My Future Mandarin Goby

[laplizard]

So i want a Mandarin but my tank has only been set up really for two or three months! Way too early for a Mandarin. But I got a bottle of Copepods! So I am on my way! I heard you can increase your population of copepods by putting them in the refugium? Do i just through them in there. Do i need live rock down there for them to live? Wondering if i just trow them in there wont they just get sucked up by the pump? Just wondering how to get started? --dom--

 

[three-spot]

Go to www.oceanpods.com and read the stuff on culturing your own pods in a seperate container. Some of them do get sucked up the return pump, wich is how they get into the main tank for your mandrin to eat. I don't think it's nessisary to have live rock in your fuge for the pods, but I would suggest it anyway, or atleast some macroagae.

 

[laplizard]

Yeah I wasn't sure if the live rock give them more of a place to go so them dont get "just sucked up" and that they have more of a chance to grow in numbers. At least b4 they are sent to their death as sacrifice to the fish gods above. LOL sorry! Thank you for the lead!

 

[SARBoy]

You could try a "sump" above the display tank. this alows the cheeky criters t get back into your main tank by a grav feed so they don't get mashed by a pump. you could also try a Pod rock house in your main tank, this is a mound of LR that is too close together to alow fish in to eat the cheeky guys so gives them a "safe house" to breed in your tank. hope this helps, but in all cases i would have the tank running for 6 mounths just to be sure.

 

[plummike]

Why not just seed your tank with them. Take some rubble and place behind rocks in back, put the Pods there. Its like a Pod hatchery.

 

[chkra_hp]

I prefer to grow them in my refugium. Im been growing them for a while, preparing for my madarin soon to come.

 

[daytonians]

A friend of mine put pieces of real sea sponge in his refugium. Pods will inhabit them. Then he rotates them into his tank. Like once a week put a new one in your tank, and return the old one to replenish. Seems to work good.

 

[laplizard]

that is a really good idea i may try that! thank you much!! --dom--

 

[Lion_Babe]

I have never had to seed a tank, but several people i know just seed their main tank. They have lots of LR. One of them uses the sponge method. Both seem to work well.
Godd luck.
I love my "Mandies"!