Future Fish purchase/ copepod eaters.

[firemountain]

In looking at a future fish purchase, I am considering either a Mandarin, or a few Anthias.

I have a 65g. mixed reef. Only fish are a pair of mated clowns, 3 cleaner shirimp, and some snails. The mandarin and Anthias I really want in the tank, but I know that they both eat Copepods.

Can I keep both in this tank, esp. with my tank size and the fact that they both eat Copepods. Right now I do not have a Refugium, but I am in the process of doing the Aquaclear 70 refugium conversion, and plan to grow pods in their with Chaeto. It's not so much for nutrient export, but more for pods.

If I had to pick only one, I would actually favor the Madarin. With a 65g. tank, I know I can't keep a lot of fish anyway, so they mine as well be colorful vibrant.

Any input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Betta132]

What kind of clowns?

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would skip the mandarin and go wrasse.

 

[illuminum]

Even if you get the fuge, you'd have to wait a while to really grow your pod population. I don't know how many pods they eat. The closest I've ever gotten to a number is ALOT so, hopefully someone else can give a more accurate assessment on the mandarin.

 

[o2manyfish]

Not sure that I would consider pods for Anthias. Pods are usually scurring around on the rock, substrate and corals. They don't particularly cruise in the water column.

My experience with Anthias is that they don't pick off the rocks for their food, and only take things out of the water column.


To get a good pod population going (for the mandarin) you need a refugium, or lots of rock either in the tank or the sump, and a good starter population of pods. Then with stable tank conditions and the feeding of phyto plankton the pod population will grow.

Dave B

 

[firemountain]

What kind of clowns?

Sorry....should have been more clear. Mated Ocellaris pair.

 

[firemountain]

Not sure that I would consider pods for Anthias. Pods are usually scurring around on the rock, substrate and corals. They don't particularly cruise in the water column.

My experience with Anthias is that they don't pick off the rocks for their food, and only take things out of the water column.


To get a good pod population going (for the mandarin) you need a refugium, or lots of rock either in the tank or the sump, and a good starter population of pods. Then with stable tank conditions and the feeding of phyto plankton the pod population will grow.

Dave B

I knew that the Anthias are mid tank cruisers. When searching on this forum, I had read will eat pods as part of their diet. Maybe if the Anthias aren't fed frequently, they will start to pick off the pods on the rock work (who knows...just a guess).

My tank parameters are very stable, and have about 70 lbs of rock work in the DT. I am definitely going to make sure my pod population is in abundance before I make the purchase. I currently broadcast Marine Snow and Reef Roids on a weekly basis, so feeing for the pods is covered.

Do you think that the using an Aquaclear 70 converted into a fuge (with the mods that are necessary) would be enough to house the pods with Chaeto?

 

[snorvich]

Not sure that I would consider pods for Anthias. Pods are usually scurring around on the rock, substrate and corals. They don't particularly cruise in the water column.

My experience with Anthias is that they don't pick off the rocks for their food, and only take things out of the water column.


To get a good pod population going (for the mandarin) you need a refugium, or lots of rock either in the tank or the sump, and a good starter population of pods. Then with stable tank conditions and the feeding of phyto plankton the pod population will grow.

Dave B

This. For best results, anthias should be fed multiple times per day from the water column.

 

[Moort82]

I'm with Dave B above and would suggest that Anthias aren't direct competition for Mandarins as one is a planktavore and the other a benthic feeder. Anthias are best described as plankton pickers and take their food out of the water column. I've kept quite a few species and never seen them eat from the substrate. If you get them feeding (some are very tricky) then multiple feeds a day should stop them bothing the copepod populations much.
In terms of care I think the mandarins are actually much easier (depending on anthia species, some are easy others near impossible) and in your tank would be a better option than a small shoal of anthias, provided you have enough to feed one.

 

[firemountain]

I'm with Dave B above and would suggest that Anthias aren't direct competition for Mandarins as one is a planktavore and the other a benthic feeder. Anthias are best described as plankton pickers and take their food out of the water column. I've kept quite a few species and never seen them eat from the substrate. If you get them feeding (some are very tricky) then multiple feeds a day should stop them bothing the copepod populations much.
In terms of care I think the mandarins are actually much easier (depending on anthia species, some are easy others near impossible) and in your tank would be a better option than a small shoal of anthias, provided you have enough to feed one.

I was looking at the Lyretail Anthias from Live Aquaria, specifically the females from the Indian Ocean.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+20+1512&pcatid=1512

 

[Moort82]

Those anthias are possible the hardiest and best species to choose. They are normally easy to feed and not particularly aggressive in my experience.