New Reefer

[chefbenry89]

Hey guys! my name is Ben, I finally set up my 1st Saltwater aquaruim and i have not stopped reading since about a month and a half ago. And i still have some questions! if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appriciated. In the future i intend on getting a Mandarin Dragonet, maybe a pair, so how do i know when i have enought Cope/Amphipods? What do they eat, how do i know they r reproducing fast enought? And how can i speed there reproduction?

[returnofsid]

A refugium will vastly increase their population, as it offers them a place to grow and reproduce, without predation.

The question of knowing when you have enough is a tough one. In your other thread, I read that you have a 55 gallon. That's about the minimum size I'd recommend for a single Mandarin. I wouldn't attempt a pair unless you have about twice that sized tank.

Lots of quality live rock, a refugium and lack of other fish that will eat pods will help establish a good population, in time. Buying live pods to pour into your fuge, will help with diversity and speed up the process.

[asting]

you can order them online so you know you have a steady population, and as stated a refugium is a great idea. The pods will enter the tank at a relatively steady rate through the return and should provide food.

[chefbenry89]

aprox how oftem would i need to buy and add them? no way to guarenty production in fuge?

[returnofsid]

If you have quality saltwater, a refugium with a deep sand bed and the addition of Chaeto Macro Algae, as long as you introduce pods, they will grow!!

The important things are to find a source of pods. This could be the live rock you started your tank with, Chaeto you receive from a fellow hobbyist or LFS, refugium starter kits that can be purchased online, pods that can be purchased at LFS or online....etc. The more diverse your sources of pods are, the more diverse of a population you'll end up with.

Another important thing to consider is predation. When people think of fish that eat pods, they think of Wrasses and Mandarins. Almost all fish will eat pods, if they happen upon them. It's just that Wrasses will devour them with relish and Mandarins require them.

Keep your refugium predator free. NO possible predators in the refugium. This includes crabs. The longer you give the population to establish in the refugium, before adding any major pod predators to the tank, the stronger population you'll end up with.

[chefbenry89]

ok, so i have a deep sand bed a very pourus peice of live rock and cheato in the fuge I also introduced 1000 amph/copepods. should get more pods from other retailers to improve diversity? and i guess i have to catch the hermits... is the coral banded shrimp, sexy shrimp ok? i guess i should put the snails and conches in there instead?

[returnofsid]

I'd get all crabs and shrimp out of fuge. Keep just snails in there to eat detritus.

The live rock will trap detritus, which could add to a nitrate problem.

I take it you introduced live amphipods and copepods that you purchased? Were they active in the bottle? Good!!

Wouldn't hurt to get as much diversity in there as you can. However, you can accomplish this by buying Chaeto from a few different sources. It SHOULD come loaded with pods, micro brittle stars, bristle worms etc.

[asting]

+1
looks like a good move. I'd wait a bit before adding your mandarin, but that's the same route I plan to take.
What size fuge?

[TimH07]

off subject sid, i read somewhere that dowflake (mentioned in your 2part links) has stopped the filtration of borrium (i think thats it??) in their calcium chloride.

im pretty sure thats what it is but i forget off the top of my head, what i read said not to use dowflake made after 2007.

[charlie]

off subject sid, i read somewhere that dowflake (mentioned in your 2part links) has stopped the filtration of borrium (i think thats it??) in their calcium chloride.

im pretty sure thats what it is but i forget off the top of my head, what i read said not to use dowflake made after 2007.

That is exactly what I heard and read also Tim, good call, unless he is using the old stuff yet.

[TimH07]

i found a source of B-ionic for 40 dollars per 2 gallons, its my choice for now for 2 part additive, funny though, most sites i looked up for a bargin had the same stuff for 27 dollars then in fine print 16 dollars shipping LOL..

i considered sids 2 part and after researching i found what you also read, funny that poster managed to buy 200 lbs of dowflake when he heard the change so he's good for ... i dunno 20 years?

[charlie]

I am using some stuff that I got from TB Aquatics, it is based off of Randy's 2 part recipe.

I don't know about 20 years, but I hope he doesn't only have softies in his tank!!!!;)

[returnofsid]

It is true that DOW changed the way they process their DOW flake and DOW pellet products. At first, this caused quite a stir among some of the chemistry gurus on several forums. I had a good supply of Dry Z Air, so wasn't too concerned about it, as this was older product, purchased prior to the processing change.

Now it would appear that the DOW flakes and DOW pellet products are still safe to use. Several of the chemistry gurus on various forums have done some studies and many hobbyists have continued to use the newly processed products, with no ill effect. That being said, I'd still suggest you do some research on various forums, before making a decision.

I no longer use Dry Z Air, as I've been unable to find it in the stores I used to find it in. I now use, Damp Rid. It's the same as Dry Z Air, but a different name brand. Before deciding to use it, I checked out the MSDS sheets of both products, to find out that they're identical...lol. Both are used along with the DOW pellet instructions.

[chefbenry89]

Hmmm.... My cheato came very boring... where do you suggest? the fuge it linked with the sump for a total of like 4-5 gal, maybe more. i have a canaster filterering the display water into the sump, them being gravity fed back into the tank.

[returnofsid]

I'd try to find some local reefers, LFS or a local club. If neither of those pan out, you can usually find someone selling chaeto, on this forum or others, when they prune theirs back. You can even find it on Ebay. Don't pay more than $12-15.00 for a sandwich sized ziplock though...including shipping. If it's selling for more than that, you can find better deals...lol.

Heck, if you have many local reefers in your area, you should be able to find it for free. I don't think I've ever paid for it and I've given away LOTS.

[chefbenry89]

now i have nothing but alot of sand and cheato and snails (conch is kinda a type of snail right?) ok so what can i get that will not eat them, any other critters or should i get some more snails?

[chefbenry89]

i dont know anyone who is into it. this havn't been the easiest thing i have done thus far.

[TimH07]

how old is your tank? what part of pa are you in?

[chefbenry89]

2 months, west shore Harrisburg Area

[chefbenry89]

Thanks for all your help!!!