in tank refugium

sml41 · 10/29/2008, 07:16 PM

can I do a successful in tank refugium for pods for mandarin? any advice is helpful ; thanks ; 55 gallon, no sump, over the tank filtration , protein skimmer, UV sterilizer

jamest0o0 · 10/29/2008, 07:20 PM

My suggestion would be to just set up a 10g tank with LR rubble and chaeto, that will help a great deal. An in tank refugium would of course help, but probably not enough to support a mandarin. You can always block off a little spot in the tank to help the pod population though.

_E_ · 10/29/2008, 07:25 PM

Refugium will definitely help out with the pod production, but with your tank size, it won't be enough to supply the needs of a hungry mandarin. There have been several reefers on here that have been successful in training mandarins to eat frozen foods. You ought to check over in the fish forum for details.

Rae C. · 10/29/2008, 07:32 PM

I've heard of some people using a plastic soap dish (deep with suction cups) to keep chaeto in their tank. Sort of an in-tank fuge.

Don-Coraleone · 10/29/2008, 08:12 PM

just buy a bottle of pods from reef nutrition and you will be alright with a mandarin.

jamest0o0 · 10/29/2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by makavelli911
just buy a bottle of pods from reef nutrition and you will be alright with a mandarin.

No, a mandarin could go through an entire bottle of pods extremely fast.

pjewett · 10/30/2008, 08:11 AM

I've had an intank refugium in my 30 gal hex for a couple months now....dsb with chaeto and some rubble. I also took a chance and purchased a bottle of pods from ebay and dropped them in there. Within a week I saw a lot of the little guys crawling around the walls of the fuge and then a few weeks ago I started noticing much larger, white, almost shrimp-like guys brawling around in the chaeto. I added 5 nassarius snails to help stir the top level of my 4-5 inch sand bed.

THEN 3 days ago I noticed white dots all over the glass on the display...they look like little, white stars or something. Anyway my clown has been chowing down on them for days...picking them off the glass.

I love mandarins but feel like the advice on them has been very consistent in this forum...that is that it would be very difficult if not possible to maintain a population for a mandarin. Sure there's a ton of them now but I hear a mandarin will take that population down in no time.

The pic is of what it looked like early on...

10/29/2008, 07:16 PM	#1
sml41 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 86	in tank refugium can I do a successful in tank refugium for pods for mandarin? any advice is helpful ; thanks ; 55 gallon, no sump, over the tank filtration , protein skimmer, UV sterilizer

10/29/2008, 07:20 PM	#2
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	My suggestion would be to just set up a 10g tank with LR rubble and chaeto, that will help a great deal. An in tank refugium would of course help, but probably not enough to support a mandarin. You can always block off a little spot in the tank to help the pod population though. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

10/29/2008, 07:25 PM	#3
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	Refugium will definitely help out with the pod production, but with your tank size, it won't be enough to supply the needs of a hungry mandarin. There have been several reefers on here that have been successful in training mandarins to eat frozen foods. You ought to check over in the fish forum for details. __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

10/29/2008, 07:32 PM	#4
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	I've heard of some people using a plastic soap dish (deep with suction cups) to keep chaeto in their tank. Sort of an in-tank fuge. __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

10/30/2008, 08:11 AM	#7
pjewett aquariablog Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Long Island-NY Posts: 383	I've had an intank refugium in my 30 gal hex for a couple months now....dsb with chaeto and some rubble. I also took a chance and purchased a bottle of pods from ebay and dropped them in there. Within a week I saw a lot of the little guys crawling around the walls of the fuge and then a few weeks ago I started noticing much larger, white, almost shrimp-like guys brawling around in the chaeto. I added 5 nassarius snails to help stir the top level of my 4-5 inch sand bed. THEN 3 days ago I noticed white dots all over the glass on the display...they look like little, white stars or something. Anyway my clown has been chowing down on them for days...picking them off the glass. I love mandarins but feel like the advice on them has been very consistent in this forum...that is that it would be very difficult if not possible to maintain a population for a mandarin. Sure there's a ton of them now but I hear a mandarin will take that population down in no time. The pic is of what it looked like early on... __________________ You can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which gets filled 1st! - Burgess Meredith Current Tank Info: 90 gal DT w/sump, Apex, LED's, Vortec MP40

10/29/2008, 08:12 PM	#5
Don-Coraleone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: east coast Posts: 1,478	just buy a bottle of pods from reef nutrition and you will be alright with a mandarin.