Copepods

[cbayer]

Well I want to get a mandarin so I was wanting to know if I needed a refugium or could I just insert some copepods into my sump and let them take off. I know you have to feed them but do they need algae to grow as well. Basically whats the easiest way to get a good colony of copepods going for a manadarin. I dont have alot of room in my sump for anything extravagant. Any suggestions?

45 Gallons
40lbs Live Rock/Sand

[apedroza]

If you can make a refugium in your sump do it that way. Copepods flourish with algae present and live rock rubble to hide in. Plus the algae acts as a nutrient sponge for nitrates.

[Darth-Tater]

Then go to CB pets and buy a bottle. The little buggers thrive.

DT

[cbayer]

How much algae is needed and fast does it grow. I was thinking about getting a plastic container with holes and fill it with sand and put some algae in there. I just dont want it to take over my sump and get in my pump. Also how much light is needed.

[cbayer]

How much algae is needed and fast does it grow. I was thinking about getting a plastic container with holes and fill it with sand and put some algae in there. I just dont want it to take over my sump and get in my pump. Also how much light is needed.

[txyaloo]

Lots of people use a 65watt clip on light from Home Depot or Lowes to light their fuges. If you get a fist sized ball of chaetomorpha, it will grow extremely fast under most conditions.

You might want to check out http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html for info on fuge lighting.

Also, I hate to say it, but you're success in raising a mandarin in a 45 gallon tank is going to be limited. I've seen report of people with 125+ gallon tanks that had trouble keeping them alive. You might want to check out these two threads on here before purchasing one.

http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=...ic&t=22408
http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=...ic&t=22045

Good luck with it -