If the caulerpa spawns, it undergoes what's called melt. Basically some part, or all of it, disolves into the water column to spread it's cells (I don't know the scientific technical, the experts can chime in if I've butchered it too badly.) Only way I know of preventing this is to put the caulerpa on a 24 hour light cycle. I've kept some in excess of 6 months with 0 spawning doing a 24 hour light on it. This is why a lot of folks prefer using Chaeto over the caulerpa.
Instead of buying tigerpods, since you already have the tank running, could I reccommend putting some aquaclear foam (or similar looking foam) blocks into the tank. Leave these in there until you get your fuge set up, and then transfer the foam. These work great as 'houses' for the 'pods and you'll accelerate the seeding process at a fraction of the price of the tigerpods.
I actually have two wild-caught dragonettes, both of whom eat frozen foods. They'll munch mini-mysis, cyclops, prawn eggs, and H2O Life's Caviar. One thing is I have to throw it pretty much in front of their face, without scaring them, and even then they'll pick a couple pieces out of the cloud. They're both fat as all heck, so they seem to be either coming back and munching on the rest, or finding pleanty of food in the tank.
Do keep in mind with your pipe's, they'll be competition to the mandarin, so while they're compatible, try and make sure you're mandarin is eating more of the prepared foods and there's a healthy pod population still for the pipe's to graze on while you're getting them to eat the prepared as well.
Any and all build threads are good to read through, if you take the time to post one it will be much appreciated!
