Opinions/ advice needed new tank set up?

[kyleshaw81503]

Ok so I’m getting ready to set up a 15 gallon innovative marine 15 gallon reef tank. I was thinking of doing the Dr. Tim’s one and only fishless cycle on this one. I was thinking about loading the tank with some copepods just after cycle. I want to get the tank full of them so they will establish a good colony before introducing any fish. My question is is that even possible will they survive with nothing in the tank? I was planning on feeding phyto feast or something similar. Is phyto feast a bad idea to put in a brand new tank?
Our end goal is to have a mandarin that doesn’t starve to death. We had one 8 months or so ago and we’re told by the LFS they were feeding on frozen but that was not the case and unfortunately it perished. We tried adding copepods to the tank but they would get eaten up by all the other fish within days.
What are some other good things to add like copepods that will establish colonies in the tank?
Any good bacteria’s I can add also?
I want this tank to be very diverse.
Any suggestions would be awesome.
thank you!

 

[Spare time]

The phyto feast is fine. However, you simply can't have a mandarin in that size tank unless you culture lots of copepods and feed large amounts very frequently into the tank. If you get one of the captive bred pellet eating ones then maybe as long as you feed multiple times a day.

 

[kyleshaw81503]

The phyto feast is fine. However, you simply can't have a mandarin in that size tank unless you culture lots of copepods and feed large amounts very frequently into the tank. If you get one of the captive bred pellet eating ones then maybe as long as you feed multiple times a day.

my plan is to have the tank running for 3-6 months before introducing any fish to give ample time for the pods to take over. Do you think that would work? ‍