Hi,
My refugium feeds the main tank by gravity feed. The pods get sucked in to the gravity but they don't get mashed to pieces. The feed rate is a balance between how many pods are in the refugium and how many get sucked in to the main tank.
Also, I have areas that my Mandarin doesn't have access to. My rocks are levitated above my sandbed to discourage detris buildup, but the gap is too small for the mandarin to get in. So, my pods all hang out there. I also have a intank refugium built with eggcrate. Basically, its is box that is built with eggcrate.
The other thing about pods is that they like frequent water changes. I think it has to do with iodine, but I am not entirely sure. Iodine helps pods, crabs and shrimp shed their shell and rebuild a new one. By shed their shells, it encourages them to grow and propogate. Of course...if you have a mega skimmer, iodine disappears quickly.
I would only buy a Mandarin if it has enough food in a mature tank (> 1 year) and it doesn't have to compete for its food. And don't try to rescue a skinny Mandarin from a LFS.....
- Victor.
|