Thinking about adding a mandarin

[stingythingy45]

BTW Andy,
I do hear you on how some of the older gurus don't show on the boards much anymore.
It could have some to do with it being summer as well.
Seems the boards do slow during the nice weather and pick up when the weather turns cold.

 

[livewire]

Well what ARE you doing for husbandry? Because most people in this hobby that feed 1/2 a cube a day and nothing else have issues with phosphate eventually. And that is despite rinsing food and using RO/DI. It sounds like you are leaving a lot out.

And I would agree with your point #4, except that people come here looking for ADVICE, i.e. they are trying to determine whether or not they should buy something based on the current body of knowledge in the hobby. They are trying to be responsible, or as you say, doing their homework. But that's kind of I don't of such a demanding system.

Honestly, most of the best people have left this for um or hardly contribute anymore (Rob, Calciumbuf, Aquaman, Greg Hiller, the list goes on) because everyone acts like an authority when most people here have no clue and just toss out the latest meme in the hobby. Ever notice how most of the people with the best knowledge never comment anymore? They just use the forums to sell stuff. That's because people that have been in the hobby for two months are arguing with reef keepers of 20 years. In fact, almost all of the most beautiful tanks I have seen in the area are not members here at all because of this.

Look owen asked for comments I gave him one. If you want to be a troll, good luck to you. peolple leave because they are tired of of seeing negative banter. If you don't like the way things are going find another place. Your negativity in not appreciated

 

[Andy V]

Nobody is being a troll.

Your point #4 was invalid, since the guy came looking for advice.

I made it clear in a previous post that I was not directing anything at you personally, it's just you took it that way. I asked about your husbandry because you seem to be having a lot better results than most people, so god forbid I ask a question on a discussion forum. You are feeding a hell of a lot more than most people, and somehow not seeing any of the negative results. I am curious how this is possible, hence the question.

 

[stingythingy45]

Honestly,I was curious as well.
Was wondering if this was a fish only system also.
As the PO4 and NO3 would be quite high unless water changes were frequent.
I'll get a cyano bloom simply from feeding too much mysis or even just a little frozen cyclopeeze.
I would have to pass on a mandarin if I had to over feed to keep it fed in a reef tank.

 

[livewire]

Nobody is being a troll.

Your point #4 was invalid, since the guy came looking for advice.

I made it clear in a previous post that I was not directing anything at you personally, it's just you took it that way. I asked about your husbandry because you seem to be having a lot better results than most people, so god forbid I ask a question on a discussion forum. You are feeding a hell of a lot more than most people, and somehow not seeing any of the negative results. I am curious how this is possible, hence the question.

My appologies. but yes I heavily overfeed. Andy the point I was trying to make that got missed was " If you want something bad enough you will do whatever it takes." Like a pod culture, brine, spot feeding,. Perhaps I was too blunt in My fiirst statement. There is a lot of husbandry that was left out for typings sake. But once again All I meant was do your research and propper planning and you will be successful.

 

[JohnK]

Everybody is trying to be helpful, but it gets muddy when we're just typing in cyberspace....

" If you want something bad enough you will do whatever it takes."
True for some people, not so true for others. I'm pretty sure we have all seen examples of people asking questions when they already have their minds made up and they just really want to find someone to agree with them. Think of the good old "can I keep a tang in a XX gal tank?" threads.

Livewire, can you elaborate on what you do to manage nutirents with your heavily fed system?

Personally my advice to the OP would be to stay away from the mandarin for now. When in doubt, err on the side of caution for the sake of the fish, coral, or annoying little dog

 

[Owen386]

Well a lot of stuff here to seed threw,..... Lol love forum arguments fun to read... Think I'll hold off a little on the mandarin great looking fish though! If I were to get it though I would do whatever it would take to keep it alive, even if that meant giving it to someone with more of a mature pod heavy tank. Thanks for everyones time and advice, if any one would like to suggest another fish to add to my system I love suggestions.


-Owen

 

[stingythingy45]

I don't think it was an argument.Just spirted debate,and that's good.
I applaud your decision to wait on the mandarin.

 

[JohnK]

second that, IMO a lot of the best discussions are a little spirited. Sometimes it just gets a little tricky to seperate the another person's "spirited comment" from what might seem to be just plain rude

 

[livewire]

Everybody is trying to be helpful, but it gets muddy when we're just typing in cyberspace....

" If you want something bad enough you will do whatever it takes."
True for some people, not so true for others. I'm pretty sure we have all seen examples of people asking questions when they already have their minds made up and they just really want to find someone to agree with them. Think of the good old "can I keep a tang in a XX gal tank?" threads.

