Mandarin in a 50 gallon?

[bjoiner]

I've been doing a little research on Mandarin fish and would like some opinions. Everything I've read said that Mandarins do better in a tank at least a year old, so I've got some time.

I am almost done cycling my new 50 gallon tank with builtin over flow and sump. I do not have a refugium which, from what I've read is crutial to keeping a mandarin. I saw a couple of in-tank refugiums that have suction cups and a power head attached for water flow.

http://www.northcoastmarines.com/pics/p ... fugium.jpg

Is it acceptable to use one of these instead of having a builtin refugium for food for mandarins?

I was also reading that many people just let the return pump, pump the pods into the tank as they get washed over the side of the refugium and sucked up. How much traveling do pods do? - Does the refugium need to be directly next to the pump or could they make it through a baffle? OR do you just let the pods grow in the refugium and feed them directly to the display tank?



Finally (or rather, firstly) is a 50 gallon too small for a mandarin?

Sorry for the long post and the many questions.

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to have a 'fuge for pods the best way to set it up is to pump water into the fuge and let it drain back to the tank. I'm not sure a small in tank one will do much for you. IMO a 50 is to small for a mandarin unless you can get one that eats prepared foods.

 

[bjoiner]

Thanks Mark,

Doing some more poking around, other people said the same thing. (Someday when I'm rich and can afford a tank the size of my bedroom...)

But, that's why I'm doing the research now.

 

[Anonymous]

Too small.

 

[WRASSER]

i dont think 50 gals. is to small for the mandrin. what is important is the maturity of the tank. the more pods the better for the survial rate.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that a 50 is way to small unless you had a large refugium and restocked it regularly.

Louey