Copepods for a Green Mandarin

How can you counter these nutrient spikes? I have a phosphate reactor, should I run a nitrate reactor or something similar at the same time?

I have phytoplankton that I feed my corals occaisonally so that will be no problem.

I would be worried that they will multiple and just go nuts and take over my tank, but I suppose thats what the mandarin is for .

I have my refugium is 50% of my sump, so I think I will have enough area for them to grow, but I just need to get the balance right between growing them and them getting eaten .

Great thread though, it was definately a good help.

 

Countering nutrient spikes can be done in several ways.WC's,Chemical filtration,Algae scrubbers,etc. While keeping a Mandarin in tanks under 90 gallons is definitely possible it is also very risky.The smaller the tank the greater that risk becomes.It also transforms the ammount of work involved in keeping one from nothing (except your basic tank maintenance) to a real chore.Here's another good link for you.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-month/mandarin-dragonette-fotm-may-08-a-47991.html

 

Thanks vinny, thats a really good thread. I think that clarifies alot, I especially like the idea of a "pod pile" and it will help to see it eat some frozen foods at the LFS.

I think I am going to work my tank towards a mandarin. I will no doubt ask a few more questions about it on the way .

 

lol, knew vinny would be around with need info, and Mr. Bill had great info too. My mandarin was thriving in my 55g fat, happy and growing, but I spent literally $100's and 100's and 100's to do so. Now that I upgraded to my 90, once again, I'm spending 100's to keep the population up till it stabilizes a bit.

 

My LFS doesn't have any copepods and no-one seems to be able to send them to Australia but the LFS does have rotifers. Are these good for green mandarins?

The guy at the LFS also said that there is a beach up the road from where I live that I could catch copepods at dusk on the incoming high tide. What would you guys think of that? Worth it? or to likely to get other parasites?

 

Definitely not worth it.Almost positive rotifers will not help feed a Mandarin.

 

Agreed, No good at all. Do an online order as soon as you can.

 

I am definately looking to. But no-where on the internet ships to Australia. Anyone who has cultures of pods or bottled pods only ships to the US.

 

reefculture

Try these guys out.

 

Ahhh.. You are a legend...