Livewire, can you elaborate on what you do to manage nutirents with your heavily fed system?

sure Start with filtration.
2 200 micron filter socks
within each sock is 500ml of purigen in THE BAG
skimmer is an aquac ev-180 with a mag 9.5
in front of the gate valve there are 2 more 500ml BAGs of purigen
fuge has 10-20lbs of rubble cheato and red gracilliaria macro( quite overgrown )
return pump is also a mag 9.5 running full tilt
flow in the tank is 2 vortech mp10 on reef crest.
top of with ro every morning
10-20 gal water changes biweekly with oceanic salt an ro/di.
1 hour of my time everyday

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like the purigen is a big part of your nutrient managment strategy. I've never fiddled with the stuff, but it sounds like it's working for you and important to note here.

Fairly aggressive carbon dosing might also be a potential approach to managing nutrients in a heavily fed system, but might also have less desirable effects for this application such as decreasing natural pod populations due to reducing the food sources for their food sources?

Either way, we're talking about something a bit more complex than your average basic reef system


Oh, and BTW, much credit to you for spending an hour a day on your system. I worry that I would shock my system if I spent more than 10 min a week on maintence

 

[Calciumbuf]

LOL I can see some things don't change about this forum, One thing I always use to preach on this board was for people to remember how easy it is to take things out of context on the internet, When you take facial expression and tone of voice away from people it is difficult to understand one's meaning or interpretation.
That being said I have a mandarin (wild caught ) doing well for over 5yrs in a 300gal full reef I would not consider one in anything less than a 180 and fully established for well over a couple of years. As far as all those nutrient control methods remember the K.I.S.S. method and you'll never go wrong. I'll crawl back into my hole now LOL.

 

[reefsane88]

honestly all fish are better off in the wild than even 1000 gallon system ,with that said quite frankly im tired of people saying what u can and cant do . good with holding off on the mandarin obviously something changed ur mind so u are not ready.but get ur knowledge rite on the specific animal and when u feel u can provide a somewhat relitively good home buy it feed it and condition it . some fish cant handle the stress off bieng in a glass cage and all fish will not lasts there natural life span reguardless of water ,tank size or diet , with that said my opinion would be to try it once when u feel ready if u fail miserably atleast u found the correct answer that u cannot keep this animal if u have succes ur gonna be happy u took the chance u will be wrong if u keep trying after failing since u are just buying them to kill them ,i got my family member to purchase a mandarin as her first fish in a 55 gallon tank we got some live rock that had a bunch of goodies on it made sure water cond were appropriate and now she has male and female for almost 3 yrs no issues ofcorse they eat feozen foods wich is always a bennifit to ne fish ur gonna buy ,but my main point is others have different opinions ,systems and beliefs different feeding regiments and thatts why some succeed and some dont ,dont let ne one tell u that u cannot keep a fish just prepare urself for the animals overall requirements , and for the dog thing id say the same study and make sure u can givit and appropriate living but in this case i think that is the wrong comparison as fish are more delicate than a dog

 

[pallobi]

there are some very interesting points of views here... some i agree with, and many i disagree strongly with... but that is jus my opinion... to the OP, i personally feel you are doing the right thing by waiting, but if i were you, my waiting would honestly be at least a couple years and when you have a much more appriopriate setup and much more expereince... again, which to this point to seem to have decided to do... so kudo's to that

i would also like to state, that jus becuz these "gurus of 20 years etc" arent posting here, regardless of whatever reason might be thrown around, this does not mean there is not some solid info and experienced opinions being shared here... some clearly are not, but many, many still are, and should not be discounted in anyway...

i agree with JohnK when he said something to the effect of, when in doubt, lean to the side of caution... lets say something is 50/50 live or die, i am gonna lean to the 50% chance of death and base my decision on that, rather than the other way around... which unfortunately alot of people would look at it the other way around and jus take their chances... which its not their chances they are taking, its the animal's, and only they suffer becuz of it...

 

[tommy6905]

everytime i go into skiptons i ask them to try and feed the mandarins frozen, havent seen any feed on it yet but the day i do, ill be bringing alittle mandarin home with me, when it comes time for you to buy one i suggest u take this approach, just imo

 

[SharkLover]

wait until your tank is "Established". There is a big difference between a tank which has completed it's cycling period (3-4 months) and an established tank. Understand the difference and most of all have patience. As for the mandarin, I wouldn't do it in such a small tank. Even ones that feed on frozen food can have change of hearts and begin to starve if your tank does not have the copapod population.

 

[Andy V]

as fish are more delicate than a dog

Yeah, that was kind of the point of the statement.