hungry. The other fish are literally obese from the 3 feeding of frozen mysis shrimp and he might have eaten a few bites. It's at the point where my coral is fat, im not kidding some of the zoanthids ate a ton of it, so did the mushroom. If this mandarin doesn't work out, its probably going to be my last. I wish I had not bought it. I think i'll stick with clownfish from now on, I can get those to eat food.