Rainmann
12/22/2008, 12:41 PM
Greetings,
I am seeking some advice / opinions as to preparing my tank to support a Mandarin. My tank is small, but has LOTS of rock that is very well established.
I have a 29 gal tall tank with about 80 lbs. or so of live rock, and 3" or so sand bed. The tank uses a huge canister filter (which gets cleaned once a week). It's loaded with carbon, bio balls, and gravel. There is no sump, and the tank is not drilled. I have recently installed a CPR Aquafuge on the back of the tank with a 3" sand bed, rubble, and cheato. I also have a nice Deltec HOB skimmer. I have several small corals, a single clown and cleaner shrimp. And of course, lots of janitors. The tank is extremely solid - the chemistry pretty much never changes.
The tank has been established and running for 8 years now. It has always used canister filters (different ones over the years). Once the refugium becomes nice and seasoned, I would very much like to ditch the canister all together. Just use a carbon pouch in the skimmer. Have any of you successfully kept a single Mandrin in an environment such as this? I don't have a problem supplementing with live pods on occasion, but I'm hoping that my rocks and fuge will be enough to sufficiently handle a breeding colony. Any constructive info will be appreciated!
I am seeking some advice / opinions as to preparing my tank to support a Mandarin. My tank is small, but has LOTS of rock that is very well established.
I have a 29 gal tall tank with about 80 lbs. or so of live rock, and 3" or so sand bed. The tank uses a huge canister filter (which gets cleaned once a week). It's loaded with carbon, bio balls, and gravel. There is no sump, and the tank is not drilled. I have recently installed a CPR Aquafuge on the back of the tank with a 3" sand bed, rubble, and cheato. I also have a nice Deltec HOB skimmer. I have several small corals, a single clown and cleaner shrimp. And of course, lots of janitors. The tank is extremely solid - the chemistry pretty much never changes.
The tank has been established and running for 8 years now. It has always used canister filters (different ones over the years). Once the refugium becomes nice and seasoned, I would very much like to ditch the canister all together. Just use a carbon pouch in the skimmer. Have any of you successfully kept a single Mandrin in an environment such as this? I don't have a problem supplementing with live pods on occasion, but I'm hoping that my rocks and fuge will be enough to sufficiently handle a breeding colony. Any constructive info will be appreciated!