Establishing Pods

[Clownfish_Boy]

I am setting up a 60 gallon fish-only with dry reef rock (no sump, as there is no place for one), and (as many do) am dreaming of having a Mandarin Dragonet. But I am at present thinking that I might not be able to establish a large enough population in the tank to keep up with the Mandarin's consumption if I add a culture of pods from an established tank. Am I thinking correctly ?

 

[Spare time]

I would go with something like eco pods from algae barn or some other mix and then consistently dose phyto to keep their numbers up. You could do a HOB refugium to act as a safe haven or a decent amount of very porous rock.


You could also try culturing pods

 

[HockeyRooster]

To add to the good ideas from spare time, I suggest a captive bred fish as they are much more likely to eat frozen food. That’s what I got. I also seeded the tank with pods and have been hatching brine shrimp (not overly healthy but food is food and is rather see my mandarin eat junk food than nothing at all). I’m culturing phyto and will likely try to grow some pods ice the phyto is going good.
Good luck!

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I would go with something like eco pods from algae barn or some other mix and then consistently dose phyto to keep their numbers up. You could do a HOB refugium to act as a safe haven or a decent amount of very porous rock.


You could also try culturing pods

I do have a HOB filter/skimmer combine with a large empty section which may be used as a refugium. And I will have 40 lbs of rock in the tank. How do I get the pods into the refugium; do they just accumulate in there by the action of the pump ?

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

To add to the good ideas from spare time, I suggest a captive bred fish as they are much more likely to eat frozen food. That’s what I got. I also seeded the tank with pods and have been hatching brine shrimp (not overly healthy but food is food and is rather see my mandarin eat junk food than nothing at all). I’m culturing phyto and will likely try to grow some pods ice the phyto is going good.
Good luck!

The problem with the Captive Bred Mandarins is that the other fish in the tank, being very fast feeders, will keep it from getting enough food. ORA recommends keeping their Mandarins in a species-only tank in which other fish do not beat it to the punch when feeding.

 

[living_tribunal]

I am setting up a 60 gallon fish-only with dry reef rock (no sump, as there is no place for one), and (as many do) am dreaming of having a Mandarin Dragonet. But I am at present thinking that I might not be able to establish a large enough population in the tank to keep up with the Mandarin's consumption if I add a culture of pods from an established tank. Am I thinking correctly ?

In any tank under 120gallons + the mandarin will demolish any population very fast. For a 60g you’ll need to start external cultures. Mine consumes ~20,000-30,000 pods a week.

 

[living_tribunal]

The problem with the Captive Bred Mandarins is that the other fish in the tank, being very fast feeders, will keep it from getting enough food. ORA recommends keeping their Mandarins in a species-only tank in which other fish do not beat it to the punch when feeding.

There’s no problem keeping a mandarin with other heavy pod consumers, just have to prepare for it.

 

[Doctorgori]

i feed mine mysis from a sea shell, although it’s totally possible it’s Monkey-see-Monkey do as he’s with Sea Horses

 

[ichthyogeek]

Look into making a PaulB Dragonet Feeder. And setting up a few external pod cultures.

 

[Spare time]

I do have a HOB filter/skimmer combine with a large empty section which may be used as a refugium. And I will have 40 lbs of rock in the tank. How do I get the pods into the refugium; do they just accumulate in there by the action of the pump ?

They can crawl or swim to there but the rock is going to be the main home.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

They can crawl or swim to there but the rock is going to be the main home.

Will the dry rock I have host copepods well ?

 

[living_tribunal]

Will the dry rock I have host copepods well ?

100% although it depends on the pods. Tigre are primarily phyto consumers and remain in the column. Apex and tisbe will cover the surfaces and consume detritus. They like algae and rocks.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Apex and tisbe will cover the surfaces and consume detritus. They like algae and rocks.

Mine aren't doing their job then... ;Shifty

 

[living_tribunal]

Mine aren't doing their job then... ;Shifty

I've got a couple hundred worms for you that will. Shipping address?

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I've got a couple hundred worms for you that will. Shipping address?

Are they those tiny little Annelid detritus worms that live in the substrate ? I once got a culture of them from an established reef tank and established a population in a 45g FOWLR that kept a Mandarin well fed.