Do you have a tank already? And some other equipment to get started? I have no experience with breeding mandarins, but trying to see what kind of setup you have in mind.
Well you will need a productive pod breeding setup and maybe a way to dose them. but main tanks you dont need very big, a couple 40b divided in half would work well i think
EQUIPMENT:
Tank: 120 (Display) - potentially bigger but this is what I have at the moment
Light: 2x250 MH
Sump: 55 (In Basement)
Refugium: 40B (Display) + 55 in Basement
Controller: Reef Keeper w ATO/Temp
Dosing: BRS Dosers w solutions on Timers
Skimmer: ASM G3
Heaters: 2x Eheim