six line or mandarin????

If I understand your scenario, you're saying that you have ample 'pods on which either fish could feed, but you can only have one or the other.

I'm all for asking questions and getting opinions, but in your case, I'm wondering; is the intention of your question to find out which fish we all prefer; or are you seeking input on which fish would make less of a dent in your copepod population?

If it's the first, I'd suggest that you stick with what you prefer; and pay less attention to what fish other members like better. If, on the other hand, you're really asking which fish would have less of an impact on your 'pod population, then it would be the sixline, as they're known to more readily take different types of foods without "training," than mandarins, which habitually eat 'pods exclusively; and are harder to break out of their instinctive eating habits, (although there are many articles out there on the internet which explain how many have broken mandarins of their immense desire for 'pods, and got them to eat frozen foods, or even brine).

So what's your intention? Are you asking which fish will eat its fill of 'pods while at the same time allowing the 'pod population to remain renewable? Or are you asking "which fish does everyone like more?"

 

Consider yourself lucky then. More often than not the 6 lines will harass other wrasses to death.

 

I am noticing you only have 50lbs LR in your 55. You should consider adding more rock as it also serves as a place for pods to hide and reproduce in the tank.

Besides the fuge option, which can be a lot of work to setup (and money), you could always setup a pod farm.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-food/going-start-pod-farm-65860.html

I have a 6 line and will be adding a man once I feel my in tank population is high enough and will continue dosing pods from my farm.

 

Sixlines are awesome! Mandarins are too. You might want to set up the sump and have it runnin for a while so it can restock your pods. Unless you plan on supplementing the Mandy's diet with frozen or live. They take more work to take care of. I feed mine from a syringe and airline tube 2x a day. the hard part is getting them to eat frozen. Find one that already eats frozen or live brine. Mine was eating frozen brine right from the LFS. Then i weaned her on mysis. Her belly was sunken in on her sides and underneath. She was basically starved. Now she eats mysis and cyclopeeze. Her underbelly has filled out and her sides are finally filling in. I will not rest til she's fat. I was worried she might not make it until she started accepting mysis.. pheww!

 

+1 get the fish you WANT!

 

ya im asking everyone what they like more if money and any type of variably was compensated for, space, food whatever

 

i like the mandarin a lot more, as they are not bullies like 6 lines get to be.

But, they are not for everyone.

I like moorish idols as well, but I probably won't have one of those.

 

I don't have personal experience, yet. But a semi local fish store SLFS LOL has a biocube 29 with a very healthy looking mandarian that is NOT for sale, hes had it in there for a long time, it just has a ton of live rock in the tank, and it seems very fat and healthy. I look at it everytime I make my way up there 3+ times a month. I know this will be frowned upon by the community here but once my Bio29 has been up for a while im going to try keeping a mandarian myself.

 

ya you should definatley try it just do your hw and starting a pod farm or a fuge would make a world of difference also make sure none of your other fish eat pods thats whats stopping me, stupid sixline but i cant get rid of him ive had him for to long

 

I'm with you aqualung. My mandarin has come close to dying several times. Stomach looked smashed in, sides were disgusting. He looked like a colorful skeleton at points since I have had him. I have 90 gallon total system, about 100lbs live rock, a fuge stuffed with pods and macros. My pods werent making it up to the display fast enough to keep him fed. I FINALLY got him eating live brine shrimp and he is now healthier than ever. I feed the brine various flakes, formula1, 2, etc, to try to get some nutrients into the mandarin and it seems to be working. He is more round than ever.

How would you get that six line out? with 50lbs of rock, it wouldn't be worth trying. Your going to have to take almost every single piece out to be able to scoop the sixline up. Considering it is highly unlikely for both to coexist in such a small tank, I would vote to keep the six line.