FornoW wrote:
I have recently gotten my sal****er aquarium up and running. I have a 36
gallon tank with roughly 36 lbs of live rock, and a EcoSystem refugium. I
have noticed hundreds of copepods on the rock, in the water, and on the
sand. How fast will these reproduce? I am interested getting a
Manderin/Psychadelic fish and I have read that the cope's make up a sizeable
part of their diet. Will the population maintain high enough numbers on its
own with the amount of rock included? Thank you for any help.


A refugium will definitely help. When you choose your fish from the
LFS, try to get one that eats prepared foods. Call the LFS ahead of
time to find out when feeding time is and be there. Explain to them
that you want to make sure you get one that is eating prepared foods.
Also don't take one that is emaciated whether it is eating or not. If
it's sides are caved or sunken in at all. The fishes sides should be
very full and round. When the madarin turns its sides should almost
have fat bulges.

A must see site: http://www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_care.html

And be sure to see the link entitled "mandarin diner" at the bottom of
the page.