Pods all went from refugium to main tank

[vivicat215]

I have a HOB refugium on my 46 gal bow front, I poured a small bottle of pods last weekend and left the pump off for an hour to let them sit, however, the second day morning I didn't see any of the them left in my refugium... they all got washed into the main tank!!! I have 2 ruby red dragonets in there, I don't see any pods in the main tank as they are really really tiny...

Will the pods grow or produce faster than my ruby red dragonets consume them in my main tank?

[username in use]

Originally Posted by vivicat215

Will the pods grow or produce faster than my ruby red dragonets consume them in my main tank?

No. One dragonet in that size tank is ill advised. Two in that size tank is unsustainable unless you get them trained onto a prepared diet.

[Cymonous]

Yeah, I would agree that two dragonets are definitely too many for that sized tank. I have one dragonet with a decently populated fuge, but still wonder if my mandy is getting enough pods.

I would highly suggest to take back at least one of the dragonets.

Do you know if either of them eat mysis or other food?

[davocean]

Most likely your dragonettes will consume and eradicate your display of pods in short time.
If you have macro algae in your fuge there are most likely pods in there too that you just can not see.
I agree, one dragonette in that size tank is iffy at best, two most likely will be a slow death, and that is even if you do have them eating prep'd foods.

[vivicat215]

I have some chaeto in the refugium, not too much.

I always see them picking on the rock and sand but I've never seen them eating mysis... they seem pretty active, always move around in the whole tank.

Is it possible to train them eating prep'd food?

[username in use]

Yes it is. It's a little more difficult when they are free in the tank, and your shrimp are going to get to most of the food before the dragonets do, but it is still doable. It will take some time and you need to be diligent about it. Get a variety of frozen and dried foods and start offering it to them many times a day. Turn the flow off so it doesn't go all over the place and they can approach it. Hopefully they take to it and can live a long time for you that way.

[vivicat215]

Originally Posted by username in use

Yes it is. It's a little more difficult when they are free in the tank, and your shrimp are going to get to most of the food before the dragonets do, but it is still doable. It will take some time and you need to be diligent about it. Get a variety of frozen and dried foods and start offering it to them many times a day. Turn the flow off so it doesn't go all over the place and they can approach it. Hopefully they take to it and can live a long time for you that way.

Thanks a lot Stacy I will take your suggestion and hopefully it will make my dragonets eat!!!

[davocean]

I would look up Paul B's mandarin feeder for the best go at trying to keep a pair in that size tank.
While training dragonettes to eat prepd foods does help, it's more about their metabolism and having a constant supply.
They eat 1-3 pods per minute, so you need to think in line w/ trying to replicate that pattern and providing for it.
It will be challenging.

[vivicat215]

Originally Posted by davocean

I would look up Paul B's mandarin feeder for the best go at trying to keep a pair in that size tank.
While training dragonettes to eat prepd foods does help, it's more about their metabolism and having a constant supply.
They eat 1-3 pods per minute, so you need to think in line w/ trying to replicate that pattern and providing for it.
It will be challenging.

Thanks! I found his posts, it looks like an awesome method, I will give it a try as well.

[thorden]

Ive had good luck dropping freshly hatched bbs into the tank for my mandarin. It will tax your filtration if you need to do it a lot though.