New Dwarf setup suggestions and comments pleas

[Seanewb]

I just had a custom tank built for a new dwarf setup. The tank is just under 5 gals of show and about 8 fuge. The fuge wraps around the the show tank in an L shape. My idea was to make a small tank area for the dwarfs and try to provide a more stable enviroment with the fuge attached. The tank comes in today so I can get some pics taken and post them. Now for the setup I was thinking about a shallow black sandbed, a couple small piles of rock(rubble mabey) on both sides and some sort of hitch in the middle(possibly gorg?) I'll have plenty of time for setting up before getting any SH's. I'm going on vacation the end of April so no critters before then. I'm in no rush hehe.
Questions
1. Best Macro for the fuge? And what else should I keep back there? Should I also keep some macro in the show part.?
2. If I use tigerpods should I try and establish them in the fuge? And how much would end up in the show?
3. Heard mention of some gorg. feeding on light and some having to be spot fed. How do I tell which is which? I'd assume the light feeders will be a better way to go?
Thanks for the help!

 

[ReefNutPA]

Interesting idea for a set up. I've kept/raised dwarfs for the last three or four years in a standard 10 gal tank.

Keep in mind, anything live (ie: live rock rubble & gorgonian) added to the tank increases your chance of introducing hydroids to the tank. White polyped gorgonians need to be fed, colored polyped gorgonians get the majority of their nutrition from intense lighting, which you do not want on a low-flow high-nutrient tank like a dwarf tank.

Tiger pods will be eaten by adult dwarfs, but will be too large for dwarf fry. Either way, you'll still need to supplement their feedings with newly hatched or enriched bbs.

Best of luck with your project!

Tom

 

[Seanewb]

Thanks Tom! Yes I will supplement with bbs and figure out a good system and feed schedule. Thats good the adults will eat the tiger pods. By stocking them in the fuge will they thrive in there and continously be filtered into the show tank? Not sure how that works. Anything else I should be trying to grow back there? Tank came in today I will snap some pics soon as I get a chance.

 

[Reefvette]

Denitrifier

Denitrifier

I found someone with a denitrifier that has anywhere from 5 -10 mil pods every day.

I have been feeding tiggers pods and these small copepods to my dwarf horses and babies.

The pods from the denitrifier are minute compared to tigger pods.

A small poland spring bttle last me two weeks.

I will not feed bbs because of the lack of nutrition and fear of hydroids from egg casing.

I have them in a specimin container in my main tank till my pairs three gallon tank is fully stocked with pods and cycled.

Its so cute to watch the week old babies actually start to hunt. They are so cute

 

[Seanewb]

Where do you get the pods from?

 

[Reefvette]

try to

try to

find someone with a denitrifier in a reef club around you.
My club is in NJ and the person with the defitrifier is from NY

you gotta look around.

 

[Seanewb]

I'm not sure about the whole denitrifier thing but I will look into it mabey check the local fish store? Do you add everything to the fuge or straight to the tank. Will this stuff establish itself in the fuge or will it have to be added daily? I will have 3 or so months before any seahorses are added.

 

[ReefNutPA]

Adding pods, droplets of water, etc from a reef tank or any non-dwarf tank is inviting a hydroid outbreak.

Stick with what is true and tested for your first dwarf tank: hatching brine, feeding out within 6-12 hours or enriching older bbs. It IS advisable to either decap your brine eggs first or purchase already decapped eggs.

Tom

 

[Seanewb]

I'm gonna go ahead and start getting the hang of hatching the bbs I've read up on it just need some hands on. I'll also be using one of the two suggested black sands in the other thread.

 

[Seanewb]

Will a MJ606 be too much flow? I'm also thinking of using a 2g cube for a qt tank would a AC50 be ok for that?