75 gallon reef build

[the_fish_man]

lol i actually have one of the lights you want. Sadly not for sale

 

[Hinds04]

you mean it's free

 

[the_fish_man]

Lol. Nope I would atleast want something out of this guy for the money I payed for it. If you haven't found one buy the time I want to sell it you can have it. But you will prob have one buy then lol

 

[mr_X]

you can get a yellow tang. you just have to buy it small, and can't keep it very long.

 

[Hinds04]

I've considered a kole yellow eye as well

 

[Greenmaster]

I have to say this is probably my favorite fish... When my tank is finally going I will try to get a mated pair.

 

[Hinds04]

very hard to keep aren't they?

 

[Greenmaster]

If you can get the ORA Aquacultured ones they are supposed to be pretty good. If not then you need a healthy Pod population to support them. As long as there is food they will eat then they do great. Some times wild ones can be trained to eat store bought food but that's the "hard" part of keeping them, having a good Pod population is best.

 

[Hinds04]

How exactly do I get a pod population?

 

[mr_X]

it takes time. they populate the tank on their own. you can add a bottle of pods to the tank to kick start the colony, but i really don't think a 75 is the place for 2 mandarins that aren't eating prepared foods.

also, you have to take care not to add any other fish that compete with them for food.

 

[Smitty]

Manderines are one of the harder fish to keep from what I've been told. Also, try not to get any other pod eaters or have a LOT of pods because they aren't aggressive and other pod eaters will starve them out. Only for well established (9-12 month old) tanks.

Large sump where they can grow will help with pods. Large tanks with no other pod eaters is good. You can buy pods and put them somewhere in your system to start growing before you get one. Not recommended for the beginner.

How do I know this? I loved them and wanted one for my new tank and everyone I've spoken to told me NO! I may still get one once my tank has been up and running but it will be a 90g with a 55g sump...

 

[Hinds04]

it takes time. they populate the tank on their own. you can add a bottle of pods to the tank to kick start the colony, but i really don't think a 75 is the place for 2 mandarins that aren't eating prepared foods.

also, you have to take care not to add any other fish that compete with them for food.

not really interested in the fish, do the pods provide anything to the tank?

 

[Hinds04]

Some more pics...
FTS

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Side

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The Gang

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Pom Pom

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Tiger Nassarius

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Feather Duster

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[Hinds04]

Hawaiian Zebra Hermit

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[Greenmaster]

it takes time. they populate the tank on their own. you can add a bottle of pods to the tank to kick start the colony, but i really don't think a 75 is the place for 2 mandarins that aren't eating prepared foods.

also, you have to take care not to add any other fish that compete with them for food.

I was saying he could possibly have one if he wanted it... and that I hope to have a pair in mine. If he wanted a pair I believe there are a few aquacultured ones on the market.

not really interested in the fish, do the pods provide anything to the tank?

Yes, they provide movement, they eat small uneaten pieces of food and/or some algae. They also give your fish something to hunt. I believe having pods helps to make some of your fish that only come out to feed, come out more often because they can search for food.

 

[Greenmaster]

OMG you have a pom pom! That's my favorite inveterate.
Looks like the tank is coming along nicely.

 

[Hinds04]

Yea, thats my favorite too. I often wonder a lot of things about his anemones. So many questons.

 

[mr_X]

i think you need a lot more live rock before you consider a mandarin, let alone two. unless like greenmaster said, you can find some that eat prepared foods. this is not a normal occurrence, and is very rare. make sure you see them eating prepared foods BEFORE you purchase them, because it's not something that's easily trainable.

 

[Greenmaster]

i think you need a lot more live rock before you consider a mandarin, let alone two. unless like greenmaster said, you can find some that eat prepared foods. this is not a normal occurrence, and is very rare. make sure you see them eating prepared foods BEFORE you purchase them, because it's not something that's easily trainable.

He said he isn't interested in the mandarins... that was my thing.
Also I believe that the aquacultured ones are all on prepared foods.

not really interested in the fish, do the pods provide anything to the tank?

 

[mr_X]

oh...i misread. gotcha.