Mandrin and copepods

Dingo Dog · 08/13/2006, 01:02 PM

Right after I bought my first and only Mandrin I dumped 4 bottles, each containing up to 2500 microns, of Tigger pods into my 46 gal. tank. That was about 6 months ago and my Mandrin is still looking wonderful. I've heard some people say you can see the copepods swimming around the LR but mine must be invisible.

So my questions is this. Do copepods reproduce and remain pretty much constant within the tank or should I give it a booster shot occasionally?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...n_Mandrin3.jpg

kuoka · 08/13/2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dingo Dog
Right after I bought my first and only Mandrin I dumped 4 bottles, each containing up to 2500 microns, of Tigger pods into my 46 gal. tank. That was about 6 months ago and my Mandrin is still looking wonderful. I've heard some people say you can see the copepods swimming around the LR but mine must be invisible.

So my questions is this. Do copepods reproduce and remain pretty much constant within the tank or should I give it a booster shot occasionally?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...n_Mandrin3.jpg

I just got a Mandarin for my 72 Gal and he seems happy swimming around looking for Copepods but I haven't bought any. Should I buy some for the little guy? Where can I get them?

Sk8r · 08/13/2006, 01:28 PM

I give them every couple of months---my little female has goby help disposing of them.

I get them from www.reefnutrition.com If you want them to reproduce, get the tiggerpods. The arctipods are preserved food.

Also feed phyto to the tank every evening after the lights are out. The pods learn dark is a safe time to feed. They don't seem to sleep, but the mandarin does.

reefnutrition's phytofeast is excellent.

josh holt · 08/13/2006, 04:55 PM

i have had a mandrin in my 125 for just over a year. i have pods growing in my fuge and tank and have never had to add any. he has always been fat and happy.

Ryanqk · 08/13/2006, 05:15 PM

Ok, i've posted several times about this feeding issue with mandarines, i've owned three, and thanks to unf i was able to experiment around a bit. I keep a Refugium, seperated entirely from the other tank, i mean on the other side of the room. I added a supplement of 3 species of copepods that i got from i think seattle, if you really wanna know pvt me. I dumped 2/3 of it into this 10gl refuge, the rest went in the 30gl where my mandarine lives. they did good in both tanks but the pop exploded in my refugium, i feed them phytoplankton (reefblend) in both tanks and they multiply. A booster is naturally a good choice every few months but with the refugium ive made a long term supply, i have a fat mandarine in a 30gl tank, and no i do not use a skimmer, that inhibits them i'm pretty sure since i tested it.

Ill subscribe to this forum so i can keep an eye on it...

Happy reefing
Ryan

PS some live in substrate, some in the water column, some in rock and other places, it depends on species

Dingo Dog · 08/13/2006, 08:13 PM

Thanks for all your response. I don't have a refugium, just a gutted canister for extra water flow, 3 1200 maxijets and a Ramora C skimmer. So what I think I'm hearing is that I probably need to add a bottle twice a year.

Ryanqk · 08/13/2006, 08:39 PM

yeah maybe every 3-4 months even. and adding them to the slowest moving part of your tank, maybe in the rockwork via a tube....
Just my word.
Ryan

seafarm · 08/14/2006, 12:55 AM

A couple of aquarium stores have shared with me a new idea they are trying - Mandarin's in nanno tanks. They are taking Mandarin's that they have tested and KNOW feed well on Arcti-Pods, putting them in the nannos and making sure the customers know they MUST feed daily with the pod concentrate. So far it seems to be working pretty well. Maybe we can call them "Mandarin Mini's"

Ryanqk · 08/14/2006, 11:40 AM

Damn ok that would be awesome to keep one in a nano, they look best in them, but i'd be just plain scared to do it unless i KNEW it would take the food. Mine has to eat live copepods and nothin else. I imagine they would have to be tank raised to accept frozen foods or cyclopeeze or whatever they are feeding.
Ryan

