fish compatibility for a mandarin

Been following DRCool's DIY thread using a HOB filter as a pod farm. At some point in the future, I'm going to convert my HOB to this in preparations for a Mandarin. I've really been wanting one of those for a long time.

Reference:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-hob-fuge-63086.html


So I want to check to make sure none of my current fish will be a problem (or anything else won't be a problem).

2 Osc Clowns (paired), one 6-line wrasse, one bi-color blenny

No plans on adding any other fish (other than the mandarin) unless one of these dies.

15 or so hermits. CC substrate.

Any issues with any of this, compatibility wise?


My plan would be to not get the mandarin until after tank has a steady pod population. So, all things considered, a few months out minimum.


Equipment listed in sig. I have no sump or refuge (hence the DIY HOB chaeto/pod farm).


Any other tips or pointers on mandarins appreciated too.

I believe these are pretty calm fish that tend to hang out on the bottom that need a stable environment with lots of pods.

 

Also, other than the look of the fin, is there any reason why I might prefer a male over a female (or visa versa) for this fish?

 

I would take a thinker over the bucket of pods instead of the filter conversions. You are going to get a heck of a lot more pods out of the bucket system than the filter. Also, keep in mind that DIC tank is 10 gallons. In all reality that fuge system is going to do little to nothing over a 55 like yours.
But all those personal feelings aside the mandarin will get along with just about anything. Nothing I have kept has even so much as looked twice at it. And the mandarin itself is very peaceful and minds it's own business cruising the tank.
Mine is a male. I haven't kept a female, but I do not believe there is any personality difference between the two.

 

I don't really have anywhere for buckets in my current setup. So I was shooting for something small and compact.

The end result is to supply enough pods for pretty much the one mandarin. I was thinking whether that one mandarin was in a 10 or a 55g wouldn't make much difference. (But, I guess that's really more of a question/assumption on my part).

I'm not looking at this as a nitrate reducing fuge or anything... that's incidental at best; so I guess my question is if this will supply enough pods for one mandarin (considering the other hungry fish that eat prepared foods) in my 55.

More thoughts on this?

 

I have a mandarin in a 46 for 1 1/2years and I feed tiggerpods every few months at night. He is doing great. No body bothers him. Good Luck