08/13/2006, 01:02 PM	#1
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Mandrin and copepods Right after I bought my first and only Mandrin I dumped 4 bottles, each containing up to 2500 microns, of Tigger pods into my 46 gal. tank. That was about 6 months ago and my Mandrin is still looking wonderful. I've heard some people say you can see the copepods swimming around the LR but mine must be invisible. So my questions is this. Do copepods reproduce and remain pretty much constant within the tank or should I give it a booster shot occasionally? http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...n_Mandrin3.jpg

08/13/2006, 01:28 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I give them every couple of months---my little female has goby help disposing of them. I get them from www.reefnutrition.com If you want them to reproduce, get the tiggerpods. The arctipods are preserved food. Also feed phyto to the tank every evening after the lights are out. The pods learn dark is a safe time to feed. They don't seem to sleep, but the mandarin does. reefnutrition's phytofeast is excellent. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/13/2006, 04:55 PM	#4
josh holt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: redding Posts: 322	i have had a mandrin in my 125 for just over a year. i have pods growing in my fuge and tank and have never had to add any. he has always been fat and happy. __________________ reef tanks are such a headache yet i keep coming back to them. Current Tank Info: 40 gal sps tank (36"Lx15"Dx18"H), dual 175 mh lights w 15k iwasaki bulbs, 20gal sump, bubble magus nac6 skimmer, blue line hd external return pump feeding the tank through two 1/2" penductors, two koralia 1 powerheads + more on the wish list.

08/13/2006, 05:15 PM	#5
Ryanqk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,381	Copepod Refugium Ok, i've posted several times about this feeding issue with mandarines, i've owned three, and thanks to unf i was able to experiment around a bit. I keep a Refugium, seperated entirely from the other tank, i mean on the other side of the room. I added a supplement of 3 species of copepods that i got from i think seattle, if you really wanna know pvt me. I dumped 2/3 of it into this 10gl refuge, the rest went in the 30gl where my mandarine lives. they did good in both tanks but the pop exploded in my refugium, i feed them phytoplankton (reefblend) in both tanks and they multiply. A booster is naturally a good choice every few months but with the refugium ive made a long term supply, i have a fat mandarine in a 30gl tank, and no i do not use a skimmer, that inhibits them i'm pretty sure since i tested it. Ill subscribe to this forum so i can keep an eye on it... Happy reefing Ryan PS some live in substrate, some in the water column, some in rock and other places, it depends on species

08/13/2006, 08:39 PM	#7
Ryanqk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,381	yeah maybe every 3-4 months even. and adding them to the slowest moving part of your tank, maybe in the rockwork via a tube.... Just my word. Ryan __________________ MOM! I'm God Of The Sea People! Behold my tiny minions gloveling at my likeness! Current Tank Info: 75gl display, 20gl long fuge, CPR overflow, Octopuss NW150 skimmer, 4 x 110w VHO T12's and supplemental actinic, ongoing projects...

08/13/2006, 08:13 PM	#6
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Thanks for all your response. I don't have a refugium, just a gutted canister for extra water flow, 3 1200 maxijets and a Ramora C skimmer. So what I think I'm hearing is that I probably need to add a bottle twice a year.

08/14/2006, 12:55 AM	#8
seafarm Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 153	A couple of aquarium stores have shared with me a new idea they are trying - Mandarin's in nanno tanks. They are taking Mandarin's that they have tested and KNOW feed well on Arcti-Pods, putting them in the nannos and making sure the customers know they MUST feed daily with the pod concentrate. So far it seems to be working pretty well. Maybe we can call them "Mandarin Mini's" __________________ Randy Reed, Reed Mariculture I am a Vendor - the Instant Algae and Reef Nutrition Products

08/14/2006, 11:40 AM	#9
Ryanqk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,381	Damn ok that would be awesome to keep one in a nano, they look best in them, but i'd be just plain scared to do it unless i KNEW it would take the food. Mine has to eat live copepods and nothin else. I imagine they would have to be tank raised to accept frozen foods or cyclopeeze or whatever they are feeding. Ryan __________________ MOM! I'm God Of The Sea People! Behold my tiny minions gloveling at my likeness! Current Tank Info: 75gl display, 20gl long fuge, CPR overflow, Octopuss NW150 skimmer, 4 x 110w VHO T12's and supplemental actinic, ongoing projects...